Should You Have Engagement Photos?

Here’s Why An Engagement Session Can Help You Relax on Your Wedding Day…

Your wedding day will be filled with so many emotions — joy, nerves, love, anticipation. It’s one of the most meaningful days of your life… and yes, it can feel a little overwhelming too. That’s completely normal. One of my favourite ways to help couples ease into the experience and feel grounded before the big day? An engagement session.

Before my own wedding, my partner and I did one, and I can honestly say it shifted everything. By the time our wedding arrived, we felt so much more at ease — not just in front of the camera, but with the whole idea of being seen. It gave us a chance to settle in, breathe, and enjoy the moment without second-guessing how we looked or what we were supposed to do.

That’s why I gently encourage couples to consider it. Not because you have to — but because it might be the one thing that brings a little calm to the whirlwind. Here’s how time in front of the camera beforehand can help you feel more present, more comfortable, and more connected on your wedding day…

A Chance to Build Connection Before the Big Day

An engagement session isn’t just about the photos (though yes — they’ll be beautiful). It’s also a chance for us to spend time together, without the rush or timeline of a wedding day. To talk about your story, your vision, the little details you love — and maybe the things you’re a little nervous about, too.

Because here’s the truth: your photographer is with you more than almost anyone else on your wedding day. And that relationship? It matters. This session gives us space to build comfort and trust. To find our rhythm. So that when your wedding arrives, you’re not stepping in front of the camera with a stranger — you’re being seen by someone who already knows you, and is cheering you on every step of the way.

Feel Like You in Front of the Camera

Let’s be honest — almost everyone feels a little unsure in front of the camera at first. It’s not just you. That’s why I see engagement sessions as a gentle, no-pressure warm-up — not a photoshoot to perform for, but an experience to ease into.

We’ll take our time. I’ll guide you with prompts that feel natural and let the real connection between you shine through. There’s no “perfect” pose to chase — just honest moments, tiny gestures, laughter you didn’t plan for. By the time your wedding day arrives, you won’t be wondering what to do or where to look. You’ll already know how it feels to be photographed in a way that’s soft, effortless, and true to you.

See more from this beach session Here.

Trust Makes Everything Easier

One of the quiet gifts of an engagement session is the trust it builds between us. You get to experience how I work — the gentle guidance, the way I notice the in-betweens, the ease that comes when there’s no pressure to perform. And I get to witness how you naturally connect, what lights you up, and what helps you feel most like yourself.

When you see the way your connection is reflected back — honestly, artfully, without feeling posed — something shifts. The nerves quiet. The confidence grows. And by the time your wedding day arrives, you won’t be wondering if your photos are turning out. You’ll already know they are — because you’ve felt it before.

More Ease, More Presence, More You

When we’ve already shared time together during your engagement session, everything about the wedding day feels more familiar — more easeful. You won’t be second-guessing what to do when the camera comes out. You’ll already know the rhythm, the flow, the way I gently guide and quietly step back when the magic’s unfolding on its own.

So instead of thinking about the photos, you’ll be fully in the moment — getting ready with your people, soaking in the vows, dancing barefoot under the stars. And I’ll be there, quietly capturing it all — the soft glances, the joy, the fleeting in-betweens — so you can relive it for years to come.

A Thoughtful Touch for Your Wedding Details

One of the sweetest bonuses of doing an engagement session? You’ll have a collection of images that feel true to your story — and there are so many beautiful ways to share them.

From custom save-the-dates to a guest book filled with moments that look and feel like you, these photos can add a personal, heartfelt layer to your wedding day. Some couples even weave them into their invitations, table decor, or welcome signage — little touches that make everything feel more connected and intentional. It’s more than just using images. It’s about letting your love story set the tone from the very beginning.

Keepsakes That Live On, Long After the Day

Your engagement photos aren’t just for now — they become part of the story you carry forward. I’ve seen couples use their images in such meaningful ways — to welcome guests at the reception, to create a photo wall that traces their journey, to offer framed prints as gifts for parents and loved ones (cue the happy tears).

And perhaps most beautifully… they become part of your home. A quiet reminder in the hallway. A print above your desk. A memory held on the mantle. This season of your life is so worth preserving — not just for the wedding, but for all the days that follow

Ready To Feel Confident & Relaxed On Your Wedding Day?

I truly believe that an engagement session is one of the most meaningful ways to feel more present and at ease when the big day arrives. Because it’s never just about the photos — it’s about trust, comfort, and creating space to be fully you.

And I don’t say that lightly — I’ve been in your shoes. I know how much it matters to feel seen, guided, and supported through it all. So if you’re thinking about adding an engagement session, I’d love to connect. No pressure — just an open conversation to see what feels right for this chapter of your story.

✨ Let’s create something beautiful together.

An engagement session isn’t just a box to check — it’s a gentle step toward feeling grounded, confident, and beautifully seen on your wedding day. You’ll get to know me, ease into the experience of being photographed, and build the kind of trust that lets you truly be in the moment — not performing, just being.

I’ve lived this myself — my partner and I chose to do an engagement session before our wedding, and it made all the difference. We felt relaxed, connected, and fully ourselves — and that comfort came through in every image. So if you’re curious, or feeling the pull… know that this is your permission to lean in.

Ready for more? Check out the previous blog post for 10 locations ideas in Winnipeg for your engagement photos. Or, head over to the website to see even more gallery examples from sessions with past clients!

Ready to work together? Click the link below to get in touch and learn more about our photography services.

I’d love to hear form you!