P + J reached out to me about a week or two before their civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, and despite it being pretty last-minute, I eagerly accepted and was so excited to work with them! For every couple that inquires about wedding or elopement photography, I always ask if they're interested in also booking an engagement session.
I think that an engagement photoshoot can be such a great move for a few reasons:
First and foremost, it gives us a chance to get to know each other better so that you don't have a total stranger following you around on one of the most important days of your life
In terms of photography, it gives me an excellent opportunity to get an understanding of your comfort levels, how you two interact with each other, and how I can bring the best out of those moments
Similarly, it helps you get an understanding of how I (or any photographer) works — which, again, helps make you more comfortable taking pictures on your wedding day, too!
The main reason a lot of couples like to book an engagement session is still a great reason: to get photos of you and the person you love, both for you two to enjoy for years to come and to use for wedding invitations, save-the-dates, guest books, and other wedding décor!
With P + J, I remember saying something along the lines of, "since your wedding is so soon, I'm guessing you don't want to try and squeeze in an engagement session..." but they jumped in and said that they'd love to if we can make it work! We ended up scheduling a session with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge for just a few days later, and I had such a blast working with them!!
Being early in my photography career, I remember being so proud of these photos; and looking back, this was some of the first work that sort of evolved into my current style. Years later, I still LOVE this session! Fun fact, the first image in the gallery below was the very first frame I shot during the session (I told them I was just going to check the lighting), and I was mesmerized at how good the first picture was without us really even trying.