Why You Should Hire A Photographer for Your Engagement Party

You’ve said “Yes!” and the seemingly never-ending wedding planning tasks have officially begun. It’s an incredibly exciting time in you and your partner’s lives, and you want to throw a little celebration. Enter: an engagement party! 

Emma, what the heck is an engagement party??

If you haven’t heard of an engagement party, it’s exactly what it sounds like…a party to celebrate your recent engagement. Engagement parties are typically more intimate versions of what your wedding reception will feel like. You’ll have your family, friends, and some close co-workers, plus you skip the obligatory family invites like your distant cousin or uncle who gives you the creeps. 

The engagement party is the perfect time to start warming up in front of the camera and practicing poses for your big day. I always encourage my clients to hire me to shoot their engagement party photos because, while it’s a smaller party, it’s often full of big moments you want to capture.

Here are a few other reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer for your engagement party-

Your Engagement Party is Kind of a Big Deal 

While not every couple chooses to throw an engagement party, those who do know it’s kind of a big deal. If your families have never met, it’s usually when they finally meet face to face. It’s also the perfect time to introduce friends and put a face to the names you’ve been hearing for months. Think of the excitement, joy, and love that will be filling the room. Don’t you want permanent evidence of it? 

Capturing the moment your moms meet or the belly laugh when your bestie snorts champagne out her nose is priceless. You’ll want those memories captured because, trust me, you will be in a haze of planning for the next year or so. 

You Get a Great Practice Round for Your Wedding Day 

There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing your parents awkwardly smile in your wedding photos. Smiling in front of a camera is hard enough, but the fact that the photographer is a stranger can make it impossible for some people to relax. If you invest in an engagement party shoot, you give your guests and loved ones the opportunity to get out their camera jitters before the big day. It also allows them to bond with and get more comfortable with your photographer. Most of the people in attendance at your engagement party will be at your wedding, and that familiarity and practice of getting their photos taken is key for more authentic wedding photos. 

Aside from family and friends being less camera shy, you and your partner will also have the opportunity to get the awkwardness out of the way. It’s also another chance to establish a relationship with your photographer, so it feels more like hanging out with a friend than a stranger on your wedding day.  

Bonus: Your Photographer Can Learn Who the V.I.P.s Are

Your family and friends getting to know your photographer is incredibly important, but so is your photographer familiarizing him/herself with your MVPs (most valuable peeps). Then, there’s less of a guessing game of who’s the mom vs. the aunt or the best friend vs. the bartender who keeps jumping in front of the camera. Your photographer can also learn their names and get a feel for how comfortable they are having their photos taken. 

You Should Celebrate (and Commemorate) Every Step 

You’re getting married! That’s a huge deal and one that should be celebrated every step of the way. Sure, you could send a mass text to your friends and family letting you know you’re finally getting hitched…but how will that go over with Grandma? Give yourself permission to embrace this exciting time in your life and have the party! Drink the champagne! Make it special because it is special. 

Your photographer will help you remember all these crazy times and capture the moments you don’t get to see. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourselves and preserve this exciting time in your life. Treat yourself; you totally deserve it. 

Want a little sneak peek at what your engagement party shoot can look like? Check out some recent couples and all-time favorites here. 

Need a photographer to capture your engagement party? Let’s chat!