Are Engagement Pictures Really Necessary?

[TheBHolders]

This is what I am trying to figure out now. The photo in my Avi was taken right after he proposed. I love it this picture of us. But, I also still want an engagement picture.. But, honestly those photos arent going to go anywhere but our website and save the dates. I have some friends that take photos and I would have them do it. But, I will still have to pay them and I am focused on saving money right now. Deep down I feel that we will have many opportunities for these photos and that I shouldnt try to stay in these wedding trends. We were fortunate to have a proposal in front of family and friends who recorded and took pictures of the moment. I am so up in the air about this, especially since I found a coupon code on vistaprint for 4.99 for 50 postcards. I just don't want to be disappointed and regret my decision later.

[TinkerSofi]

This is what I am trying to figure out now. The photo in my Avi was taken right after he proposed. I love it this picture of us. But, I also still want an engagement picture.. But, honestly those photos arent going to go anywhere but our website and save the dates. I have some friends that take photos and I would have them do it. But, I will still have to pay them and I am focused on saving money right now. Deep down I feel that we will have many opportunities for these photos and that I shouldnt try to stay in these wedding trends. We were fortunate to have a proposal in front of family and friends who recorded and took pictures of the moment. I am so up in the air about this, especially since I found a coupon code on vistaprint for 4.99 for 50 postcards. I just don't want to be disappointed and regret my decision later.

I don't regret my decision of not having any engagement pics. Our website is now live and we used some pictures that we had from over the years. Yes, they don't look professional but I don't really care. Now that we are starting to make payments for a whole bunch of things I'm glad we didn't spend the money on engagement pics. We wouldn't have had them done by the photographer who is doing our wedding and they would have been fun, but the local photographers we checked out were charging around $500 for engagement sessions. We just thought those $500 were better spent on video of the wedding or on the reception, which will actually make a difference since no one will remember our wedding by the save the dates or our website. 

 

We ended up using an e-mail save the date that our TA put together for us. It just had the picture of a beach and a wedding gazebo. I guess it depends on your vision for your save the dates but if you are trying to save money, are they really worth putting the money into? 

Edited June 29, 2014 by TinkerSofi

[nikkicraig10]

No engagement photos for us.. I hate doing things "because we're supposed to". It's not even about the money, I just don't think there's a use. It's like getting your school photo taken in Grade 12, but then getting your graduation photos in May, and that's the photo that goes in the yearbook. What was the point of the first one?

 

Also.. they are so forced. At least on the wedding day, the photos might look posey, but at least the smiles and feelings are real!

Edited July 8, 2014 by nikkicraig10

[AYC]

I bought a living social for $50 and it included 20 edited photos and all the photos on a CD.  The photographer was mediocre, but we also brought our own tripod and took our own photos for 2 hours.  So if you have the time setting up a large tripod might be an alternative option.  We liked our own photos more than the living social photographers, but used a combination of both for our save the dates.

[lwalker]

I think one should have their engagement pictures as it is a one time event(generally).Adding a little more in your budget for photos will merely have any effect.Its good to keep such memorable moments of life photographed.You can go through a recap of your youth while sitting an a rocking chair after 70-80 years, with your better half. :-)

Edited July 11, 2014 by lwalker

[red400]

They are not necessary but nice to have.

[calgarybride2015]

@@TinkerSofi

I am really late replying.

 

I was really torn on this as I just looked at it as an added expense.

 

In the end we decided to do it for a couple reasons - we have no good photos of us together (just iphone shots when out with friends, etc.). I want to include our photo on our pre-travel letters and at our wedding so I know we need some good ones.

 

What I decided to do was this - do more of a family shoot.  We will have some couples shots, some kids shots, and some family shots.  Because we will get some of the kids, we plan to not get their school photos done which are way overpriced anyways!

 

I went on Kijiji and sought out the cheaper alternatives and then picked from there.

The guy we plan to book with charges $199 for 90 mins and gives you the edited pics on disc within 2 weeks.

Since we are doing a lot of shots I don't mind going over the 90 mins. I think I can get what I want under $400 so I am happy.

 

Must now go back and read all the responses to see what you chose to do hehe!

Edited August 19, 2014 by calgarybride2015

[veryvalentine]

We are probably not going to do engagement pictures either.  I think they are great when you are going to use the same photographer for your wedding but it's not possible for us.

 

It saves us a little bit on the budget and I don't feel photo ready yet either.  haha

[TinkerSofi]

@@TinkerSofi

I am really late replying.

 

I was really torn on this as I just looked at it as an added expense.

 

In the end we decided to do it for a couple reasons - we have no good photos of us together (just iphone shots when out with friends, etc.). I want to include our photo on our pre-travel letters and at our wedding so I know we need some good ones.

 

What I decided to do was this - do more of a family shoot.  We will have some couples shots, some kids shots, and some family shots.  Because we will get some of the kids, we plan to not get their school photos done which are way overpriced anyways!

 

I went on Kijiji and sought out the cheaper alternatives and then picked from there.

The guy we plan to book with charges $199 for 90 mins and gives you the edited pics on disc within 2 weeks.

Since we are doing a lot of shots I don't mind going over the 90 mins. I think I can get what I want under $400 so I am happy.

 

Must now go back and read all the responses to see what you chose to do hehe!

that's interesting that you mention that you'll be taking family photos. When looking around for photographers to do e-sessions it was ridiculous how some of them were like "family session" - $150, "engagement pictures" - $500. I guess you mention the word wedding and people want to suck you dry 

[calgarybride2015]

that's interesting that you mention that you'll be taking family photos. When looking around for photographers to do e-sessions it was ridiculous how some of them were like "family session" - $150, "engagement pictures" - $500. I guess you mention the word wedding and people want to suck you dry 

 

Exactly, I totally agree!!!  My gym friend is a fabulous photographer but her deal to me was $675. ummm no, just can't justify it.  This guy said he does family and engagement photos - so I asked him if he would do what I wanted. He said he charges for his time not the type of shots and was really open to it.  I actually asked a few who were as well.   I generally wouldn't do it, but like I said originally we have no good shots of us.  Won't happen again hehehehe