You’ve started out your wedding planning budget and are already getting overwhelmed by the numbers.  How much does wedding photography cost? Why is everything thousands of dollars? How am I supposed to know how much to spend?

Ah yes, winter :)  A wondrous time filled with peppermint hot chocolate, Hallmark Christmas movies, and yes, WEDDING PROPOSALS AND ENGAGEMENTS!!!  As a wedding photographer, nothing gets me more excited than getting to hear alllll about the proposal ideas that people have come up with to surprise and ask their loved one to marry them :) 

So you are looking through different wedding photographers’ packages that you’ve contacted recently, and you are starting to notice a pattern… they all offer engagement sessions with their wedding packages.

Now, hear me out.  Even if you don’t really “need” engagement photos, or you’ve already done a session with another photographer or friend, you should DEFINITELY do a session with your wedding photographer.

Shoutout to all my indecisive people in the crowd - weddings are stressful, am I right?

Living in a time with SO MANY OPTIONS, having to sit down and plan out one of the most important days of your life, which includes hundreds of different choices, can be a BIT stressful.

No need to freak out!  I am here to help you make one small decision today - narrowing down your wedding photographer.  Now, I had it easy.  I followed my wedding photographer for years, so I knew FOR SURE that I wanted her to capture our day.  However, I know a lot of other people, especially those who don't deal with photographers a lot, so they aren't sure exactly what to look for.  Because of this, I decided to create a small list to help you out!  And I made a cute infographic you can use to pin this post and save it for later!  Check it out below :)

Engagement sessions are seriously some of my favorites.  Couples who are so giddy about the prospect of being married and still in shock about the fact that it is going to happen are so fun to interact with and get to know.  Often times though, this is the first time that couples are taking professional pictures together, which can be kind of nerve-racking.  Because of this, I decided to put together a small list of steps you can take to prepare yourself for the best, most exciting session ever. 

So you are getting married.  YES!!!

But, as many of us do, you are trying to save money and cut corners where you can.  DIY'ing your decor, getting your wedding shoes on clearance, having your sister do your hair.  And then you remember that your uncle just got a new DSLR camera - well he can just take your wedding pictures, right?

NO!