Engagement Photographs….Brides–Why Even Do Them?

Engagement sessions are some of my favorite experiences as a photographer. Having the time to interact with our clients allows us the opportunity to understand them better as a couple. Aside from all the things you hear in the industry on why you should have an engagement session (save the date, get to know your photographer, etc.), I want encourage you to look deeper into the concept as a whole and follow me on a journey that will speak volumes.

I was recently visiting a close friend when she pulled out an image of her grandparents from 1938. Her first thoughts were that the photograph is kind of risqué for its time. I do agree that you wouldn’t see an image like this from that day. Being a photographer, I tend to look inside an image for the story. For example; if you look deep into the image you’ll see history, fashion, love. You see a woman that was mad

Grandma & Grandpa Havlicek, Circa 1938

for her husband as he relaxes for a moment in the sunshine with his wife by his side. Yes, people loved just as deep back then as we do now; it’s just hard to believe because we don’t have many images like this as evidence. Her grandma even appears a little sassy as she sticks her tongue out at her husband. Just looking at this photo I can imagine what they were saying, I hear their banter ring in my ears and imagine how it could have been heard by the neighbors and how she might have planted a kiss smack on his lips. I also wonder who might have taken this photograph and why they were there at that moment. And then we go a little deeper, the image appears to be out in the woods. They’ve laid a blanket or jacket down on the unkempt grass. The image in the hubcap shows they were most likely in the front yard of their home or close to a building. While this image isn’t an engagement photograph, I am enamored with it because it tells a whole story of who these two people are as a couple that the regular world might not have had the chance to see. That’s part of what I love about photography as whole—it tells a story, documents history and freezes special moments like these in time.

Something magical happened when you fell in love that truly affects the rest of your life and the lives of those around you and your future generations. I recently read a blog article by G. E. Masana on Huffington Post titled The Real Reason to Have an Engagement Photo Made. He puts it like this: “You fell in love. They fell in love with you. And you both chose to make a life with each other. Commit to each other. Maybe bring a new family line into this world. This changes the course of both your lives. And correspondingly like a ripple effect in a pond it affects everyone round you.” I simply couldn’t agree more. He then goes on to say “You have literally changed the course of the world, that’s why your engagement is huge.” I’m in awe of the truth in that statement. It’s documenting the coordinates by placing a thumbtack in the map of the 4th dimension of time. That magical moment is the ripple effect which changes everything. That’s HUGE and deserves to be celebrated.

Why is it we actually have photographs taken in the first place? To remember tomorrow and for years to come what we were doing, experiencing and feeling. To share that with our friends, family and future generations and as Masana put it, “there’s something magical about being able to show your memories to someone new, someone who probably isn’t even born yet.” We take photographs for our tomorrows.

So, why have an engagement session? I answer it like this. When your granddaughter comes to you in 20, 30, or even 40 years when she’s preparing for her wedding day and asks “Grandma, what was it like
for you and grandpa?”, what are you going to tell her? What are you going to show as proof that love existed in its purest form? If you’re lucky you’re going to go to the special place you keep your printed images safe—and pull them out like a time capsule to the world. You’ll sit together and reflect on a love that was deep, amazing and spectacular in all its glory. Trust me, she’ll be just as awestruck to see and experience them as you will be sharing them. All the while those wonderful feelings will come rushing back filling you with all the emotion of a time as special and rare as that one. It’s giving yourself and those you love a gift for tomorrow. What a treasure.

So I say do it…and enjoy every minute of it … they will be more important than you think!

Have a Dreamcicle Day!

Kristi xoxo

About Dreamcicle Studios Photography: We’re a madly in love husband and wife photography team in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area that loves capturing love more than anything! We photograph new beginnings and completed souls; faces of anticipation, happiness, love. It’s wedding photography designed uniquely for you. We’d love to speak to you about photographing your dream wedding day! Contact us by clicking here.

Thank you to my dear, dear friend Elizabeth Havlicek Rakestraw for providing the image and inspiration for today’s post. You know how I love old photographs that tell a story–what a gift you shared!! Love you!