Most engagement shoot bookings go well. The ones that don’t share a pattern. A few warning signs, usually visible before the booking was even confirmed.
A portfolio that only shows a handful of hand-picked images, with no way to see a full session, is worth questioning. So is a photographer who won’t put pricing or inclusions in writing, or who is vague about turnaround time when asked directly.
Reviews matter, but so does how a photographer responds to a less glowing one. A pattern of clients mentioning late delivery, or images that didn’t match the portfolio’s standard, is worth more than a wall of five-star ratings with no detail behind them.
See also: Booking an engagement shoot in South Kensington: what to know.
For everything this post didn’t cover, including current pricing, the Engagement Shoots page has the full picture, or reach out directly and ask.
FAQs
The short version follows.
When should we book an engagement shoot?
Anywhere from a few months to a year before the wedding. Many couples use the images for save-the-dates, so booking early enough for printing and posting helps.
What if we feel awkward in front of the camera?
Almost everyone does at first. The session is built around walking and talking rather than posing, so it stops feeling like a photoshoot within the first ten minutes.
Further reading
Worth reading next.
- What a lot of photographers get wrong about an engagement shoot
- Editorial vs traditional: which style suits your engagement shoot?
- Booking an engagement shoot for the festive season
- What's different about an engagement shoot for save-the-date couples
- Booking an engagement shoot in South Kensington: what to know