When Should You Schedule Your Engagement Session?

One of the most asked questions I get as a wedding photographer: When should we schedule our engagement session?

With engagements being longer than ever these days, the options can feel endless and my couples are always asking when is the best time.

Let’s talk about it!

One of the biggest factors to consider is if you are planning to use one of the photos in your save the date or not.

The general rule of thumb is to send out save the dates 6-8 months prior to your wedding day (more if it’s a destination wedding or one that requires many of your guests to travel). If you have a planner, you can refer to them for the the best time to send out save the dates in the window based on your wedding plans.

If you’re in the camp of wanting to use a photo for your save the date, I suggest you figure out when you’d like to send them out and schedule your engagement session at least 1 month prior. Ask your photographer what the turnaround time is for engagement photos. For clients of mine it’s 2 weeks, which gives them 2 weeks after receiving their full gallery to design their save the dates and get them delivered. You can, of course, schedule your engagement session earlier (and many do!) but that is the latest I would suggest!

If you do not want to use a photo for your save the date (which I see becoming more and more common these days!), the timing of your engagement session is really up to you! When this is the case, I encourage my couples to take into account their favorite seasons, or aim for one that caters well to their vision for their session. Also, consider a time of the year where you really don’t have a lot going on so you can be present and enjoy preparing for your engagement session, instead of it being an added stressor during a busy season. If you are unsure, talk to your photographer about your likes and dislikes and vision for your session. They can guide you to the best time for the session based off of your timeline. Many photographers book out months in advance, so don’t hesitate to schedule your session or else you may not have much of a choice as to timing!

That’s it for this week’s Wedding 101 tip! If you missed, check out:

Wedding 101: Unique Wedding Exits

Wedding 101: Know Your Wedding Style

Wedding 101: Wedding Details to Gather for Your Photographer

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