Seattle Engagement Session <3
Top 3 Reasons to do an engagement session when you are Eloping.
Eric and Marie reached out to me earlier this year in the starting stages of their elopement planning. These two are based in the greater Seattle area and at the time I was in Phoenix. It was super exciting that we were able to plan and get together while I was spending some time in the Pacific Northwest to capture their engagement session together. We planned to meet at Golden Gate park which is just right outside of the downtown area that offers those Pacific Northwest beach vibes, beautiful sunset views of the Olympic Mountains and sail boats a plenty floating by. It was a great location for these two busy bees for a weekday session and a perfect place because they spend some of their free time together there and it is not too far from their homestead.
During the session I really enjoyed getting to know these two better. Marie owns her own dog walking business which I highly recommend checking out if you need someone to walk your pup in the area. Eric works in the tech industry and is working on starting his own business as well. They met when Marie used to work at a restaurant that Eric would come to trivia nights at when he first moved to Seattle from the East coast. I thought it was the cutest thing that their cat helped Eric propose! He planned it all out and made sure the cat knew exactly what to do to pull off the sweetest at home proposal. After the session we headed to a local brewery to grab a beer. We chatted about business, marketing, moving from the East to the West, elopements versus small weddings and so much more. I had so much fun with these two on such a beautiful sunset session and I can not wait to see how the rest of elopement planning ends up coming together! What a heck of a way to end my time in Washington <3
You may be wondering why do an engagement session if you’re eloping….
Most of the time engagement photos are used on the wedding invitations or printed and displayed at traditional weddings. It may seem like there is no reason to have an engagement session if you are eloping, but this is another false perception towards elopements. Here are the top three reasons, from an elopement photographers perceptive, to still have an engagement session when you are eloping:
You can announce to distant family and friends that you are eloping. It is up to each couple to decide if they want to tell family and friends they are eloping before or after they tie the knot. Just because you may choose to have an intimate wedding day with just the two of you or with maybe just the needed witnesses does not mean that you may not want to share the news with everyone that you are planning to get married soon. (If you’d like to read more about how to tell friends and family you’re eloping or how to involve them on your day click here.)
Take it as a chance to get to know your elopement photographer. Elopement days are very intimate and can be very emotional. Often times your photographer is one of the four people there or the only person there. It is important to feel comfortable around your photographer. This is a great time to connect with them, ask any questions you have about your elopement day and more.
It is also a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera. Most folks really do not like being in front of the camera or it could be a totally new thing for you. If you are super shy about being in front of the camera having an engagement session will allow you to get all those camera jitters out of the way so on your elopement day you are only focused on marrying your best friend and being connected within the moment.
The fact of the matter is you are still getting married and this is still an important chapter in your lives together. Just like a wedding you choose how to celebrate your time being engaged and time joining in unity. If you want to do engagement photos then do it and if you do not want to do it then do not. There is no “rule” of what you have to do when you get engaged, each relationship is different. No matter what as an elopement photographer I am here to celebrate you two and help you navigate your way through planning out what you see best fitting for you and your relationship.
