Engagement Photo's??

[NeverlandClub23]

I need help. I am trying to research places to have engagement photo's done but am getting nowhere. I'm not particular on place (as I've considered Boston [he's a huge Red Sox fan and I think Boston is so pretty], Florida [not Disney though], Chicago, and lots of other places as we travel a lot). If you had engagement photo's done, where did you have them done? And if you don't mind me asking, an approx. cost?

The main reason I want engagement photo's is to put a blurb book (photo book) together for our guest book at our wedding so I'd need to be able to get the copyright's to the pictures (and get them on a CD). I don't even care if I didn't get actual photo's, just need the CD and then I could purchase ones I really wanted.

I've tried googling and have gotten nowhere (and The Knot) and I'm so confused . I have to click on each photography place and then it looks like they just include an engagement photo session in with the wedding package cost but I plan on getting married in VA, not wherever we get the engagement pics done. I'm thinking what I want should cost around $500-$750 I don't even know but wanted to start budgeting for it.

Thanks for any and all advice or tips! Even if you had family photo's done somewhere, that would be helpful too! My bf (soon to be fiance) thinks we can just get one of our friends to take pictures but, um, I've seen their photography skills .

 

[DSNY4ever]

I always think it is nice to get them done somewhere at home, is there a reason that you don't want to do them at a nice park/beach/downtown area near where you live? Or where did you get engaged, is that place a possibility?

We had a friend of ours do them for us who had a nice camera and then later when we researched photographers for our wedding we noticed that many had packages that included an engagement session.

I know a fabulous photographer with decent prices, but she is in California (she is a friend, not the same one that did ours, she is a real photographer), here's the link anyway-

Good luck- I think it's nice if the place has meaning to you/your relationship. Congrats on your wedding!

Okay it didn't let me do the link, so just go to Lisawelge.com - it might help give you and idea of prices, her prices are pretty standard for around here.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I had mine done at my law school's quad. It's a very picturesque place. It was aprt of the overall package we signed up for, but why don't you just try calling a couple places you found online, I'm sure they'll be willing to set up an on-site photo shoot whever you like nearby. They might even then give you a discount if you do decide to go with them for your wedding photos.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I've never heard of people getting them done someplace other than in their hometown... mine were just part of my wedding package and we had them done at the botanical garden there.

I wouldn't look for engagement photos on a photographers site; just look for family picture packages, since that's really what you want - on location family pictures. Most engagement photos would probably be lumped into a wedding package.

 

[wvjules]

Are engagement photoshoots a new thing? I never really heard of them before now they are everywhere and everyone is getting them done.

If I ever get them done I would like to have them in DC around the Capital, Mall and Tidal Basin with the Cherry Blossoms in bloom.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Ours were done by our wedding photographer at his studio. I haven't heard of couples traveling to have them done.

Why not just go to the Picture People and have them done there?

http://www.picturepeople.com/

I have no idea what your finances are or how elaborate of a wedding you're planning, but with all the other expenses of a wedding and honeymoon, I can't see blowing more money on a trip to take engagement pictures.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thanks everyone so far! I guess I just don't really find places around here to be "pretty". Nothing architecturally (sp?) beautiful and lots of touristy type of places (I don't really like our beaches either as the pictures I've seen make the water look even dirtier, if that's possible ). We're planning on getting married in Charlottesville, VA in 2011 and there are a lot of pretty places there so that's something to consider.

I was engaged before and had engagement photo's done at Epcot in '05 and always thought it was fun to go somewhere and get them done.

Oh, our wedding will not be anything elaborate but pictures have always been very important to me. I also wouldn't make a special trip as he travels to these places frequently and I go with him most of the time.

 

[mickeyboat]

I guess I would also not think to travel to a remote location unless it was special to you for some reason or another. Don't forget the pictures are to showcase YOU, not the architecture you are standing next to.

A beautiful location does not have to be anything more than a park or a garden. Even some of the touristy places near you could have pretty areas for photos.

Good luck!