To do Engagement Pictures, or not?

My fiance and I got engaged a little over 5 months ago. Immediately after he proposed, he whisked me off to a vacation with his family. While there we took some of those traditional "everybody wear khaki on the beach" with all of our sweet, sweet nieces and nephews. The photographer asked if we wanted a few of just the two of us to have as engagement pictures. We happily said yes, and off we went posing for cheesy pictures in the sand. When we were finally able to view the pictures we decided that if we were going to take "official engagement pictures" we might need to ask someone who specializes in that type of photography. When I booked my photographer (who might be one of the coolest girls I know) we were faced with the question of taking another set of engagement pictures. We decided it was worth the time and money so that we would have met our photographer and could get better acquainted with her, before the big day.  We had our session on New Year's Eve and I am so pumped to see the proofs! Here are some of the shots I sent to our photographer to give her and idea of what I though made a great engagement picture session.

I think it is so important that they bring out the personality of the couple!

I went to law school with the groom in this picture. Isn't his wife beautiful?? I adore pictures that look as casual as this one.

My fiance went to college with the gorgeous girl. Don't they look like they would be so much fun to be couple friends with? I love that it is obvious they are actually laughing and having a good time in this picture. They make it look so easy to look great!

The pops of color in this picture are so eye catching. I think this couple {who are getting married the same day as us!} are really onto something as far as not attempting to be so matchy-matchy in their clothing selections. I think coordination is key, trying to match might detract from the over all feel of the pictures. 

Once again, I can't get enough of natural looking shots! Other than the fact they are in the middle of the road, it looks like he is just stealing a kiss!

Although not an engagement picture, this is the quintessential "look" of the type of engagement pictures I love. Casual, classic, beautiful pops of color...I could go on and on!

So to do engagement pictures or not? I say, yes. If not just to capture exactly what you looked like, and hopefully {with a great photographer} how you were feeling when you first got engaged, to have as momentos of the time leading up to your wedding. Engagement pictures can be less stuffy than wedding pictures and can really be a better reflection of the couples style. We are getting ours matted and giving them as parents gifts, and the original beach pictures we used on our post card Save-the-date. 

If engagement pictures aren't your thing, or maybe not in your budget- why not try a one year anniversary shoot? Here's one that I found that is just as pretty as the couple in it!

see more here

We are so lucky {and excited!} to have Shea Halliburton shooting our wedding. See some of her work here. She is an extremely talented photographer and so much fun!