For this Matrimony Monday, I continue with the wedding process here at Danielle Valiquette Photography.

The Engagement

13. Book your engagement shoot. I think that an engagement shoot is so important to the final images I do it in all our packages. So, why is it so important for me to shoot you guys before your wedding day? There are two reasons: 1. Everyone looks different on film. (This is where I pick on my husband a little. And this way I get to see if when I ask him to double check what I have written for grammatical errors, he really reads it!) So, my hubbie, love him as I do, and as handsome as he is, has eyes that are not perfectly level. One eye sits slightly lower than the other. You really only notice this quirk on film. So, whenever I take pictures of my fine-looking man, I adjust my camera to compensate for this.

Some people have physical attributes like this, but others may subconsciously react to the camera in a certain way. For example, the dreaded “blinker”. One of the most beautiful brides I have ever photographed somehow always knew the exact moment I depressed the camera’s shutter. However, I discovered her seemingly inhuman eccentricity during the engagement shoot. Now, of course with digital I was able to see the pictures on the back of my camera, adjust, and obtain great images—but I was doing these adjustments on and during the much less hectic and stressful engagement shoot and not the time-strapped wedding day. On the wedding day I knew about this and dealt accordingly.

Okay, so why else do I do an engagement shoot? Honestly, so you that you get to hang out with me. I need to get to know each other so that the pictures that are taken on your wedding day are relaxed and comfortable. If you know, through past experience, that it is fun to have your picture taken, you will be far more likely to have a good time while we do the pictures. And if you are having a good time while we take the pictures, your pictures are going to be much better. Unless, of course you like that stiff, stare right at the camera-look. And if that is the case, I am not your photographer.

14. Complete engagement shoot. The engagement shoot not only serves a functional service, but also ads to the album. Yes, you can of course use a picture from your engagement shoot for an announcement in the local paper or perhaps even for your invites, but you may also want to consider using these pictures in your album. (Refer to the blogs on how to have a successful engagement shoot for great tips.)
Three weeks after your engagement shoot you will receive your proof files as per your wedding package. These are your files to use as you wish, for example, for announcements or perhaps you have developed a website for your wedding day. (Don’t forget to include a link to www.daniellevaliquette.com. Please and thank-you.) <3

After you have received your engagement proofs, you get to pick one file to be printed as an 8×10 fine art print.

15. Complete the wedding day schedule and send it to me. I’ll need the when’s and the where’s, of course!

16. Pick your location for the formal photographs.

17. Rehearsal night.

Happy planning,
Dani

Hmmm, I wonder what could possibly be next… Check out the next blog post for Matrimony Monday to find out.