I am biased here and I will say so up front. But my reason is probably not the one you expect.
It is not about the photos. It is about what the session does to your wedding day.
The Real Reason
Most people have never been photographed properly. School pictures and phone selfies, that is it. So on your wedding day, if the first time a professional camera is pointed at you is the morning of, there is an adjustment period. It usually takes an hour.
An engagement session moves that hour to a Tuesday evening six months earlier, where it costs you nothing.
By your wedding day you already know how I work, what I sound like when I am directing, and that I am not going to make you do anything strange. You skip the awkward phase entirely.
What Else You Get
Photos of you as you actually are. Wedding photos are formal by nature. Engagement photos are the two of you in normal clothes in a place that means something.
Save the dates and website images. You need photos for these, and the alternative is a phone picture from a friend's wedding.
A test run for me. I learn your angles, how you laugh, whether you get quiet when you are nervous. That is real information I use on the wedding day.
Something to hang up. Most couples end up with an engagement photo on a wall long before the wedding album exists.
What Happens During One
Ninety minutes, one or two locations, timed to end at sunset.
The first fifteen minutes are awkward for everyone. That is normal and I plan for it. We walk, we talk, I give you something easy to do with your hands. By minute twenty you have forgotten I am there, which is when the actual photos start.
I wrote a full guide on preparing for your session here, and a list of Tampa locations here.
When You Can Skip It
You are already very comfortable on camera. Some people just are.
You already have great photos of the two of you. If a friend shot something you love, you may not need more.
Budget is genuinely tight. If it comes down to an engagement session or two more hours of wedding coverage, take the coverage. Every time.
You are eloping or having a very small wedding. The whole day is more relaxed already.
When You Really Should Do It
You hate having your picture taken. This is the strongest argument for, not against. The people who dread it benefit most.
You have never met your photographer in person. Especially if you booked from out of state.
One of you is reluctant. There is almost always one enthusiastic partner and one going along with it. Ninety low stakes minutes turns the reluctant one around more often than not.
Timing
Six to nine months before the wedding. Early enough for save the dates, late enough that you are actually engaged and not still in shock.
Avoid the month before the wedding. You will be busy and stressed, which defeats the purpose.
Cost
Often included in mid and upper tier wedding packages, which is worth checking before you pay separately. Mine is listed here, included in two of the three wedding packages and available standalone.
My Honest Take
If it is included in your package, do it. There is no reason not to.
If it costs extra and you are on the fence, ask yourself how you feel about being photographed. If the answer is anything other than "totally fine," book it.
Want to talk through where and when? Message me. More work on the portfolio.