What does it feel like to work with an engagement session photographer for the first time? I recently caught up with Selah and Brendan to ask them all about the experience from their perspective, and here’s what I learned.

Selah was anxious going into the engagement session with Brendan. She’d searched for photographers extensively—reached out to about fifteen, kept track in a spreadsheet, read reviews, scrolled through portfolios. She wanted authenticity. She wanted to feel comfortable. Most of all, she worried that she wouldn’t like how the photos turned out.

When couples tell me they’re anxious about hiring an engagement session photographer, I always say the same thing: that an engagement session photographer’s job isn’t to get perfect shots or force poses. It’s about building trust with you before your wedding day. It’s about discovering what it feels like to be photographed authentically, so that when the wedding day arrives, we know and trust each other.

For Selah and Brendan, their engagement photography became exactly that: a confidence-builder. A chance to move, to laugh, and to be themselves. A bridge between ‘We’re worried about this’ and ‘we’re ready.’

Selah and Brendan chose Phoenixville for the location—Bridge Street specifically. Not because it photographs well (though it does). Not because it’s a trending backdrop. Because Phoenixville is part of their story. Their first date was in Phoenixville. Their favorite shops are there. They saw a show together on that street. And then Brendan proposed at their favorite restaurant—a night that shifted everything.

As an engagement session photographer, I’m always looking for couples who understand that the location matters because of what it means to you, not because of what it looks like in a photo. We talked a bit about other location options, but in the end, their hometown of Phoenixville was the perfect choice because of what it meant to them.

The Search for the Right Photographer

Before they hired me as their engagement session photographer, Selah admitted she was overwhelmed. There are so many photographers. So many options. So many different styles and approaches. She looked for images where couples looked natural—where real emotions showed on their faces instead of forced smiles.

But here’s what Selah realized: it’s incredibly hard to separate a photographer’s work from a couple’s wedding decisions. Did she like the engagement session photographer or the bride’s hair? Was it the angle of the shot or the flower arrangement? The research itself became exhausting.

What stood out to Selah about my approach? My website described the process in a way that felt natural and authentic to her, not performative. She could see real emotions on couples’ faces. She found couples I’d worked with who tagged me on Instagram—and their galleries felt genuine. Not curated. Like she could actually imagine their wedding day by scrolling through and seeing their faces throughout the day.

I’m drawn to couples like that. Couples who care about authenticity over aesthetics. Who understand that the best photos come from real moments, not from ‘getting the shot.’

Before the Session — Nerves and Expectations

Selah was honest about how she felt going in: anxious, as many couples are. She worried about how to dress, how she would look in the photos, what to expect. She’d seen friends’ engagement sessions—some incredibly formal with full glam hair and makeup, others just strolling through Philly in everyday clothes. The variety made it hard to picture what working with an engagement session photographer would actually feel like.

Most couples arrive at their engagement session with this same uncertain, anxious energy. What I’ve discovered over the years is that this starting point is not only normal, it’s exactly what we need.

An engagement session is a practice run. It’s your chance to move through the awkwardness before it matters as much. You can laugh at yourself and discover that being photographed isn’t as scary as you thought. You get an opportunity to build genuine confidence in a low-stakes setting so that when your wedding day arrives, you’re not only prepared, but looking forward to having your photo taken.

Here’s what I tell couples: it’s ok to feel anxious and awkward because by the end of our session together, something shifts. it all becomes easier, more natural. And that’s the whole purpose of working with an engagement session photographer before the big day.

Phonenixville — Why Location Reveals Your Story

Selah and Brendan were torn between downtown Phoenixville and Valley Forge National Park. Both places felt meaningful to them, and Valley Forge National Park has incredible natural beauty and historic significance. But they chose Bridge Street in Phoenixville—their hometown—because it felt more natural.

Phoenixville isn’t a trendy engagement session backdrop. It’s not a location I sell couples on. But for Selah and Brendan, it was perfect because it’s where their story began.

Their first date was in Phoenixville. Their favorite shops are there. They saw a show together on Bridge Street. And Brendan proposed at their favorite restaurant in town—a moment that shifted their relationship.

My time-tested advice about engagement session locations: choose a place that means something to you, where you feel comfortable and that tells part of your story. You’ll feel and look your best in the places you love.

When you’re exploring your hometown with your photographer, something shifts. You’re not just ‘posing for photos,’ you’re showing me the places where your life together has unfolded. We walk past the restaurant where you got engaged and you point out your favorite coffee shop. You’re remembering your first date and that time you went to a show together.

That authenticity shows up in every single frame. Not because I told you to feel something. But because you’re actually feeling it.

During the Session — From Nervous to Comfortable

Selah described the actual experience this way: ‘Once we got to Phoenixville, it felt easier and easier each moment. You were so kind and thoughtful, so easy to talk to. It felt more like we were just getting to know each other and exploring our hometown!’

That’s high praise, and that’s exactly how an engagement session photographer should make you feel.

Throughout our time together, Selah told me she never felt overly posed or directed. Movement helped release that initial uncertainty. Instead of standing still and me telling them to ‘look natural’ (which is usually feels the most awkward,) she and Brendan kept walking, exploring, and being their authentic selves in their meaningful hometown. It didn’t hurt that their dog Bryce, came along with us.

I structure my engagement sessions this way intentionally. Posing creates tension. It makes people self-conscious. Movement is permission to be loose, to laugh, to touch each other, to actually feel something instead of perform something.

As the session progressed, Selah’s confidence grew and she and Brendan delighted in giving me a tour of all the places that meant so much to them. She told me she could suddenly imagine what the wedding day experience would feel like. She trusted that she’d feel more comfortable on that bigger day—in October at Lodge at Mountain Springs Lake, when everything matters most.

Most importantly, I think something fundamental shifted in how she saw me. She stopped thinking of me as ‘a stranger capturing intimate moments.’ Instead, she saw me as someone who would be enjoying their wedding along with them, documenting every genuine smile and truly invested in their day, not just collecting photos.

The Confidence Shift

What surprised Selah most was how working with an engagement session photographer transformed her entire relationship to the process. Before our session, she told me she felt anxious. After, she told me she felt genuinely ready, and excited.

The purpose of an engagement session isn’t just polished save-the-date photos (though I know that’s how Selah and Brendan intend to use theirs.) It’s about building trust. Shifting from ‘I’m stressed about this’ to ‘I’m actually looking forward to this.’

Selah put it perfectly: ‘After the engagement shoot, I felt so much more confident in our ability to do this again on the wedding day! I could imagine the experience more, and knew I would feel more comfortable on the big day.’

Why This Shift Matters

When you work with an engagement session photographer who understands authenticity, something clicks. You realize you can practice being photographed before your wedding day, and learn that comfort is possible. That you can be yourself and still end up with beautiful, meaningful images.

For Selah and Brendan, this shift mattered deeply. October is coming. Lodge at Mountain Springs Lake is waiting. And when they arrive for their wedding, they’ll step in knowing: We’ve done this before. We’re comfortable with her. We’re ready and we’re excited.

That confidence? It changes everything.

If you’re planning your wedding and feeling anxious about the photography part, I want you to know: that concern is completely valid. Working with an engagement session photographer can transform how you approach your wedding day.

Selah spent weeks researching photographers. She felt uncertain. She questioned if she’d made the right choice. Then she spent a few hours in her hometown, exploring the places where her love story began—Bridge Street where they had their first date, the shops they love, the restaurant where Brendan proposed. Everything shifted.

She realized: I trust this photographer. I feel comfortable with her. I’m ready for October.

That’s what an engagement session should do. Make you feel more prepared, not more stressed. Build genuine confidence rather than amplify your worries.

Here’s what I know about Selah and Brendan’s October wedding at Lodge at Mountain Springs Lake: it will be beautiful. Not because I’ll capture every “perfect” moment, but because they’ll be present. They’ll be comfortable. They’ll focus on celebrating their love story instead of worrying about how they look on camera.

If you’re planning a wedding and want an engagement session photographer who builds confidence instead of adding pressure, let’s discuss what that experience could look like for you. Whether your engagement session is in Phoenixville, Frenchtown, or anywhere in between, my approach remains the same: help you feel genuinely ready for your wedding day.

Learn more about engagement sessions and what’s included or reach out to book your session.