21 Creative Ways How To Use Your Engagement Photos
By Amanda Orr
At David Orr Photography, we like to think of an engagement photo session as more of a date night, but we’re following along behind a camera, encouraging couples to try fun poses in natural light scenarios. We could walk around downtown Phoenix together, explore the scenic Sonoran desert, soak up the fragrance of fresh desert flowers at local gardens, and basically get out on the town—or even out of town to a gorgeous Arizona destination! Our job is to capture the two of you in love, in a beautiful setting, naturally enjoying your time together.
So, what on earth are we going to do with all these engagement images, you ask?
Oh, there’s lots you can do—here are some suggestions below on sharing these images of your personal style with your friends and family before and after the wedding, and a few resources we searched high and low for on the web to share with you!
Engagement Photo Uses Before the Wedding:
Save the Dates
Be it a printed card you mail out to your guest list at least 6 months ahead (especially for those traveling from out of town), or a simple postcard, your guests are bound to get excited to see a glimpse of what’s to come! When you hire us, we’ll provide you access to our online invitation shop. You’ll be able to order and customize your own invitations, save the dates, thank you cards and more with our easy online system. Select fine-art papers, hand-pressed foils and lined envelopes!
Bride and Groom Website or Blog
Nowadays it is becoming more common to create a personalized website to share registry information, maps to venues and general information about the wedding festivities for guests—go ahead and sprinkle in some creative engagement shots to tell your love story and build upon your unique wedding theme!
Invitations
At least 3 months before, the wedding guests will expect to see the official announcement and invite to RSVP. Images designed into the invite make for a great historic and formal keepsake.
Stickers
Think photo booth style; you could have a little fun with your facial expressions when taking photos. Decorate your invites with that fun personality. Visit stickeryou.com
Timeline
Show your guests a chronological retrospective on how you found your way to each other—design a large chalkboard, corkboard, or magnet board of major life events, and then add in photos from your childhood, first car, high school graduation, college days, etc., all the way up to the present engagement.
Photo Tree Card Holder
It’s fun to give photo gifts to guests. Hang framed engagement photos or image porcelain ornaments from either a traditional wire cardholder tree or a crafted bundling of strong, decorative limbs from a craft store. This is a great way to make a striking display: pinterest.com/davidorrphoto/engagement-photo-uses
Photo Guest Signature Book
One of our most popular products, our stylish Signature Books allow you to share your Engagement photos, and your guests can sign and write personal dedications in your unique, lay-flat book. We’ll take care of the design, so all you have to do is choose between Hard Cover or Padded Cover, for only $150. Schedule your engagement session here: davidorrphotography.com/portraits-contact
Photo Candy Tins
Ever seen an image printed directly on an aluminum tin? It’s so cool! Or you could have a photo printed directly to a porcelain keepsake box—either way, if there’s candy inside, it will be a big hit. Visit Evermine.com
Ceramic Photo Tile
You could customize a special message, add a monogram, or place your wedding date on top of your image, and then have it glazed onto a tile.
Photo Confetti
Sprinkle some fun expressions with different pics on the guests’ tables. Check out Photofetti: photofetti.com
Photo Hershey’s Kisses
Use up that same confetti and glue it to the bottom of a Kiss!
Bottle Cap Magnets
Don’t throw out those beer bottle caps–I mean soda caps–just yet. All you need are some small magnets, scissors for cutting up pics, Diamond Glaze for cap filling, and a glue gun. Here’s a resource: bottlecapco.com
Be Sure to Follow David Orr Photography on Pinterest!
For more ideas on using your Engagement photos, go here: pinterest.com/davidorrphoto/engagement-photo-uses
Trivia Cards
On one side you’ve got a cute photo of you two, and on the other side are fun questions about your lives. Then have your DJ ask a series of those questions during the reception. The first table to answer correctly will get to be next at the chow buffet line!
Photo Cookies
Just what everyone wants, to eat your beautiful faces! If you have a great sense of humor and like to eat cookies, check out the Picture PerfectTM Collection by Eleni’s: elenis.com
Photo Lollipops
Or if you prefer a different method to savor your likeness, there’s chocolate lollipops from Beau-Coup: beau-coup.com/personalized-chocolate-lollipops.htm
Photo Wine Bottles
Your guests will love this splurge! Design your own photo wine label with Bottle Your Brand: bottleyourbrand.com/personalized-wine-labels/weddings
Soda Pop Bottles
Jones Soda comes in a variety of refreshing flavors and colors, and you can add your engagement photo to label the soda: jonessoda.com/
Photo Vases
Your DJ can help you craft a guest game to give away your special photo vase centerpieces at each table: http://bit.ly/14Db0Jn
Slideshow
Sure, you could opt to create a PowerPoint or Keynote slideshow, or David Orr Photography can show you a modern take on visual entertainment for your guests. Our music video slideshow is definitely not boring, and just $95! Watch one: davidorrphotography.com/music-video-slideshow
Engagement & Wedding Photo Uses After the Wedding
Thank You Cards
Come full circle with your theme and send your guests folded image cards—but now that the wedding is over, you could add in a wedding photo instead!
Metal Prints, Artistic Shapes
With a variety of cool shapes and sizes, you could create a memorable wall of image-fused aluminum prints, with a shiny or satin matte finish to reflect your personal style. Ask us for more info: davidorrphotography.com/contactusform/
Canvas Wraps and Gallery Clusters
Canvas wraps are a frameless, ready-to-hang, wall-sized presentation of your favorite wedding moment. Depending on your taste, you can select high gloss, glossy or satin matte finish, and even create a cluster of different image canvases, slices, or arrangements.
If you want to learn more about how to get your own gallery cluster prints, start here: