Top Reasons for Engagement Portraits

(1) So you can practice having your photo taken. This is especially important if you're not used to having your photos taken. But even so, it's important to figure out how to be at ease in front of the camera with your significant other.
(2) It's fun! Plus you'll have some great this-is-what-we-were-like-before-we-got-married pictures. You're pretty laid-back taking engagement photos, so there's no time crunch or stress and you can just be your naturally goofy selves. And, you can use the photos for a multitude of things:

• Make custom save-the-date cards with your photos.
  
• Print out a big picture, get it matted and then have people sign on the mat at your wedding and then frame it.
  
• My favorite: create an album out of the images and double it up as a guestbook for guests to sign in on your wedding day. Have fun pages like, "What is the one piece of advice you would give to the couple for a long and happy marriage?" or "What was your first impression when you met the groom? The bride?" When you have beautiful photographs of the two of you to complement the funny, silly, sweet comments you'll receive, the book will be a treasured heirloom for years to come.
  

BTW, I can help you with any of these project ideas and it'll be one less thing on your plate.

Enough of product-plugging and onto the photos.

I met up with Angelica and Victor at Santa Clara University, and then we drove to Santana Row for some nighttime pictures. I've never shot nighttime pictures alone before and was a little nervous, but seriously, Santana Row is far better lit than a lot of reception halls I've shot at. (: Plus, I can actually move people toward the light. (It's a little rude to move the bride and groom during their first dance. Just a tad rude.) (;

CHUNG NGUYEN | PHOTOGRAPHER www.chungnguyen.com