A save-the-date video is a short film, usually 30 to 90 seconds, made from your engagement session and finished with your names and wedding date. You send it to guests by text, email or social media in place of (or alongside) a printed card. Andrew and Katie booked photo and video for their engagement session on Pensacola Beach on June 25, 2026, and I filmed and photographed it together at sunset. Here’s their session, and everything you need to know about adding a film to yours.
I’m Korbin, the photographer and videographer behind KDH Weddings in Pensacola. I shoot the photos and the film myself, in the same session, so you don’t have two crews following you down the beach.
Their session: white sand, sea oats and a sunset
Late June is peak summer, when sunset is about 7:53 pm and golden hour starts about 7:17 pm, so we timed the session to finish right as the sun went down.
Andrew and Katie kept their outfits simple: a white shirt and navy trousers for him, and a flowy white dress for her. Against the white sand and the soft pink sky, it’s timeless. We moved between the sea oats at the top of the beach, the open sand and the water’s edge, so the gallery has three different looks without ever leaving one spot.
Down at the water
The best moments came at the waterline, where I asked them to walk, twirl and dance, and not to pose. Motion is what makes a film work, and it’s what makes the still photos feel alive too. That’s the big advantage of shooting photo and video together: the prompts that give me good footage also give you candid photos.
A note on summer seaweed: some evenings the tide leaves a line of seaweed along the shore. I shoot around it, low and toward the water or up by the dunes, and for the most part it disappears in the final photos. It’s just part of a real Gulf beach in summer.
The details: custom champagne bottles
Andrew and Katie brought two bottles of champagne with custom labels bearing their names. Personal details like this are perfect for a save-the-date: they give the film a close-up to open or close on, and they make the photos unmistakably yours.
What a save-the-date film includes
My save-the-date film is shot during your engagement session, with no extra time needed. It includes:
- A short edited film from the session.
- Your names and wedding date built in.
- Every shot filmed and edited by me, so the film matches your photos.
Couples use them to text their save-the-date to guests, post an engagement announcement or play at the rehearsal dinner.
Engagement video vs. photos: do you need both?
| Photos only | Photos + save-the-date film | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 | $750 |
| Session length | 45 minutes | 45 minutes (filmed at the same time) |
| What you get | An edited gallery for prints, cards and your wedding website | The gallery, plus a short film with your names and date |
| Best for | Printed save-the-dates and wall art | Digital save-the-dates, social announcements and couples who’ve booked wedding video |
If you’re booking a wedding film too, the save-the-date is a great trial run. You’ll see how I work on video before the big day. More on what wedding videography costs on the Gulf Coast.
Tips for engagement photos on Pensacola Beach
- Go at golden hour. The hour before sunset is warm and flattering. The time moves by month, so see my golden hour guide.
- Pick light, flowing outfits. Movement looks great on video. Skip busy patterns and logos.
- Go barefoot at the water. Bring sandals for the walk from the car.
- Bring one personal detail. Labeled champagne, a sign with your date or your dog.
- Have a wind plan. Hair ties, a light hold and the understanding that windblown hair photographs beautifully. My beach engagement photos guide covers wind, outfits and locations.
- Have a rain plan. Keep another evening open. Some of my favorite sessions were a rainy day on Pensacola Beach.
Engagement photos and video with KDH
- Engagement session: $500 for 45 minutes at the location you choose, timed to the best light.
- Save-the-date film: +$250, filmed during the same session.
- No travel fees anywhere I work, and the session is discounted when you book a wedding package.
More sessions: Hayes and Mallory’s surprise proposal on Pensacola Beach · Sean and Brooklin in Seville Square · Fort Pickens engagement photos · Pensacola wedding videographer
FAQ: save-the-date videos and engagement films
What is a save-the-date video?
A short film, usually 30 to 90 seconds, made from your engagement session and finished with your names and wedding date. You share it with guests digitally, by text, email or social media, to announce the date.
How much does a save-the-date video cost?
With KDH it’s $250 on top of a $500 engagement session, filmed at the same time, so $750 for photos and the film together.
When should you send a save-the-date video?
The usual guidance for save-the-dates applies: six to eight months before the wedding, or 8 to 12 months for a destination wedding where guests need to book travel. Book your engagement session a month or two before that, so the film is ready.
Can one person do engagement photos and video at the same time?
Yes. That’s how I work. I switch between photo and video during the session, so it takes the same 45 minutes and you get both. The movement prompts I use for video also make the photos more natural.
What is the best time for engagement photos on Pensacola Beach?
The last hour before sunset: about 7:15 to 7:50 pm in late June, 6:55 to 7:30 pm in mid-August and 5:45 to 6:15 pm in mid-October. Sunrise sessions are quieter and cooler in summer.
