What to Wear for Engagement Photos
Wondering what to wear for your engagement photos?
Consider what all they will be used for.
Engagement photos are used for everything from your save-the-dates, wedding programs, invitations wedding website and even as prints and decor on your big day! They are a great opportunity to show your friends and family members who you are as a couple. Whether they are fun and care-free or romantic and intimate. Plan accordingly and inform your photographer a head of time on the look and feel you are wanting.
Wear clothes that make you feel like yourself!
If you're strictly a T-shirt and jeans kind of couple, now's not the time to pull out a beaded ball gown and tux. You should feel comfortable in the outfits you choose. Look like yourselves, but at your best! Wearing something that is outside of your comfort level will make you look and feel awkward in photos.
Complement Each Other, But Don't Match
Complementing your partner's look is one thing, but matching outfits and patterned prints aren't ideal for portrait sessions. When deciding how you and your partner will dress, look for complementary colors and solid prints. Try to stay away from anything too busy, as it can be an unnecessary distraction in photos.
Incorporate at Least One Accessory
Accessories ad dynamic and give visual interest to your look. Ladies, scarfs or a chunky necklace is an easy accessory to add and take away giving style and a variety of looks . Guys, watches, bracelets and other small details that can be touched, gives something for your hands to do and show interaction in the photos. Items with significant meanings, like gifts, etc. are great additions for an engagement session.
Stick With Two Outfits
Don't treat your session as a full-fledged fashion photo shoot. You're going to have a million wedding photos where you're all dolled up and looking gorgeous. These are the pictures where you get to remember who you are at the end of the day when it's only the two of you. Two outfits are more than enough to reflect this in couples, and it ensures you won't spend your entire engagement session in a rush to change into the next set of clothes.
Think About the Season & Location
If your session is in the Fall or Winter, bundle up! consider scarfs, winter hats and warm mugs of coco or coffee. Embrace the season and incorporate a Tree farm. Sessions are great when there is an activity so, consider cutting a tree down or visiting a coffee shop downtown. Anything to spark natural interactions.
If it is spring or Summer. Be bold with colors and have fun with you outfits. Maybe visit an ice cream shop downtown with bright vibrant colors or go shoe-less on the beach.
What NOT to Wear for Engagement Photos
Clothing accenting your least favorite body parts: If you have certain body parts that you dislike or are uncomfortable about, don’t wear clothing that accents them. For example, if you do not like your arms, do not wear sleeveless tops or strapless dresses (this also applies to wedding gowns!). If you do not like your legs, do not wear a short skirt or a short dress. Darker colors such as navy blue or black also look great and create a slimming effect.
Fluorescent Colors: Fluorescent colors (such as bright orange) tend to color cast on faces, necks and hair. When the shirt is so bright, it often also changes the color of the person standing next to them.
Trendy clothing: They will date your photos as soon as the trend goes out of style.
Major changes with your hair and makeup: You want your engagement photos to reflect who you really are, and you want to be comfortable in your own skin.
T-shirts and tennis shoes: This includes white t-shirts under button-up dress shirts with the top buttons undone. You don’t want a little white t-shirt peeking out above your nice dress shirt.
Large shirts that are not tucked in. For guys, it’s usually better to wear a belt if you are wearing a nice button-up shirt. Sometimes, if untucked shirts are too big or too wide, they don’t look good and are “boxy.” Fitted shirts and jackets look much better than wide boxy ones.
Bottom line: Be you and be comfortable. Don’t do anything drastic and come relaxed and with an open mind. Don’t over think this session, just have fun and we’ll handle the rest!
