If you are stuck on what to wear for your engagement photos, you are not alone. About ninety percent of my engagement sessions ask what to wear. So, I figured it’s not just my couples that ask this question so why not share!? So. . . Hi! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here! If you’re here, you most likely just got engaged so. . . CONGRATULATIONS! I’m truly so happy for you and love that you came here to start planning your photos!
Planning your outfit for this session can be a little stressful but at least you’re doing your research ;) I get it! These photos will be used for a lot of things like save the dates, your wedding website and possibly your first home! Don’t stress! You’re doing the right thing by researching so, let’s get started!
1. Wear clothes that are YOU!
Wear outfit(s) that you feel confident in! The more confident you are the more you will LOVE your photos, I promise. Do you normally dress bohemian? Then don’t go for the preppy look! Does your fiance normally wear a baseball hat? Then don’t make him wear a top hat - LOL. In all seriousness, be you! Your guests that are going to see your save the dates and wedding website love you for you, so don’t change. You should look like yourself but, at your finest.
2. No "twinsies!"
You know in middle school when it was cute to match and you'd yell "twinsies!" Yea. . . That's not what we are going for. . . The first thing that came to your mind when planning was to match. “Joe can wear a white shirt with jeans and I’ll wear a white shirt with a denim skirt.” No. No. As a professional photographer, I know when there’s too much of one color or hue the image can blend all together and look pretty boring. So, just stay away from being twinsies ;)
3. Colors
If you have absolutely no idea what to wear, I recommend outfits that are pastels, neutrals or cool tones. All of these colors are very photogenic and will add to your photos without being too distracting. You could also choose a color scheme to allow all your images to flow and look uniform. I mean, who doesn’t love a good color scheme?! Let’s be real, your faces and love for one another should be the focus of this photo shoot.
4. Classic, not trendy
Wearing outfits that are classic rather than trendy is a perfect start to making sure your photos will be timeless. You don’t want to look back at your engagement photos and think, “that style was so 2020.”
5. Outfit Change
Another question I get frequently asked is, "How many outfits the couple should bring?" The simple answer is no more than two. It’s not a fashion shoot. Plus, if you’re constantly changing you are losing precious shooting time. If you are worried about a place to change on location I recommend dressing in layers. This way, you have a quick and easy way to switch up the look without taking too much time. Just don't do so many layers that you end up looking like Ralphie from A Christmas Story.
6. Shoes!
Wear shoes that make sense and are comfortable. Or. . . if you're on the beach, don't wear shoes. If you are doing your photo shoot in the woods or on the beach, it doesn't make sense to wear those cute stilettos. Trust me, I've seen girls try and wear their cute heels on the beach. . . Let's just say it didn't go very well.
Bonus! What not to wear for engagement photos:
- Matching Outfits
- Crazy patterns
- Loud colors (especially neon)
- Nothing too loose or too tight
- Too many accessories
I hope these tips help you plan your engagement session. If you use these tips, I promise you will love your engagement photos for years to come! Happy planning!
Still deciding whether or not to do an engagement shoot? Should you just skip the engagement session and save money and time? Trust me - You're going to want engagement photos. Head over to 6 Reasons Engagement Sessions are a MUST!
What other tips helped you plan what to wear for your engagement session?! I would love to hear about them in the comments!
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