What to wear for your engagement session
Engagement sessions are seriously so so fun. I never knew until after I was married, how much I would treasure the photos from our engagement session. The engagement time is totally it’s own season of life…with new joys, new challenges, new titles (it’s so weird to start calling someone your fiance!)…and it really does deserve a whole shoot of its own!
The one concern I hear from most of my clients is that they don’t know what to wear! Here are a few easy tips for ya!
You pick first. ;)
This sounds kind of selfish, but it really just makes it easier if you pick what you would love to wear first, and then help your guy choose something that coordinates!
I think most colors look great in photos, so feel free to go softer and more neutral if that’s your style…or wear some pops of bold color. (Ok, here’s the only thing I’ll be kind of bossy about though… neon colors are the only colors that I say really don’t work in photos. The light bounces off of them and casts a crazy color onto people’s faces.)
2. Patterns or solids?!
Patterns really help mix things up and add visual interest, but a good rule to go by is that if one of you is in a pattern, the other one needs to be wearing a solid. You don’t want your patterns to clash. Also, steer away from teeny tiny patterns like thin stripes. They don’t tend to photograph well!
3. Embrace layers and accessories
I’m not entirely sure why, but accessories photograph really well! I think it’s because when we look at a photo, our eye is scanning for different places to “land”…and adding in an accessory or two or gives the eye a little more texture to look at.
PS The easiest place to start if you really aren’t sure what to wear is both of you wearing solid colors that coordinate, and then adding in some pops of color with your jewelry or a scarf. If you’re not a jewelry person, it’s totally ok to skip it as well!
4. First outfit: Be comfortable
I looove action shots. I love having my clients move around a lot during the shoot so they don’t feel like stiff robots, and because I love to show off the fun and playful side of their relationship. So I recommend starting in something that you’re comfortable sitting, walking, dancing, potentially laying on the ground in (if you’re up for that! ;) I usually start with a lot of movement at first because it helps loosen couples up for the rest of the shoot.
5. Second outfit: Get a little fancier
If you guys like to dress up, feel free to bring a second outfit that’s a little fancier. Just don’t dress up so much that you feel uncomfortable, you definitely want to still be able to move! ;)
6. Text your photographer
Seriously! Please feel free to text me with any ideas that you are considering or if you are stumped! Just lay the clothes out on your bed or the floor and take a quick shot and send it to me! I can tell you if I think you need to change anything or if you’re good to go!
Above all else, please just know that the focus isn’t your outfits! The goal isn’t for it to be some kind of fashion photoshoot (that’s not my style at all), but for you two to really be able to focus on one another during the shoot and for me to bring out what you both love best about each other!
P.S. Rules are made to be broken…look at these cuties who broke the rules and mixed patterns. Sometimes it just works!
