How to pick an outfit for your engagement photos
When it comes to having your engagement photos taken, picking a photographer and a beautiful or significant location isn’t the only thing that matters. Your outfit can absolutely impact how your images turn out!
Clothing can physically represent your personality, reflect and interact with your environment, or distract from your beautiful faces. So it’s important to consider what you’re going to wear during your session and how it will both reflect you and your surroundings.
Picking an outfit for your engagement photos
There are four key elements to consider when picking your outfit for your engagement session: patterns, color palettes, accessories, and movement.
Patterns
First: Keep it simple! Try to avoid crazy bold, colorful patterns with a lot going on. These can draw too much attention away from you two! Patterns with small or simple prints and neutral colors typically photograph best. Of course, if that’s your style, let’s embrace it and play it up!!!
Second: You’ll want to mix and match. If one of you decides to wear some sort of pattern, the other should pick a solid color. Too many competing patterns can make a photo look busy or overwhelming! Your outfits should add balance to the photographs, not create distractions.
Third: Add a little character. Instead of adding a pattern, think about playing with textures! Chunky knit sweaters, linen tops, vintage tees, and ripped jeans all have texture that stands out in subtle ways and photograph beautifully.
Color palettes
When it comes to selecting colors for your session that will photograph best, I typically recommend sticking to neutrals. But neutral doesn't mean only black, white, and grey—there are neutrals in every color. Think rust instead of bright red, forest green instead of neon, and peach instead of hot pink.
The goal is not to distract too much from your connection, and bright colors can sometimes do that. With that said, if you absolutely LOVE a certain bright color and you want to make a statement with your outfit, that's totally fine and in some cases, rules are made to be broken. I want you to feel like yourselves!
Props and accessories
Props and accessories can really make your session feel more like you. If you enjoy date nights with picnics, you could bring a blanket, charcuterie board, and a bottle of wine to incorporate that into your session. If you go for nightly bike rides around your neighborhood, let's grab some photos of you two doing just that. Love stargazing in the back of your truck? Let’s jump in and go!
Accessories like hats, funky jackets, scrunchies, jewelry, and bandanas can all add a personal and fun touch to your photos. Bring a variety of your favorites, and we'll play around with adding them in!
Movement
Whether it’s your hair billowing in the wind, a sweater falling off your shoulder, or a dress dancing around you, movement can bring such vibrant energy to the session. Photographs may be moments frozen in time, but details like this help create a more powerful story. For those who prefer a more dressed up look, flowy dresses are always a great option. For those who prefer a more casual look, wear clothing that you’re able to easily sit down and move your arms around in without feeling constricted in any way. The more comfortable you are, the more you can focus on each other and making every minute count.
My best advice
I know it can feel daunting to find the perfect looks for your session. While some of my couples prefer to go out and buy a new outfit that makes them feel fierce and beautiful, I find that a lot of couples are comfortable in clothing they already own. Dig through your closet and see what catches your eye! What do you reach for the most? The last thing I want is for you to feel like you have to dress or look a certain way that feels unnatural to you!
If wearing heels and a dress is your jam, go for it. If you’re more of a jeans and a tee kind of person, then wear exactly that! Somewhere in the middle of the spectrum? Bring both options! I want you to wear whatever makes you feel amazing and confident because ultimately, your photos will look the best they can if you’re feeling yourself!
Pro tip: Bring a bag or something you use to store your phones, watches, wallets, hair bands, and sunglasses during your session.
For more engagement session tips and tricks, read my other blog posts!
Cheers,
Emma
