The Beauty of Comfort - What to Wear for Your Engagement Session
What to wear for engagement photos is one of the most common questions we hear from our recently engaged couples. They ask us “What should we wear for our photo shoot?”. You’ll be reminiscing over your engagement photos for many happy years to come, so it’s important to think seriously about what to wear to your engagement shoot.
The most important thing to remember is that your photos should be uniquely you, so read on for our top tips for engagement shoot.
The most important thing during your engagement shoot is to be yourself! The whole purpose of the shoot is to capture exactly who you are, and show your personalities. If you pick an outfit that just isn’t ‘you’, you’ll feel uncomfortable, and trust us, it’ll show in the photos.
Think about your body type as well; you know what suits you and what doesn’t, so don’t just pick something you thought looked great in a magazine. If you’re worrying about what your arms look like in that strapless dress, it’s going to be harder to capture those beautiful moments of a couple in love.
Dress for the season, especially if your engagement shoot is outdoors. Wearing thin summer clothes in the winter is only going to make you cold and miserable, and you don’t want goose bumps ruining your engagement photos. Similarly, wearing heavy winter clothes in the height of summer is a surefire recipe for sweatiness, and I’m sure sweat stains and melting make-up isn’t the look you’re going for!
You’ll want to coordinate with each other, rather than looking like Mr. and Mrs. Identical. Think about colors that complement each other, say cherry red and bright blue, or baby pink and turquoise, and make sure your outfits are color coordinated. The same goes for how dressy you’re planning to be; if you’re going for a formal look, then both of you need to be formal – while her in a ball-gown and him in shorts and a t-shirt might seem quirky, is it really the look you‘ll want to remember?
Use your location. Depending on whether your shoot is outdoors or indoors, think about what looks will best set off the backdrop of your photos. If your setting is a grand hall in a stately home, a dress and a suit will look great, but the same outfits won’t translate as well to a woodland grove.
Rock layers and accessories. This is all about giving you choice and flexibility, and if it usually takes you a while to feel natural in front of the camera, accessories are perfect for giving you something to do with your hands.
Give yourselves options on the day. Even if you’re certain you know what look you’re going for, bring at least two outfits, one dressy and one casual, and mix it up. Trying different looks makes for great versatility in your engagement shoot, so ladies, give yourself the option of a skirt and pants.
Another one just for the ladies – you know we’re going to get some amazing shots of your engagement ring, right? So make sure that the ring is sparklingly clean, and your nails are done.
Our Top Dos and Don’ts for Engagement Shoot Fashion
Do’s
- Professional hair and makeup
- Professional wardrobe consultants
- Embrace bold colors
- Splurge on fantastic new shoes
- Launder and iron your clothes (we’re not your mom, sorry! Even Photoshop won’t get those wrinkles out)
- Bring props (we love including items that are especially meaningful to you; your pet, an instrument, a hobby, sport or whatever suits you the most)
Don’ts
- Wear white or khaki (they can make pale complexions seem washed out)
- Wear anything with big logos or lots of writing (it detracts from the two of you)
- Wear exactly matching outfits
- Wear brand new clothes straight from the store
- Wear clothes that are too tight or too baggy (if it fits perfectly, you’ll feel perfect; if it doesn’t. . .)
- Wear white socks that peek out of your pants please guys!
- Tan right before your shoot (tanning disasters can happen at any time, but right before your engagement shoot? Disaster!)