One of the biggest questions we always hear from our couples is “What should we wear for our engagement session?”. It can be a little intimidating to have your picture taken…we still want to look nice, make sure nothing is in our teeth, and that our hair is behaving! Here are some tips for outfits that will make the engagement shoot a little less scary!
Style Tips: For Her
Say Yes to the Dress
Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, snow or the beach. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! We recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two! The dressier the better. You can never go wrong with sequins!
Choosing Colors
When choosing what to wear for your engagement session, we recommend selecting lighter color tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, and leather brown.
Coordinating the Looks
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your fiance, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palettes coordinate, but don’t necessarily “match.” You should each aim to wear a different dominant color, but stay within a similar color palette family. Most ladies choose their dress first and then put together their man’s outfit based on that. That’s why we have a section for each of you.
Make a Statement
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Big statement necklaces bring a lot of pop to the photos (and they’re just fun!), while the smaller, delicate ones are not as noticeable on camera. Belts, bracelets, and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well.
Style Tips: For Him
As Long as He’s Got That Suit & Tie
From James Bond to Don Draper, men look most striking in a well-tailored suit. If he doesn’t have one, now’s the perfect time to invest in something he’ll wear for the rest of his life! Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas patterns tend to distract the eye.
Layered Looks
Next time you walk by a store like J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Adding another layer will bring an extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests, and coats up the level of any look. He could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!
It’s All in the Details
Choosing what to wear to your engagement session for guys is sometimes a lot easier than the ladies. So it’s extra important to pay attention to the little details of your outfit. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on the face, you fell in love with. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals, and jeans at home, too. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, and watches are sharp compliments to any suit.
Styling Your Session
Want your engagement images to look more editorial? Bring a little extra something with you! A freshly-picked bouquet for you to hold or fresh flowers in a flower crown is a fun way to bring a little extra romance to everyday objects. Whether it’s larger items like classic cars, or smaller ones like blankets or hats, even incorporating just one extra styled item, could be a fun way to make your session more unique.
