“What should we wear for our engagement session?”
is one of the most common questions I hear before everyone’s shoot. The choices are endless, and obviously, everyone wants to look their absolute best, so the thought of putting a few outfits together can likely lead to a bit of stress. Let’s put that stress off to the side, because this quick and easy guide will get you moving in the right direction to looking, and feeling, your best.
Keep it Casual
Ease into your session with clothes that you’d wear any old day of the week. You’ll feel comfortable in your normal attire, which will help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
Pro Tip: Plan to do your most playful and fun poses with this outfit!
Add some Style
For your 2nd outfit, think of it like you’re getting dressed to go to your friends backyard wedding. You want to look a little nicer than your every day attire. A nice boho style dress and a complimenting polo and dress slacks will 100% do the trick.
Pro Tip: This would be a good time to really lean into a specific style for both of you. Something boho, preppy, or vintage would all be great choices.
Make it Dressy
If you’re looking to really add some gorgeous flair to your engagement photos, get dressed up! You can keep it a little more on the casual side, or go as glam as your heart desires. The goal is to make yourself really stand out.
Pro Tip: Go big! If both of you are dressed like you’re about to walk the red carpet, not only will you feel amazing, but your photographer will probably squeal with joy. We love it when our clients show up with show stopping outfits!
Prepare for Adventure
Personally, I love adding an adventurous element to the engagement sessions I shoot (and my clients do too!), so if this is something you’re anticipating for your session you’ll want to come prepared. Wear something you won’t mind getting dirty, wet, sandy, or messy in any other kind of way. A cute flowy dress or anything else that’s light weight and cute will do the trick.
Pro Tip: Bring towels, extra undergarments, and anything else you think you might need to get cleaned up afterwards.
Things to Avoid
Before I send you on your way to your closet (or to the store), there are a few things you should know NOT to do before your session to avoid getting a gallery back full of images you’re not really happy with.
1. Don’t Exactly Match
You and your partner shouldn’t try to 100% color match each other. For example, if one of you is wearing a purple dress, the other should not wear a purple shirt. Instead, find a complementary color for that purple dress. Check out colorkit.co to choose the main color, then scroll down to check out all the different ways you can coordinate your partner’s color palette.
2. Avoid Getting a Spray Tan
This isn’t quite outfit related, but most photographers will tell you that you should definitely not get a spray tan prior to your session. The oranges in the spray tan usually come out a little odd in camera, and often times the spray tan rubs off a bit onto lighter-colored clothing.
3. Don’t Wear Obviously Dirty Clothing
For most people, this is a no-brainer. Once in a rare while though, someone shows up in something that’s obviously stained and looks like it hasn’t seen a washing machine in years. Just remember to check what you’re planning on bringing to ensure it’s suitable for a session.
4. Check your Shoes
While tennies can work great for certain looks, I wouldn’t recommend wearing them with your more dressed up styles. Make sure your shoes match the vibe of your entire outfit, otherwise they’ll really stand out in your photos (and not in a good way).
Now that you have a better idea of what do to, and what not to do, it’s time to check out your closet and do a little shopping. If you’re not entirely sure that what you’ve picked out matches, or if you’re feeling like something isn’t quite right, reach out to your photographer. Send them a few photos of what you’re thinking of wearing, along with any questions you have, and any seasoned pro will be able to guide you with your more specific questions. However, after reading this, I’m hoping you’re feeling a lot more confident and won’t even need to worry about it!
Best wishes to you both, and I hope your engagement session is perfect!
- Taber Lacie
Need some inspo? Scroll through these photos and save them to your Pinterest to create a mood board of ideas
