What to wear for your engagement photo session
Outfit tips for engagement photos
Choosing an outfit for your engagement photos can be tough. That’s why I wrote this guide for all of you currently planning their upcoming session. Whether it’s in the middle of summer or in the coldest months of the year, I got you!
If you’re having a difficult time deciding what to wear for your engagement photos, I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful! If you need any further help on choosing the perfect outfit to wear for your engagement photos get in touch, I would be more than happy to give feedback and help you plan the perfect outfit for your engagement photos!
Before we jump into it, here’s a quick checklist if you’re in a rush
Avoid logos, images, and patterns on your clothes
Stick mostly to solid colors
Bring an extra outfit
Think about your shoot location
Don’t match too hard, complement each other
Take risks, but make sure they represent who you are
Make sure you are comfortable
Lean towards casual
Don’t forget about functional footwear!
Take off your watch
How To Choose What To Wear For Engagement Photos
#1 Think about the location
This one is probably an obvious one, but it’s definitely the best tip I can give as you plan your engagement photoshoot outfits. Before you decide what to wear, you need to give a little thought to the location. For example, will you be in the mountains, at an exclusive hotel, or on the beach?
Here are a few examples from an engagement shoot at the NYPL.
The outfit you choose must suit the location you choose. A ballroom gown may look awesome at a hotel bar, but a little odd on top of a mountain. It’s always good to check in with your photographer. They have experience you can use, and they understand what will or won’t work at a certain location. Personally, I am always available to help my clients with their outfit choices, especially if we’re venturing to a destination I’m familiar with.
#2 Bring an extra outfit
It’s always a good idea to bring one casual and one fancy outfit for engagement photos. Just to have some variety. Too many outfits can cut into your photo taking time and create a gallery that’s all over the place. So for an hour session, I recommend sticking to two different outfits. If you’re planning a 2-hour shoot, you could consider adding a third outfit.
#3 Coordinate with your partner
Don’t match your partner in a way that looks cheesy, unless you’re going for that early 1990s cringeworthy vibe.
Instead, you’ll want to coordinate and compliment each other. This involves wearing complementary colors, and for that you can totally look up the color wheel.
Examples of the cooler tones are blue, green, purple, and gray. Warmer tones are pink, orange, red, and beige. Try to pick outfit color palettes that live within the same tone family to create a more cohesive feel in your photos.
This is obviously not a hard rule. You can also choose to contrast your environment. Blue and yellow are complementary colors on the color wheel, on opposite ends of the spectrum. Wearing primarily yellow to a beachy and marina type shoot with a blue sky and ocean will look fantastic!
#4 Don’t hesitate to dress up
This is the perfect moment to pull out all the stops! Wear that fancy dress you can never find the occasion for, put on a three-piece suit!
After your session, make it a date night and go out for a nice dinner. Websites like rent the runway are amazing, you can rent a fancy outfit and then return it after your session is over.
#5 But keep it comfortable too
If you would never wear a dress, don’t wear one! Your engagement photos should come out authentic to you. If you’re going to hate being in a dress, that will show up in your photos. Being comfortable is one of the key elements of getting real and authentic photos.
#6 Keep it minimal
What I mean by that, is to not wear too many patterns (if any at all), or shirts with recognizable logos on them. Patterns and logos take attention away from you and your partner and what’s happening between you. A t-shirt with a large recognizable logo on it may feel less like an engagement session and more like a branded shoot.
What’s usually best is to stick with non-patterned clothing with a few exceptions. Like, it’s okay to wear a red plaid shirt if your engagement shoot has a Christmas theme to it. Plaid scarfs are also great for fall and winter shoots.
Engagement shoot outfits for every season
Summer
With the summer months you might want to be sure you’re wearing something breathable, even if your session is in the late afternoon or evening. Summer engagement sessions with my clients are usually full of movement and spontaneity. Consider choosing fabrics like cotton, silk and linen — opt for lighter colors that won’t show if you sweat. Don’t forget the bug spray!
Fall
You probably guessed it! This is the season where things are a little up in the air. Depending on where you live, this might be sweater + jacket weather already or you’re still in the warmer temperatures. Consider some layers, even light ones and stay away from obvious fall colors combinations. Just say no to all-brown and orange outfits.
Winter
It’s all about layers now, just maybe a couple more layers if you’re up north. Winter also allows you to accessorize more with scarfs and hats. A great idea for those who live where it doesn’t snow often is to schedule your engagement session in an urban space as all the natural areas will be more or less brown.
Spring
For spring, most locations will have light green foliage and maybe some tulips. Colors that pop well against light greens are deep blues and oranges– if you want to compliment the foliage, aim for beiges, burnt orange, faded purples, and pastel blues.
