Engagement Session Wardrobe Tips - Three Ways To Elevate Your Shoot With Style
One of the best experiences during your engagement season is your couples session with your photographer. This is something you’ve been looking forward to for quite some time, and rightfully so. You may have already imagined what you’d wear many times over, but options can be overwhelming. Choosing outfits for your photos can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are my tips to consider when choosing clothing for your session.
NUMBER OF OUTFITS
Couples usually have 2 or 3 outfit choices. More often than not, it takes time to warm up in front of the camera to feel comfortable. Once you get into a flow, you don’t want to interrupt that to change clothes over and over again. Two outfits are great to maximize your time with each other in front of the camera. If you want to spice it up, you can add a third “just for fun” outfit. We’ll talk more about that later.
OUTFIT #1 - A CHILL EVERYDAY LOOK
I’d recommend choosing a “chill everyday” vibe for outfit No.1 - This could include a pair of fitted jeans, a solid tee paired with a bomber jacket. Think street style or whatever is normal for you. Often times, there is a fear of a casual outfit for your session. It’s a special session of course, and we’re documenting a special season of your life. How could jeans and a tee shirt compliment that? I’m here to tell you, this doesn’t have to feel sloppy. Most likely, you’re regularly wearing an outfit like this with your significant other. It’s important to remember you for how you are in every day life. Who can argue with comfy + cute vibes?!
Another thing to consider is the background we are shooting in. A simple, casual outfit can compliment and calm down busy city surroundings. It puts the focus on you and compliments your environment. Having a professional photo taken in jeans is also very different than a camera phone snapshot. Jeans add a lot of texture to a professional photo that you wouldn’t see in a phone photo. A professional image will also add a lot of depth, which makes everything more interesting. Casual looks are really trending right now. Plus, never underestimate the power of accessories, they’ll take your casual look to the next level.
OUTFIT #2 - BOOST THAT CONFIDENCE LOOK
For outfit No.2 - Think about clothing you feel confident in, and find ways to elevate that look. This could be adding a brimmed hat, a leather jacket, vintage necklaces, a chic leather belt, etc. You might really want to wear a flowy dress to embrace the romance in your photos. That’s great! But, it doesn’t always have to be a dress. An important note to remember when you’re pairing outfits - busy patterns will upstage one another. If your dress has patterns, put him in a handsome solid shirt. Matching color is a big NO in my eyes. We want the color tones to speak to each other, just not the exact same shade. And think shades of white as standard colors for your pairing, and bring in a different color if you choose.
Also, for the guys - just because the girl is wearing a dress doesn’t mean the guy needs to match that level of dressiness. Feel free to pair the guy in a fitted sweater and a casual jacket. It’ll eliminate any stuffy dressy vibes and help match the heartfelt mood of your photos. There is something about a man dressing very classically handsome that reads sophisticate.
OUTFIT #3 - the bonus LOOK
You may solely choose to have two outfits, and that’s so great. However, if you’re more of a daring person or someone who is drawn to bold trends, outfit No.3 as bonus look might be just for you. This can be an opportunity to wear that leather jumpsuit, the cool high-waisted-pants or the embroidered jacket you’ve been eyeing but think might be too “out there” for photos. Keep in mind, there is no pressure with this outfit. You can live out your fashion fantasies! You’ve chosen two solid looks, so this is just a bonus and the cherry on top of your otherwise solid session.
I’m happy to help dream up what this could look like for you. Sometimes, this outfit is the one that truly shows off your personality. This is the last outfit of your shoot, so by now you are completely loosened up and your true personality will shine the brightest… save the best for last!
LOCATION + OUTFITS
As your photographer, I will help you choose locations to match your outfit vibe. It’s about creating overall cohesion, and location is a huge part of that. People don’t generally wear a suit and tie to the beach, so we might choose a city skyline for that outfit instead. If the city isn’t your vibe, avoid wearing a suit and tie. If you’re shooting in a grassy field, choose earth tone colors that blend with the surroundings and keep the focus on you. If you have a location in mind that is meaningful to you, plan your outfits around it and embrace complimenting the space.
most importantly, BE PRACTICAL
Don’t wear something that isn’t you. Why would you wear a formal dress to an engagement session when you never wear a formal dress or suit and tie? Be yourself and make sure you’re comfortable and can move in your outfits - because you’ll be moving a lot. Chances are you will also get dirty.
Think about where we will be shooting. If it’s at the beach, I’ll most likely ask you to walk along the water (or hop right in). It’s totally okay to go without shoes, too, in fact I highly advise it! If it’s in a grassy field, heels aren’t the best choice since you will sink into the ground, and you won’t see your shoes anyway with tall grass. Here’s your chance to wear those gorgeous leather boots! If we are walking a lot, be sure to bring some comfy shoes for in-between locations to keep your feet from hurting.
last thing - style with your photographer
You’ve chosen your photographer and essentially have placed your trust in their skills to photograph your relationship. Utilize their knowledge. I start the outfit + location conversation with my couples weeks before their shoot date. Together we can figure out ways to elevate your shoot and make it completely unique to you. My clients are regularly sharing photos of outfit options with me, which allows us to bounce ideas off each other. And no, never feel that you’re bothering me, I love knowing what will be in front of my lens as it helps me to envision your movements. It truly is a collaborative effort and completely worth it after you see the magic your session will be. I truly love being an asset to my couples (you know… I would be stylist or an interior designer if I wasn’t a photographer), and I love helping make your session a true testament to who you are as a couple.
Well there you have it! My tips to help elevate your photo shoot. Now you can walk into your engagement session in full confidence. If you have questions, please reach out. Considering a shoot with me? Contact me and we can dream up your own shoot together.
