5 TIPS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS
Your engagement session is such an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful when it comes to deciding what to wear. You probably have been sitting on Pinterest searching for “engagement photo outfit ideas” or “engagement wardrobe inspiration,” etc. Stress no more because it should be fun and I hope these tips will help you choose outfits you’ll love during your engagement photos!
Choose Comfort Over Current Trends
Comfort is the most important thing during engagement photos - comfort in front of the camera, comfort with your photographer, comfort with your partner, comfort in your clothing. If you’re not comfortable in your outfit, it will show in the photos. Think about your personal style for a moment. Do you wear dresses or heels often or are you used to wearing jeans and a cute top? Those wardrobe pieces may look great on other people, but if you’re not used to wearing dresses or can’t walk in heels (hi, meeee!), it will show in the photos. Don’t let other people’s fashion choices encourage your personal style to a point of discomfort. The last thing any photographer wants for their clients is an uncomfortable session. If you’re set on wearing a new pair of heels or trying a new outfit, wear those pieces ahead of time. Practice wearing heels beforehand, even if for 10-15 minutes a day. It will boost your confidence if you’re comfortable.
2. Casual and Formal
Most photographers allow 1-2 outfits during an engagement session and personally I encourage it. Before any session I send an overview of what to expect, which details outfit ideas and what to bring. More specifically, I suggest to bring a casual outfit and a more formal outfit, so we can show diversity as we change locations. I suggest starting with the casual look first so you can get comfortable/warmed up. By the time you're in the formal look, you'll be a pro! Keep reading to see some examples a little further down.
3. Keep Your Backdrop in Mind
Hopefully you’ve chosen a backdrop before choosing your outfits or maybe you’re choosing the backdrop based on your outfits. Either way, keeping the location in mind is important. Colorful backdrops can either be met with even more color or simple outfits such as jeans and a white tank top as pictured above. If you are planning to take photos on a beach, aim to dress in clothes that are light and flowing. If you’ll be surrounded by fall leaves, layering in textures is a great option. Again this is where your personal style comes into play - choose outfits in colors and textures you’re comfortable in that will enhance the backdrop. Build a mood board of outfit ideas and poses based on your backdrop, too.
Casual outfits are perfect for poses with a lot of movement. Ever wonder how everyone looks so happy, comfortable, and natural? Well, a lot of it has to do with movement and action based posing rather than static posing. I tell all of my couples ahead of time to expect a workout, both cardio and lifting between running around the beach, piggyback rides, and spinning around. Don’t forget props like a skateboard, a blanket, or a save the date sign.
Casual-Formal outfits or what some might consider business casual outfits are also a great option for an in between outfit or if you’re planning to only do one outfit the entire session. It can be as simple as a romper/jumpsuit with your partner’s button down shirt with jeans/chinos or a long flowy top with jean shorts. I’ll say it again, think about what you and your partner are most comfortable in and build from there.
Formal outfits, I mean hello date night!! Need I say more? You’re likely getting your makeup done (pro tip: use your engagement session to do your makeup trial), doing your hair, and you probably bought a new outfit, which sounds like key components to a date night to me. This is likely the only time you’re planning to take photos with your hunny, so why not dress up a bit, get some beautiful photos and enjoy a date night after?
4. Try The Outfits On
Don’t forget to try your outfits on ahead of time. Don’t wait until the day of or the day before when it’s too late to purchase something else. Try your outfits on and take pictures in the mirror or have your significant other take photos of you in your backyard or on your evening beach walk. Practice some poses in the mirror while you’re at it, too. If can’t decide which outfit to wear, get some opinions on your outfits by sharing the photos with your best friends or your family.
5. HAVE FUN!
Go out there and have fun!! I know, cliche, but the sooner you start to think about this as fun, the more fun you’ll have throughout the entire process. One of my couples had a nightmare before their engagement session because they were so stressed out about taking photos. All of their stress and worries were alleviated as soon as the engagement session started. Remember, you’ve hired a professional, someone you trust, so if you’re still worried, talk to your photographer. By all means, I’d suggest to even send photos of your outfits to your photographer, too! Get ready to have some fun during your engagement photos!!