Engagement Photoshoot Tips

What to wear to get the most out of your engagement photoshoot

The number one question I get asked before an engagement photoshoot is, “What should we wear?” And let me tell you, this question is vital! The right outfit can make or break your photo. Photography is art, remember. If I were a painter and you were my masterpiece (because you are a masterpiece hunnnny), every single detail, color, and brushstroke, would be meticulously planned. We would have a color pallet, texture design, and spatial outline all decided on before we even set foot in front of the easel. That’s why it’s important to put a little thought into how to best curate your outfit before we get to the location and realize your beautiful Louis Voutton aren’t ideal for clambering around on a mountainside. 

Rules Are For Breaking

I’m going to lay out some ground rules here, but before I begin, it is vital to remember that rules are meant to be broken! These are just guidelines in case you find yourself at a loss for what to wear. What matters most is your experience and your level of comfort. Don’t wear something that fits the rules to a T, but that doesn’t feel like you. If you’re uncomfortable, that will %100 come across in your photos. Whether you want to hike in a full tux, or nothing at all because that’s when you feel like a friggin badass, then you have my full support!

1. Comfort is king.

If you’re feeling restricted the whole time or are constantly worried about your too-tight pants and if your butt crack is hanging out or not, then you won’t be able to be fully present for the experience. I want your focus to be on loving each other and getting the best photos possible.

2. Does it make sense?

Think about our shoot location and what kind of attire would usually be appropriate. Are we going to a beach? Barefoot is probably best. Will there be hiking? Maybe don’t wear heels. 

3. Compliment yourself!

Wear colors that go well with your skin tone. I typically advise against bright reds,pinks, and oranges and encourage earthy, neutrals. This doesn’t mean beige on beige on beige. If you want to wear red, go for a dark maroon. If yellow is your jam, think hipster mustard yellow. Picture the color you want to wear as how it might organically be found in nature and go from there. 

4. Compliment each other!

There’s no need to go full matchy-matchy. Wear colors that work together, but don’t wear all the same colors and morph into one brown blob. If one of you is wearing cream on top and tan on bottom, maybe the other wears light blue with black denim. You want to stand out from each other, but still fall within the same color pallet. 

5. The world is your color pallet.

Speaking of pallets, think about matching yourself to the environment. It’s all part of one painting right? So if we’re going to be in the woods, think forest green, mahogany brown, light tan from the dirt, and blues from the sky. This will make the whole image cohesive. Bright colors in neutral spaces can be very distracting, we want the focus to be on you, not what you’re wearing. 

6. But what about patterns?

I typically discourage bright, bold, chunky patterns because they can be distracting (and often clash with the environment), and again, we want the focus to be you. Sometimes a soft floral or neutral stripe can be great, though I usually advise that only one partner wears a pattern so they don’t clash with each other. As always though, rules are made to be broken! If bold patterns are your jive, then rock on!

7. Dress for the weather.

If it’s hot, think about lighter, flowy materials that aren’t going to leave pit stains on your forever photos. If it’s cold, you’ll want layers and warm materials. 

8. Props to you.

Props and accessories can add another layer of dimension to the story of your engagement photoshoot. Hats, sunglasses, scarves all add interest and energy to the photo. Flowers, picnic materials, an old pickup truck, blankets, your pup (yes to all the doggos) are all great examples of props that won’t make your photo feel straight out of a 2002 highschool senior portrait session. 

9. I am at your disposal.

Please text me, facetime, email me any of your options! Bring 3-4 options each for tops and bottoms to the shoot and we can decide together (just keep in mind this might involve changing in the back of a car).

10. Be true to you.

I covered this in the intro, but it really is the most important thing. We’re telling your story here, so if that means we throw all of these rules out the window and you wear stripes, plaid, and polka-dots all at once, then so be it! I want you to be as comfortable and confident as possible so your personality shines through and the final images are as authentic as can be.

These guidelines should get you on your way to constructing the perfect outfits for your photoshoot. If you have any questions at all then shoot me a text or an email and we will dive in together. 

Check out this blog for more ideas on how to make your engagement photoshoot meaningful.