10 tips to ensure the Perfect Engagement Session Outfits
So you’re ready to take some jaw dropping photos for your engagement session. You’re excited to show off your relationship to all your friends and family but are left with a head filled with questions; What do I wear? What looks best on camera? What is going to go best with our natural setting? How do we insure there is life and fun in our photos? While some of this comes down to working with someone who makes you feel comfortable and brings out your best, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re going in with your best foot forward. Here are 10 tips to help you look your best and feel your most confident!
1. Get Comfortable
The biggest key to getting great engagement photos is feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin. Because of this, I suggest wearing something that you feel confident in. That confidence will radiate through the photos and be transparent on the other side. Nothing is worse than fighting your outfit for a whole session or feeling awkward in something you’ve never warn before! Start with something you love the look of and feel great in!
2. Consider the formality and location
Engagement sessions are a time to dress it up a bit from everyday life, however, you don't want to go overboard. Ask yourself what type of environment you’d like to shoot in and go from there. An evening dress and suit may look great shooting in an urban downtown setting, however, it'll be out of place in a more natural setting like a forest or park. Try to dress to the higher end of the location without looking out of place. Also, be sure to consider your footwear (nothing's worse than a nice outfit paired with dirty old sneakers). If you’re having trouble deciding on a location for your session, check out this blog post for some killer ideas!
3. Pick your colors carefully
Color is one of the main elements that set the tone of your whole engagement gallery so you'll want to be sure to pick colors that you feel great in and also coordinate well with the setting. Lighter colors tend to work best in the spring and summer months while darker colors tend to work better against fall foliage and winter whites. Lighter neutrals tend to work well when shooting with water in the frame and generally are a safe bet across the board. When in doubt bring a few neutral options to choose from.
4. Coordinate but don't match
Speaking of color, aim to coordinate with your partner without matching. We want to show you two as a cohesive unit that flows well and complements one another, not as twins dressed by their mother. The best way to accomplish this is to pick a general color tone and level of formality to dress to, and then dress to that look without matching exactly.
5. Avoid busy patterns or stripes
Generally speaking, avoid patterns and large logos that are distracting to the eye. We are trying to capture the love that you two share, and put that front and center. Subtle patterns and stripes are okay but if it'll take away from the two of you, it's better to leave it at home. Also, small, tightly packed lines or stripes can often give off a wavy or rainbow effect in photographs (or what is known as moire). It’s best to avoid these all together!
6. How's it gonna flow?
Do you want some movement and motion to your photos? Consider wearing a dress or skirt that will flow in the wind or with your movement. The movement can add a dreamy element to your photos that will help elevate them from everyday life. On the flip side, consider how a your pieces of clothing will flow if it’s extremely windy or gusty. You don’t want to be fighting your outfit the whole time under those conditions.
7. Accessorize
Bring a few accessories to dress up your outfit and add to your look. Have a fun hat that goes with your outfit? Wear it! Have some awesome earrings, shoes, jacket, or even a blanket to snuggle up in? Bring them. Want to spray some champagne or pop some confetti? Bring it, it'll add life and fun while giving you two something to interact with making the photos more candid and natural. Accessories add a fun detail and some can be taken off or put back on to bring variety to a shoot.
8. Bring 2 looks
During a standard engagement session, you'll have plenty of time to change clothes and location and I suggest we do both. Either bringing two totally different outfits or a piece that we can swap out (blouse, jacket, etc.) to make one look more formal and another that’s more casual.
9. Get your hair, makeup, and nails done and your ring cleaned
Feel free to treat yourself to professional hair and makeup! This isn’t for everyone, but if you are into it, DO IT!! You will not regret it. This would be great time for makeup trial, or just to get to know your wedding makeup artist better! Speaking of makeup, when it comes to lipstick, make sure you are wearing smudge-proof/stain-proof lipstick. You and your partner will be cuddling up close and kissing and you don’t want to transfer anything over to your partner’s lips/face. Also, be sure to have your nails looking great as we will be focusing on that ring!!! And by extension your nails. So get those nails done up and your ring cleaned (the day before or day of) so it’ll sparkle its best during the shoot!
10. Relax and have fun!
Last, and most importantly, remember to have fun! This should be a time where you enjoy the company of your soon to be spouse and have fun with the whole experience. We are going to get some AMAZING PHOTOS, so enjoy the process and a night dressed up with your best friend!
Following these 10 tips will insure you have an amazing experience and exit the other end with photos that you will cherish!