Part I: What To Wear To Your Engagement Session
The eternal question of “what do I wear?" always resurfaces at the time of your engagement session.
While each session and couple is unique, there are some general guidelines that I recommend in order to feel your best. Remember: there’s no such thing as “too much” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun!
In part II of this series, I’m sharing tips for guys!
Say Yes to the Dress
Dresses and skirts photograph beautifully because they are extremely flattering and usually have some movement in the design (amazing on camera). Cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well.
Number of Outfits
Two different looks with one “wow” dress, and then another shorter cocktail-length dress or a more casual “us on a date” outfit I find give a robust portfolio from your session. But if you want to bring two “wow” dresses and forgo the more relaxed, give yourself the permission to do it! The camera loves runway-esque attire and so do I. If two looks are too stressful to put together, then just stick to one fabulous outfit. One look that you love will be so much better than one outfit you love and another you’re not very excited about.
Choosing Colors
When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter, neutral tones and more muted shades. Bright or neon colors can be distracting and take the focus away from where it should be: you two and your love. The camera loves earth tones and light neutrals. Softer color palettes fit beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments!
Coordinating the Looks
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your fiancé’s, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually match. You should each wear a different dominant color but stay within a similar color palette family. So if you’re wearing an ivory dress and nude heels (ivory being your dominant color), then he could wear a white shirt and navy suit, paired with brown leather shoes. Now he has his own dominant color (navy) and could even incorporate a few touches of your color palette.
Flattering Your Features
In my experience, every woman (regardless of size or shape) has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about. Recognizing the areas you’re self-conscious about when selecting your outfits is helpful. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. If your dress has shorter sleeves (or no sleeves) consider bringing a cute jacket, blazer, or sweater to incorporate into your look. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera. For most women, skinny straps actually make arms look bigger. So I recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is slimmer-looking arms. If it’s colder outside, I suggest bringing a warm coat (the longer, the better!) to wear when we’re not shooting so you don’t freeze in your dress.
Shoes
Heels elongate the leg and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toes heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps! Lastly, if you’d like, bring a pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!
The style choices you make will definitely enhance your photos, but it isn’t the most important part of your engagement session. The one thing that makes the biggest impact on your photos is your joy. Your relationship and marriage matter more than any outfit.