WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
What you wear to your engagement photos can really make or break how you feel during your shoot, which is going to affect how much you love your photos. Don’t worry though–we’re pros when it comes to the outfit game and know exactly how to coach you in dressing for your body type + personal style in a way that photographs like a million bucks. We’ll give you tons of advice below, but here’s the general plan: Either email us photos of your 3-4 options and we’ll help you pick before our shoot, OR bring your 3-4 options with you. We have a pop up changing tent we bring to shoots, so you can change on the spot if needed!
Generally, most couples choose 1-2 outfits to shoot in, and many couples love shooting in a casual look and a dressed-up look! We will help you perfectly pair outfits based on the light, location, and weather to get the best results. This way, we can make sure the outfits compliment the environment so that the focus is on you two, not on any distractions. (Just as outfits can add to photos, they can also take away from photos by being mega distracting. Think bright colors, ill-fitting pants, loud patterns. No bueno).
Got it? Great! Now it’s time for some handy tips and tricks for honing in on what makes you look and feel great.
MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE
Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it. If we are going to be hiking around the mountains, bring shoes with a good grip so you won’t twist your ankles. If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it would look pretty weird if you’re wearing shoes (P.S. heels are almost always a bad idea unless you’re freakishly good at walking in them). If it’s freezing cold outside, bring lots of layers and warm clothes with wool socks and boots. If it’s going to be hot, bring clothes that can breathe more so you don’t have sweaty pit stains in the photos. Be as comfortable as you can be!
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Aim to be the same level of fancy and classy, ESPECIALLY with your shoes! It looks super awkward if one of you is in a killer dress and heels and one of you is in cargo shorts and sneakers.
STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF
The most important thing is that you both feel and look like yourselves, aiming to avoid anything uncomfortable or tight, so you can be as comfortable as possible! This is a great chance to splurge on a glam new dress or outfit. Why? New clothes just feel good. If you feel good, it shows in photos. This isn’t to say you can’t raid your closet for the perfect outfit you already own. If you already have a winner outfit as an option, you’ve just saved yourself some work!
HEY, FELLAS! I’M TALKING TO YOU
We really recommend against wearing a tucked-in shirt, belt, and dress shoes. It’s difficult to move a lot, and movement is key for great photos. If you’d like to aim for more of a formal look, feel free to dress up with a suit or tucked in shirt, belt, dress shoes, AND blazer. The blazer is key. If you don’t pair it with a blazer, you look dressed up but not that dressed up, and you end up looking like you just came from your office desk job. Outfits that DO work for guys are nice button-down shirts (long or short sleeve) worn untucked with well-fitted pants or slacks and loafers, nice sneakers, or even barefoot (if we’re in a location that makes sense for that).
LAYER, LAYER
Accessories + layers add interest to photos without being distracting. Think you found your outfit? Okay, cool. Now add a layer. Layers for gals might be hats, bracelets, statement earrings, jackets, etc. Layers for guys are as simple as bringing a jacket and/or hat. Anything that is flowy/can show movement is AMAZING. Trust us on this. (Please leave your watch at home unless it has special significance to you. They can look really distracting in close up shots).
COMFORT IS KEY
It’s SO important sure that the materials you wear will keep you comfortable during the shoot, not only for the weather but also for moving around! If you’re in brand new jeans that are still stiff and tight, you might be distracted during the shoot trying to make sure everything stays in place, and it’ll be harder to sit, run, and move around comfortably. We recommend bringing clothes that are “broken in” so that you’ll be as comfortable as possible. If you’re ready to wear a a new outfit, wear it out on a date before our shoot!
COLORS + PATTERNS
Stick with neutrals and earthy tones! Neutrals don’t just mean gray + grown–every color has a more neutral, muted tone! (Think mustard yellow, forest green, navy blue, burnt orange, etc.) Avoid bright, fluorescent colors, and stay away from bright oranges and reds unless you have dark or olive skin. Most of the time, those colors will make your skin look weirdly pink in photos! If you reallyyyyy want to wear something orange or red, just check with us and we’ll let you know if it’ll photograph well! Avoid big, loud, chunky, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better! If the pattern is too loud, it will distract from your faces, making the photos feel a little hectic.
PROPS
The word “prop” probably evokes cheesy chalkboards and Pinterest photos but, if done right, they can elevate really your engagement photos! (This may be a stretch on what to wear for your engagement photos, but since props can be attire or just contribute to the vibe of your photos, we think it counts). Props we love? Pizza picnics, a motorcycle or sweet car, blankets, a campfire, surfboards, wine etc. A bouquet is ALWAYS a good idea, especially if you’d like more of a formal, glam look (if you want florist recommendations, we can send some your way).
GLAM
If you’re considering whether or not you should get your hair and makeup done by a pro, my answer is always “whatever will make you feel best, do that.” The most important thing is that you feel confident. If you’re getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule it to be done at least an hour before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t late. Also, if you’re whiter than toothpaste, like me, and want a spray tan, be sure to get a suuuuper natural airbrushed spray tan rather than one from a salon/tanning place. We don’t want you looking like an oompa loompa!
Still with us? Oh dang, you’ve never looked SO good. Now you know what to wear for your engagement photos! Go forth, and slay the outfit game! When you’ve picked out 3-4 outfits that make you feel like winner, winner chicken dinner, go ahead and email us some photos or let us know you’ll be bringing them to the shoot for us to go over IRL.
Your Outfit Gurus,
Sarah + Haley
P.S. 5 tips for how to rock your engagement session and an engagement session on a houseboat in the Santa Barbara harbor!
