“The secret of great style is to feel good in what you wear.”
I know it can feel kind of daunting to pick what to wear for photos. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so you guys can be sure to look & feel confident, while still making sure the images are focused on your guys’ love, not what you’re wearing. Full disclaimer, I not a professional stylist. If I had it my way, I’d rock sweat pants & tshirts all day! This is just what I’ve found to work best from trial and error from past shoots, they’re only guidelines, not rules!
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Here’s a few guidelines to help if you’re feeling lost about what to wear:
First off, I always recommend to bring options. To get the best results, I’ll pick and pull from the options you bring for you guys to change into for each location we shoot at. This way I can make sure the outfits compliment the environment so that the focus is on you two, not on any distractions, which yes, can be your outfits. All you have to do is make sure you bring stuff that you feel like a million bucks in that we can pick and pull from!
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Don’t bring your whole closet though. Most people bring about 3 or 4 pairs of bottoms and 4 or 5 tops each, then you can bring dresses, accessories, jackets and whatnot as well. Also, just know that depending on where we are shooting, you’ll most likely be changing in the coffee shop bathroom, public park restroom or back of the car on the side of the road. If you aren’t down with that, that’s totally fine and you can just bring one outfit! Just make sure to text me a few photos of the outfit options you have and we can pick it out together beforehand.
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 good grip and you won’t twist your ankles in. If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it would look weird if you’re wearing shoes (ps heels are almost always a bad idea in most scenarios, unless you’re freakishly good at walking in them haha). 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!
Colors & Patterns:
I typical recommend sticking with neutrals, dark deep colors & earthy tones. Stay away from bright, fluorescent distracting colors. Bright pinks, oranges & reds don’t usually 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. Flannels are always a yes in my book (especially during Autumn / Fall)! I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns together because, you guessed it, it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location. Also, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!
- Don’t try to match… try to pick outfits & choose accessories that coordinate instead.
- Don’t wear bleach white (the unnatural type of white) clothing tends to photograph with a blue or purple tint, so we recommend avoiding
- Do – wear layers and textures, both translate well on camera and create depth.
- Most often couples like to have one casual outfit and then one dressy one. This will give your shoot two totally different “looks”.
- Dresses & skirts look great in shoots because they really flatter the female body – especially on camera. Long full length flowy dresses look amazing on camera & bring extra movement to photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, or beach. Consider soft fabrics like chiffon, silk or tulle with allow for beautiful movement in images.
Check out more outfit inspiration HERE.
Props:
I love when people bring hats, sunglasses, scarves, jewelry, etc… because it’s nice to pair them with different outfit options.
I would stay away from cringe-worthy Pinterest ideas such as cheesy chalkboards and hobby lobby props. Props could be a pizza or romantic picnic, a motorcycle, your amazing pets (I LOVE dogs), blankets, a truck/car, a campfire, a bouquet, a skateboard, etc. If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!
Hair & Makeup:
A lot of people ask me whether or not they should get your hair and makeup done by a pro. My answer is always “whatever will make you feel best, do that.”
Your engagement session can be a great time to do a trail run with your makeup artist before your big day. Be sure to clearly communicate with your artist so that they are able to create a look you love that compliments your features, and also keeps you looking like you!
I do recommend though, if you work with a makeup artist – that they do your makeup in natural light. I great makeup artist will know how to give you the professional “natural” look. If you want to glam it up, do it, because the most important thing is that you feel confident.
If you’re getting hair and makeup done 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 & 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!
Preparing Your Guy:
I think it’s safe to say that most guys are at least a little bit nervous about the engagement session. Your session is suppose to be relaxed & fun – and not forced or awkward. As you prepare, there are a few things you can do to help your man know what to expect. You know your man better than anyway, so just sit down & have a convo about things you’d like to get out of of your session. Relax & Trust Your Photographer Remember that your photographer doesn’t expect you to be a pro at this. I work with normal, everyday couples ALL the time. I hardly ever work with models! I tell my couples that it takes a good 20 minutes to warm up at the beginning of their shoot. So relax and don’t be nervous & let’s have some fun. If we need to do a few tequila shots before hand – I’m all about it!
Location & Time:
The best time to shoot any portraits is normally 2 hours after sunrise or 2 hours before sunset. This rule of thumb can be applied to any time of the year. When it comes to picking the location for your portraits, I love when couples pick a location that is special or sentimental to them in some way! If you can’t think of anywhere specific that you would like to shoot, I can help you decide! I usually base location choices on your style & the look you’d like to go for. For example: city, urban, garden woodsy, or adventurous vibe. I photographed at coffee shops, brunch spots, dog parks, record stores, downtown alleys – Do not shy away from crazy ideas! Usually the crazy ideas are the best. The more creative the better!
BREAK
THE
RULES.
Like I said before, these are only guidelines I’ve learned from past experiences, but that doesn’t mean if you don’t follow them that your photos will be doomed. Remember the only thing that matters is that you feel confident & comfortable!
Welp, that’s all folks!
If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate to let me know! If you’re still freakin out about what to wear feel free to shoot me a pic or two of what you’re thinking, or we can create a little Pinterest board together! But overall, just wear what you’re comfortable in and feel like you in. A pair of Vans you’ve had since 8th grade? Great. A sweater you wore for basically a month straight? Awesome. A hat that you know your mom hates? Perfect. You do you, and I promise the photos will turn out amazing.