One of the number one questions I get asked by clients after booking a session is about picking an outfit. Today, I’ll break down what to wear, why you should wear it, and maybe things you should avoid, too…so here we go!

“But WHAT will I WEAR?!”

When you take your engagement photos (or any photos, really), you for sure want to look your best. What exactly does make you look your best, though? Let’s start with the basics of what DOESN’T look that great.

Things to Avoid

1. Clingy fabrics, whether T-Shirts or dresses. They generally cling in all the wrong places, giving the illusion that you’re bigger than you are.
2. Short dresses. Your photographer may have you do some weird stuff (I know I do), so wearing a dress that hits above the knee isn’t always a good idea. Trust me, you don’t want to be embarrassed by your love swinging you around and showing the world your personal business. Prepare for the wildest possibilities!
3. Flip flops. Just…don’t.
4. Lots of patterns. This is a hard one to pin down, but as a general rule if your man is wearing a pattern, you should not. Especially if you’re planning on both wearing plaid because then you’ll look like a couple of lumberjacks. Not as cute as it sounds.
5. Neon. Anything super bright will reflect right off your skin and make you look really weird. Photoshop may be my best friend, but even those skills can’t really fix the damage neons do.

And now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to things that DO look awesome on you!

Dresses

Like I said, shorter dresses aren’t really great for photo sessions where we will be more active, but longer dresses are amazing!

Pick a dress that will accentuate your curves without clinging to you, long and flowy is best for this! Also be sure to pick a dress that covers the areas you don’t like. You don’t like how your shoulders look? Simple, wear a dress with sleeves. If you feel awkward or uncomfortable in what you’ve chosen, that usually translates to the pictures, so choose something you aren’t going to be spending a lot of time fixing or worrying over.

And just a little note here, don’t be shy about shape wear. I know I’m not 😉

Colors

Pick a color palette you love to start, and begin your planning process from there. Keep in mind where you will be taking pictures and what time of day. Where you are and where the sun is in the sky can make a huge difference with color choices. Also keep in mind the season! Pink may not go well with the colors fall has to offer, nor will orange look so great with summer green!

COORDINATE, DO NOT MATCH. That is all.

Darker colors are naturally going to make you look slimmer, but sometimes you just want something brighter in your life, so let’s talk a little color!

Neutrals always photograph well and won’t be reflecting any weird color casts on your skin. These would be my number one pick for any type of session as they’re so versatile and work with pretty much any location or time of the year.

Pastel colors aren’t bad either, just pick some that aren’t going to wash you out. These give little pops of color without being overwhelming and they don’t draw the eye away from what we want to showcase…ahem, you and your love!

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Accessories

Okay, so I feel like this is a very important part of dressing your best. When choosing your accessories, PLEASE do not pick things that will accentuate the parts of your body you don’t like. If you don’t like your middle, but plan to wear a little belt, it’s going to make your “problem area” a lot more prominent than you want. 

Pick simple, yet beautiful pieces that match your outfit and will bring attention to the right places. Dangly earrings bring the eye up to the face, bracelets and large watch faces will bring the eye to the hands. Be smart about your choices and don’t pick things you aren’t sure you like! When in doubt, go with things you know you love already.

Tip from the Photographer: Take along a spare pair of shoes to walk in if you want to wear heels! This will save your feet some serious discomfort!

Your Man

Okay, so this will be fairly short and sweet.

Khaki jeans/pants WITHOUT pleats are AWESOME. They look great in pretty much every way.

Button-ups. YES.

T-Shirts he’s been wearing since high school. NO.

Beat up old sneaks. NO.

Suits. Yes, if you’re just wanting to be that extra. They look great!

I told you, short and sweet. 😂

Things to Bring

I always encourage couples to think of things to bring to make your session unique to you, whether it’s a blanket, your pet, a book, letters to each other…whatever you like! It’s a great way to keep your session as unique and special as you are. It’s not necessary, but it is a nice touch!

I hope this helps as you plan what to wear for your session! As always, any questions or comments are welcome in the comment section below. See you soon, friends!

-Lauren B.