October 1, 2020
Here are some tips for planning what to wear for engagement photos, while working around your unique personality and style!
This is where comfort trumps fashion – unless your fashion choice is actually comfortable. You will want to wear an outfit you feel comfortable moving around in. This allows you to look and feel natural in your photos, to be fluid, and not restricted by the clothes you are wearing. When your clothes make you feel comfortable, you are then confident. This leads to…
By dressing in an outfit that makes you look your best, being confident will start off the engagement session on a good note. It could be a long, flowy maxi dress, jeans and your favourite t-shirt, or a blazer and khakis. Everyone is unique, so work around what makes you confident. Not feeling confident is the last thing you would want heading into the engagement session, as this will show in your photos. Your mindset should be focused on the love you have for your fiancé and not your insecurities. Everyone is unique, so work around what makes you confident whether you decide to keep it casual or fancy.
Speaking of fancy, go for it! There is no such thing as overdressing. After all, you want your photos to look the absolute best, so why not dress your absolute best?
This should go without saying, but regardless, an important tip. You of course will want to dress for the weather. Summertime? Remove the layers. You don’t want to put yourself in the position to purposely be drenching sweat in your photos. Fall season? It’s a sweater weather kinda day. Wintertime? Bundle up! Photos look awesome in your thick winter coat! Pop on a beanie, your favourite scarf, some mitts and boots, and you’re set! This all ties back with being comfortable during your engagement session.
Also, when layering up, you essentially have multiple outfits, since you can layer down as the engagement session goes along without the need to change!
When dressing for the location, pick an outfit that fits the scenery, reflecting where you will be shooting. Another tip is to consider the landscape you will be walking along. For the ladies, it is not recommended wearing heels when walking on hills or hiking trails, for example. However, you can definitely bring your heels and an extra pair of shoes to put on if you don’t want to walk around in heels the entire time!
If you decide to wear fancy clothes, you could always pack them in a bag and change at your engagement session location!
If your location is in an area with a lot of greenery, it would be ideal to avoid wearing the colour green, as you do not want to blend into the background. Even if your outfit is a certain shade of green, don’t take the risk (unless it’s a really light shade of green, then that should be fine), as the greenery of the location can change in colour depending on lighting conditions.
It may sound like a cool idea at first, but try to avoid wearing matching outfits (i.e., same colours) during your engagement session. Rather wear complementary colours with solid print and ensure there are no distracting patterns, designs, and logos. A good rule of thumb is to wear colours that contrast the environment. Contrasting colours are colours opposite of each other on the colour wheel (simply Google “colour wheel” to get an idea). For example, a red outfit would be a great complementary/contrasting colour in a green environment. When in doubt, neutral colours are a safe bet.
Consider the fabric of your outfits, as this can add some compelling details to your photos.
Completely avoid neon colours, unless you want to look like a highlighter. Jokes aside, this will be a huge distraction in your photos as neon colours will be the centre of attention, when it should rather be your faces.
This is a cool way to make your engagement session more interesting! It can be a blanket to sit/lie down on, a mini chalkboard sign with your wedding date written on it, your favourite musical instrument, a cool hat, and even fido is welcome (not saying a dog is a prop, but you get the idea!). My only piece of advice if going this route is to invite a friend to the engagement session to look after your pup when they are not involved in the photoshoot).
Not a must, but a nice to have! If you have the time to get your hair and/or make-up done by your go-to professional, this can give you that extra boost of confidence for your engagement session. It is also recommended to have your nails done as well, since your engagement session will involve photographing your beautiful engagement ring!
These were just a few tips to help guide you in deciding what to wear for engagement photos. Last but not least, be you and have fun during your engagement session! This is a time create some amazing photos to get you excited for your wedding day and for you to have an idea to how your photographer will interact with you on your wedding day. On the flip side, this is also an opportunity for your photographer to learn about you and what will work and won’t work for your wedding day.
One of the most important vendors is your photographer that you select for your wedding. Learn more about The Brian Ly Photography Wedding Experience for photographs that capture real moments showcasing your authenticity and connection, so you can be present in the moment.
A Durham wedding photographer in Ontario, Canada, Brian Ly Photography specializes in candid wedding photography, storytelling real moments for laid-back couples who live in the now.
Brian Ly Photography provides services at wedding venues in Durham Region as well as the GTA.
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