5 tips to nail your engagement shoot outfits
A couple's engagement is one of our favourite life events to photograph. Engagement photos contain so much love and joy that we just can't help being excited about it! These images will be something that you will look back on with fond memories for the rest of your life as you remember the beginning of your love story. It can be quite difficult knowing what to wear for engagement photos. Because of this, we wanted to give you some top tips on how to make sure your engagement photos look like they've been taken straight from the pages of a magazine!
1. Dress Up
When it comes to engagement photos, there's no such thing as being too dressed up. Don't be afraid to have fun! This is your chance to really go overboard for your once in a lifetime photoshoot. Dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they are more flattering to the female body. We typically recommend for ladies to wear long, flowing dresses or skirts because they add SO much to your photos and the end result is always stunning! For the guys, we would recommend a blazer and possibly a necktie if they like. Suit jackets were specifically designed to highlight all of the best features of the male physique. So if you want to look your best, a suit jacket is a great choice.
Most couples like to have two different outfits for their engagement photos to add a bit of variety: one fancy and one a little more casual. Whether you go overboard, or more dressed down, wear clothes that make you feel amazing!
2. Coordinate Your Outfits, But Don't Match
Our next tip when choosing your engagement outfits is to stay within the same color palette, but don't get too matchy. In our opinion, matching outfits just look, well, tacky. Do you and your significant other walk down the street with matching t-shirts and jeans all the time? Probably not. Wearing matching outfits has become an outdated trend that looks very artificial in photographs!
Try to pick clothes that have complementary colour tones but also show your individual personality. Your future husband will thank you if he doesn't have to wear a blush blazer to match your blush dress. Trust us, each one of you can have your own dominant colour while still complimenting the other. A "go-to" outfit idea is usually for the woman to wear a blush dress or skirt, and the man to wear a navy or gray coloured jacket with light chinos.
3. Avoid Crazy Patterns
When it comes to colors and patterns, try to choose lighter and more muted color tones. Your goal is for your photos to draw attention to what is most important, YOU! So now is not the time to show up looking like you're ready for a Saturday night disco. Wear something stunning but soft on the eyes. Neutral colours are your best friend!
4. Add layers
Something else to keep in mind when you are deciding on what to wear for engagement photos is being purposeful with your layers. Layering is an easy way to add an extra dimension to your photos. It's also a really great way to add some variety to your images by slipping extra layers on and off. One outfit can be styled with several different layer options to create the feel of many different outfit changes without the hassle of actually having to change clothes. Plus, if the weather is a bit on the cool side (which is highly likely in Devon), the extra layers will keep you warm WHILE looking amazing at the same time. Win-win!
5. Accessorize
Now here is one area that you shouldn't overdo it. One or two accessories go a LONG way, so keep it simple. When someone views your engagement pictures, you don't want the first thing that people's eyes are drawn towards to be your pandora bracelet with a million charms on it. You want them to see you, your sweetheart, and of course, your gorgeous engagement ring! However, a few tasteful accessories do add an element of visual interest to your pictures and give them some extra depth.
Bonus Tip: Hair and Makeup
Ladies: Use this as an opportunity to pamper yourself by getting your hair styled and makeup done before the session. Makeup should be natural but slightly heavier than normal. You could even use this as your trial run for your wedding hair and make-up!
Men: Don't get your haircut the day before the photoshoot. Instead, plan to have it done the week before. Don't have a hot shave done the day of your session (or wedding day!) if you've never had it done before. It can cause redness and skin irritation.
Relax and Have Fun!
It's far too easy to get stressed out about all the little details for your engagement outfits. This is supposed to be a very special time in your life so don't forget to enjoy the happy memories that you are creating! When you feel amazing, it really shows. So choose clothes that will help you feel confident and comfortable! If you're looking for some outfit inspiration, check out this pinterest board.
Are you looking for a photographer? Sam and Jenna are a husband and wife photography team that have a deep passion for helping people capture timeless memories through the lens of their cameras.
Our style is an elegant, light and airy, modern look. We LOVE meeting new people and we want to make sure that you feel comfortable, have fun, and most importantly that you love your photos! We want you to be able to share these precious memories with your children, grandchildren, and the many generations to come!
We are wedding photographers based in Exeter, Devon, which is in the Southwest of England. However, we often travel ANYWHERE in the UK, as well as worldwide! Fill in the contact form to book your slot! We can't wait to hear from you and look forward to capturing your special moments.