With several engagement sessions coming up, we thought we'd share some of our thoughts on how to dress for one. Like clockwork, a couple weeks before each engagement session we get an email from our couple asking "what should we wear?". Here are some recommendations and suggestions we give to our couples...
In a nutshell we say to wear something that you feel comfortable and confident in. Wear something that will make you look good, accentuating your best features. Wear colors that coordinate, but don't necessarily match. Make sure your style of clothes are similar to each other's .And finally, be true to yourselves without trying to incorporate trends that don't reflect your personalities. Wow... that sounds like a lot to think about. In fact reading that made our heads hurt, so allow us to break it down a little bit better for you.
Comfortable and confident : When we say to be comfortable we're not suggesting you wear your favorite pair of raggedy old jeans. No, please don't. We're suggesting you wear something that you KNOW you look good in. Don't wear something you're going to have to tug on the whole time we're shooting, or that will make you wonder "do I look fat?". Feeling comfortable will allow you to focus on the session, rather than your clothes. Feeling confident lets your personality shine, and does amazing things for your photos.
Accentuating your best features : Tailored, clean lines and form fitting clothing choices are always a smart decision and something we highly suggest. Put the focus on the things you like most about your features. Got killer legs? Wear a great skirt and some heels. Awesome arms? Go sleeveless. Things we recommend you stay away from are baggy jeans for the guys, and empire waist/flowing tops or dresses for the girls. Trust us.
Colors : Skip the matching white button downs and khaki pants. Wear color! Color looks wonderful in photos, so add some to your outfits. Choose colors that coordinate, but don't try to match. Decide to go with brights, pastels, or earth tones for example... and then just stay within those palettes. Or choose your favorite color and dress in different shades of that color. The biggest rule when it comes to colors is to avoid busy and/or large patterns. They distract the focus from your beautiful faces. Solids or tiny patterns are so much better than a big floral print.
Being true to yourselves : Dress like you. Don't try to be someone you're not. Wear something you'll want to wear again, after the session is over. Skip any trends you don't like or that don't flatter you. In the end, it goes back to feeling comfortable and confident. If you focus on those two things, you'll look great no matter what!
Here are some examples of outfits we think would look amazing on the right couples. Notice the pops of color we incorporated, while maintaining the color palette chosen. You'll also see that we kept the style and feel of both outfits similar. With summer on it's way, we chose some styles we think would look great for a summer engagement session. Here's what we came up with...
1. We think this combination would work really well in an urban setting. We like the idea of adding sunglasses and a hat to the guy's outfit. Don't be afraid to add accessories to your looks... they are easy to put on and take off to add variety to your photos. Cool, casual, and relaxed... we love this one.
2. Pastels and preppy go together rather well. The couple who wears this look might like to have their photos taken on the water, in a park, or even in their backyard with some bocce or croquet games added for fun. Adorable!
3. This classic look may be the most appealing to the majority of our couples. A "Sunday Best" type of look dresses up the couple who wears it, without making them feel too formal. Flat front chinos and a crisp button down for the guys, and a pretty, flattering dress for the girls with kitten heels will work for most. This look is a safe bet for almost everyone and would work for pretty much any location. Downtown, open field, or coffee shop... a couple dressed like this would look good anywhere.
4. Do you love to dress up? Wonderful! Dress up for your engagement session! Put on a suit and tie, and slip into a fantastic dress to make your engagement photos really special. A couple in outfits like these would look great in a museum or historic library as a setting. We would love to photograph a couple in something like this, so if this style speaks to you... go for it!
Have a great weekend everyone!
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