What Two Pro Photographers Think You Should Wear to Your Engagement Shoot

Deciding what to wear to your engagement photoshoot may not be as complicated as picking out your wedding dress, but it is certainly something you should put some thought into. Why? Not only are your engagement photos usually the first professionally shot images you’ll have of yourself and spouse-to-be, but they also get used to set the tone of your entire wedding experience. From save-the-dates to engagement announcements, your engagement photos get splattered on social media feeds and refrigerators everywhere! So today, we wanted to share our tips on what to wear to your engagement photoshoot:

We typically advise couples to bring two outfits to the session to make sure they have options that make sense with the setting. Since you can’t always anticipate the exact colors or lighting at a shoot location, it is a good idea to have a change of clothes. For example, because we nearly always shoot outside and in a more natural setting (like trails or the beach), the color of the light can have a big impact on the overall feel. That being said, we work with lots of couples who choose to wear one outfit the whole time and that totally works if they’ve picked a more neutral outfit.

We love the depth that color ads to images but not all hues photograph well. Take the time of day and shoot location into consideration when choosing the color of your outfits. And, as a general rule of thumb, stay away from super bright shades because they are distracting (and you and your fiancé should be the focal point of these pictures!).

We're going to go ahead and guess that you and your fiancé don't coordinate outfits on a daily basis, so we don’t recommend changing your individual styles for your engagement session. Yes, you want your looks to photograph well together but you don’t want to show up looking like it’s twin day at school. And, showing up in matching outfits is an easy mistake to make, so we suggest staying away from both wearing jeans and white shirts — or even just wearing the same solid color for that matter. Don’t be afraid to show off your individual styles!

All that being said, it’s most important to wear what you’re comfortable in! If you force yourself into an outfit that isn’t comfortable, you are not going to have fun at your engagement photoshoot, and that would be a major bummer! If you’re jeans and t-shirt kinda people, then own it. If you are more formal and feel right at home in five-inch heels or a tie, then go for it! (Although please don’t wear sky-high stilettos to a session that is booked for a little trail hike...) Our bottom line is to capture images of who you are, and the excitement that comes with getting engaged!