I wanted to do a short series of posts called “For Brides” to help people during the wedding planning process. During the planning of your wedding, I’m sure you will have questions and want some advice. I have been there and I know it can be the most exciting season of your life, as well as the most overwhelming! Enjoy and feel free to ask me questions. 🙂
Other Posts from the “For Brides” series: 

1.  Wedding Day Details
2.  Should you hire a videographer?
3.  Should you hire a wedding planner?
4.  For Grooms: How I proposed
5.  Who to invite to your wedding
6.  First Look vs. Traditional Aisle Reveal
7.  Should you invest in bridal portraits

Engaged people, this one is for you! It actually also applies to any couples preparing for a photo session! I send this to all of my brides before their engagement session to help them to prepare. You may be wondering where to start when planning outfits or what to expect during the session.

Here are some helpful tips for styling your engagement session attire:

1. Dress to impress!

Most of my couples have two outfits for their engagement session. One is normally more dressy and one is a little more casual. If you prefer to have only one outfit, make it more dressy than casual. There is no such thing as “too dressy” for engagement portraits.

2. Coordinating doesn’t mean “matching”.

Wearing the same color in a different shade is actually more ideal than trying to find the EXACT color blue! For example, I would avoid both wearing black tops and khaki bottoms because it could possibly come across at looking like a uniform. It’s also just not as visually interesting.

3. Tone it down a bit

If one of you is wearing something with a lot of color and pattern, sometimes it’s best to have the other person wear a neutral to tone it down a bit.

4. Don’t over think Your Engagement Outfit!

Some of my favorite outfits have been when the guy is just wearing a simple colored button up shirt and nice jeans!

5. Make sure you are equal…

when it comes to how formal your attire is. If the bride is wearing a little black dress…. the groom probably shouldn’t be in shorts and tennis shoes.

6. The bigger the better

If you’re wearing plaid or other patterns, the bigger the better!! Larger plaid photographs better than tiny little-checkered patterns. It would be better to have a solid dress shirt than a shirt with teeny tiny patterns. The camera can’t pick those tiny patterns up from far away and that can sometimes result in a blurry look in pictures.

7. Accessorize for Your Engagement Session!

A long gold necklace, a nice belt, a cool watch or bracelet…. I love them all! They can add so much to an outfit.

8. Wear attire that is flattering to your figure and your skin tone!

Everyone has certain things that look GREAT on them and certain things that aren’t really made for them. For example… I’m fair skinned and have blonde hair. Because of that, I know that wearing a pale yellow sundress for a portrait session is not flattering for me!

If you don’t like the way you look in stripes normally, you’re not going to love the way you look in your images that I take. If you’re self conscious about your legs, don’t wear a mini-skirt. If you’re self-conscious about your arms, it’s probably not smart to wear a strapless top. Bottom line, make sure you wear something that you’re comfortable in. Sure, I’m going to teach you how to pose in super flattering ways, but you’ll love your images so much more if you wear an outfit that you’re comfortable and CONFIDENT in!! Confidence photographs well!! 😉

ENGAGEMENT OUTFIT BONUS TIPS!

• Some girls like to have their makeup trial done before their engagement session. If you want to do your own makeup, make sure you apply your eye makeup a little heavier than normal for your pictures and maybe a touch of blush and lip color so that you don’t look washed out.
• Be on Time! This is really important because I am a natural light photographer so I am dependent on the sun for the perfect, slowly light. If possible, be on time so that you get the full amount of time for your session!
• I will be taking a photo of that gorgeous bling on your finger. 😉 So if your diamond could use a little cleaning, before the session is the perfect time to really make it shine!

If you have any questions, or just want to get my opinion on outfits, just feel free to text me! Some of my brides literally text me a picture of their outfit for my advice. 🙂