Engagement Session Wardrobe Guide
Engagement sessions are so much fun. Besides creating heirloom images that will forever capture this exciting time in your lives, they’re a wonderful way to get to know your wedding photographer on a more personal level before the Big Day.
One of the top questions I get asked by engaged couples is “what in the world do you recommend we wear?!”. That’s where this handy little guide comes in. While these are by no means “rules”, they can be helpful suggestions when it comes to wardrobe selections. So with that being said, read on!
WEAR SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU.
Many, many moons ago, I worked as an assistant director for a number of indie film production companies. My very first gig landed me working with a team of all women producers. As a marketing tool, I was invited to take part in a glamorous photo shoot where myself and three other very talented female film professionals got all gussied up (complete with black evening gowns and hair/make-up artists) and posed in a “yeah, we may look hot but don’t you mess with us” kind of way. I felt very Kardashian-esque, if you will, and could not wait to see the photos.
Then I saw the photos and….. I barely recognized myself. And not in a good way.
The heavy blue eye shadow, strong handed blush and “big” hair made me look very alien to me. Our talented make-up team did their job beautifully, but on a personal level I thought I looked like I should be moonlighting at the Bird Cage. Needless to say, I went in a different direction for my own wedding and engagement look!
That being said, if you are a bonafide glamourpuss (and girl, power to you! Seriously.) then by all means go for the dramatic gown and bold make-up look!! If you’re more of a cute-sundress-and-sandals type o’ gal, rock that look. If you and your fiance are more comfortable in jeans and would much rather go on a beach picnic as opposed to the swanky new club in town on a Saturday night, you should 1000% go for that. The love between you and your fiance comes so naturally and we want that reflected in these images. Let your wardrobe make you feel as comfortable as snuggling with your other have does and you will be golden!
Which brings me to my next pointer…
WEAR SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL CONFIDENT!
This goes hand-in-hand with THE Cardinal Rule listed above, but confidence is key in your wardrobe selection. If you feel your most beautiful in full-on bodycon dresses, go for it! I personally love wearing clothes that are a little more forgiving and feel my best in summery dresses made of romantic, billowy material.
Wear something that won’t make you overly worried about how your arms or tummy or cleavage is looking. Or better yet, wear something that you know you look darn good in so you can forget about your wardrobe entirely, relax and enjoy the session! The happier you feel on the inside during your shoot, the more that will be reflected in the final product!
COORDINATE, BUT DON’T MATCH.
If you’re in a bright yellow, billowy summer dress (a-la the lovely Mariella above) and your fiance shows up in a Wrestlemania t-shirt and basketball shorts (I mean OBVIOUSLY none of us would let them leave the house like that but just bear with me), it’s gonna look funky! If you both show up in matching cheetah print velore leisure suits (actually…….that might be kind of amazing…….), that’s gonna look funky!
Mariella and Andy went for an elevated summer-semi-formal feel. She was in a gorgeous, romantic yellow sun dress and he was in a classic white shirt and summery, dressy-ish pants. Their looks worked perfectly together! They looked beautiful, of course, but as importantly they looked natural and weren’t overly worried about working with their wardrobe during our session. The true star of the show is the amazing connection you two share. That’s what we’ve got to let shine!
You guys can totally coordinate in color and pattern, just don’t “over do it”, if you feel me! If you’re in a dramatic red gown and heels and he’s in a brown plaid t-shirt and yesterday’s jeans - say it with me now - that’s gonna look funky! You get my drift.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER!
Now this one should be obvious, but here in Chicago it’s worth mentioning that our weather can be a little on the extreme side of things. I’ve done shoots with couples in wool sweaters on 90 degree days and I’ve done shoots with couples on incredibly cold days where they’ve shown up in summer clothes. If you feel uncomfortable during your session, that’s absolutely how you’ll remember feeling when you see your final images. If you’re dreaming of a spring session and schedule your shoot in February, you will more than likely regret that decision!
Winter: Layer up! Take advantage of the cozy, fuzzy and adorable winter staples that are basically the only great thing about winter (in my humble opinion). Plus the season is an excellent excuse to get cuddly with the one you love :-). And that stuff is adorable to look at in photos. Making lemonade outta lemons, my friends. Freezing, cold lemons. Just look at these cutie patooties below during our wintery beach shoot as an example of what I’m talking about:
Spring/Summer: Hallelujah! The sun has returned! Let’s celebrate by strolling along Chicago’s breathtaking shoreline, frolicing barefoot on the beach, cooling off with an ice cream cone or cocktail along the riverfront…..you get my drift. Whatever you choose to do during your summer/spring session, make sure your wardrobe matches and is weather appropriate! Be sure to check the forecast the night before your shoot and adjust as necessary. Shannon and Matt’s engagement shoot was on a scorching hot day in July. While their friendly photographer here was….um….I guess there’s no polite way to put sweating profusely so there it is, they looked absolutely amazing in their dressy summer fare (mad props to Matt for rocking the jacket. The man is made of steel, I tell ya).
Fall: This glorious season has a little more versatility than our friends listed above. Whatever the season means to you, let that be reflected in your wardrobe choices. For Melanie and Dave’s autumn woods shoot, they nailed the “casual but effortlessly adorable thing”. It was also super appropriate for the woodsy setting.
play with props
Now the props thing is entirely optional.
Katie (pictured above) was the queen of props during her and Adam’s dreamy fall engagement shoot in the woods. The whimsical, classic hat she brought along was so much fun to play with. Not to mention the adorable little puppy complete with it’s own FLOWER CROWN (!!) she brought along with her.
Your engagement session is a little snapshot into the life you and your fiance have only just begun building together. They help tell your story in images, so feel free to have fun with it! This adorable couple pictured below brought along wintery mugs and a plaid blanket and we made a snugly little picnic in the snow:
A WARDROBE CHANGE CAN BE FUN, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY NOT A NECESSITY.
If you are a woman who likes her options (aren’t we all!) and can’t narrow down just one wardrobe choice, then feel free to bring a change of clothes along. It can be a fun way to set two different tones during your shoot. A lot of couples opt for one more formal selection and then something a little more comfortable. Be sure to let your photographer know ahead of time if you are doing a wardrobe change, as some pre-planning in terms of where and when to change will be helpful!
APPROACH PATTERNS WITH CAUTION…AND COLOR FOR THAT MATTER.
Don’t get me wrong, patterns can be amazeballs USA in engagement photos. Polkadots, paisley, florals. Love ‘em all.
While patterns and color can help tell your story and add visual interest to your photos, just be wary of featuring overly busy patterns or crazy loud colors as they can be a little too distracting. Remember, you and your spouse-to-be are the stars of the show here! Not your neon orange poncho or that insanely busy skirt! (side note: if anyone reading this has a neon orange poncho you are my hero. Please call me immediately so we can be best friends).
You can wear any color in the rainbow, but I would advise sticking to not wearing them all at once and sticking to slightly more muted/neutral tones. These amazing couples below nailed the pattern game.
LASTLY, THINK ABOUT THE TONE OF YOUR WEDDING DAY AND LET THAT BE A GUIDE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION.
What do I mean by “tone”? Well, if you have opted for a rustic, barn wedding complete with cowgirl boots and mason jars and then have a black-tie-evening-gown-city-drama engagement session, it will contradict the overall “vibe” of your country-chic wedding day aesthetic. Think of your engagement session as your wedding day’s fun little introduction. Your wedding day and engagement shoot are reflections of who you guys are as a couple. Let them both represent who you are and what you’re all about.
That being said, this is your session and no one else’s! One of the things I love most about what I do is working with so many amazing and amazingly different people. No two couples are alike. Every relationship is a unique entity all to itself, so only you know what the right decisions are for your day.
And as the old saying goes: when you know, you know :-).
