The most common questions I receive for any Engagement photoshoot is, “What do I wear for my engagement session?” A completely understandable question and one that I have had fun researching this week!
Engagement sessions have always been my favorite type of wedding related shoot. It’s such a great way for me to get to know how my clients are in front of the camera before the wedding day (which is always pressed for time and chaotic) and a fabulous way to get to create some fun and relaxed images of my couples with no time constraints or tight schedules. Each Engagement session is as unique as each client. From where and why they chose the venue, to the mood of the shoot, to the choice of fashion for the future Mr. & Mrs. Each part requires some planning so I have created for you today some style boards and pairing ideas to help make at least one of these big decisions a little less stressful. (All of the style guides below are very easily pinned to your Pinterest boards by clicking on the image to enlarge it and the pin-it button is on the bottom or right click them and save them to your computer for access later 😉
One major tip for Engagement session fashion that I ALWAYS tell my clients: BE COMFORTABLE! I can not stress this enough. Comfort always comes across on film and if your uncomfortable we’re going to see it later with the finished images from the session. So if you are not used to wearing a dress then don’t wear a dress, simple as that. I’m a jeans and t-shirt girl myself so I would be much more comfortable dressing up a pair of jeans instead of trying to walk around and be all cool in a dress that I am desperately trying to make sure I’m being lady-like in. Just a tip – now onto the fun stuff!
When I think of Spring and Summer fashion, I think of flowy tops and dresses, sweet spring colors such as petal pinks and baby blues and for the gentlemen, classic polo’s and blue jeans or khaki’s are always classic. I never recommend trying to match each other exactly, you should each have your own distinct look but be coordinated with each other.
Inevitably the other half of the “What do I wear” question is always “How many outfits should I bring?” That usually depends on how long your session is. If you’re doing a full session and not a mini session, then I would say 2 outfits (1 change) is plenty. This way you can have one dressier outfit and one more casual.
One of my favorite spots for a romantic and fun engagement session is Charleston, SC. This is truly one of the most romantic places on earth and it’s a great place to do an outfit change. The city section with all the great architecture and city streets pairs very well with “city” clothes. Maybe a cute dress and a pair of fabulous heals and he could wear a blazer or button down. Then there is all the waterfront parks downtown Charleston and those are much more casual. Kari & Alec are a great example of how to make the perfect outfit change. Check out their session HERE.
One more tip on looking your best: Go pamper yourself the day of your session and get your hair and makeup done. Wedding photography is an investment so why not get your money’s worth and look AMAZING for your photo’s! This will make you feel great on the outside which, in turn, will make you feel great on the inside and confidence is always a great quality to photograph! I have had the wonderful pleasure of working with some of the best hair and makeup artists in the industry over the years so there is not one person on this list that I wouldn’t trust implicitly:
Charleston Vendors:
Lashes & Lace: 843-568-3625
Paper Dolls: 843-602-6486
Myrtle Beach Vendors:
Maggie Williamson: 843-946-9344
Peggy Boodro: 843-997-2663, pboodro@sc.rr.com
Stox & Co.: 843-979-4233
Salon & Spa 18: 843-318-0638, hotwing@sc.rr.com
Bobby Pins & Blushing Brides: 843-421-9008, BobbyPinsBlushingBrides@gmail.com
Rock Paper Scissors Salon: 540-420-4535
Anna-Marie Swad: 843-742-2538, createforlife@hotmail.com
There are always specific questions that come up when it comes to planning out your session so I always recommend chatting with your photographer and getting their advice on how they do things. I’ve put together some more examples for you to help with color coordinating. Happy Pinning 🙂
