What the HECK do I wear for my Engagement Photos? | NYC Wedding Photographer
If you feel like choosing clothing for your engagement photos is a big decision, you are not wrong and you are definitely not alone!! The truth is if you don’t like how you look, you’re not going to like your photos, and that’s obviously the LAST thing we want!
There’s no perfect formula for choosing what to wear for your engagement photos, because everyone has different opinions and tastes, different things that work best for their bodies, etc.
I’m going to break this down into seasons and share some recommendations and tips! Here we goooo
1. BE COMFORTABLE
Of course we know that nice clothes aren’t normally the most physically comfortable. But what I really mean is that you feel like you can move and be free in them, and they are as comfortable is possible.
2. LOOK AND FEEL LIKE YOU
Make sure what you choose looks and feels like you on your best day. You want to look at your photos and see you, and not someone else! So if you normally wear all neutrals, you don’t need to wear hot pink. Or if you NEVER wear formal attire, maybe don’t for your photos! Though this does lead me to my next point…
3. DRESS UP AT LEAST *A LITTLE*
I personally think there’s no such things as too dressy and that you should feel free to dress it up. However, not everyone wants to dress up a lot and that’s okay! But I do recommend dressing up just a touch more than you think you should. Like I said before, you want to look like you on your best day! So, this could mean anything from if you normally wear your comfiest jeans, perhaps go for a newer or darker pair. If you normally would wear a more casual cotton dress, maybe upgrade to a maxi! If you’d normally wear a t-shirt, maybe upgrade to a button down. If you’d normally wear dress pants and a button down, go for a suit! You get the idea.
4. LET’S TALK ABOUT COLOR/PATTERNS
So I personally love bold colors and always encourage it, but let me say this: you can choose ANY color (or lack there of) you want! I don’t personally think any colors should be off limits unless they don’t work with your skin tone, and that’s a completely personal choice. You’ll see below A LOT of examples of neutrals and how well they can work! But also, don’t be afraid of color if that’s your jam. The only rule for me is that you choose colors that do not clash, and I’d also recommend not matching! The best option is to choose colors that complement each other. So opposites on the color wheel, or one partner in neutral and one partner in a color. As far as patterns go, I’d recommend avoiding anything too too loud, but think patters can be great! And as with the color, if one of you is wearing a pattern, the other should be wearing a solid.
Okay, now onto some fun examples
Like I said, I’m going to separate these ideas into seasons so that you can see some things that I feel like have worked for some of my past couples and hope you get some inspiration from them!
Fall
Fall can be hard to dress for because you’re never quite sure exactly what weather you’re going to get (at least here on the East Coast). You could get 75 degrees or you could get 45 degrees! So staying flexible is always good, as is planning for some light layers. Fall is a time that I think that neutrals can work in your favor if there’s a lot of color in the trees. I’m including extra examples in this one because it’s my most popular engagement session time ;)
WINTER
Winter is obviously a TOUGH time to get your photos outside for obvious reasons. If you’re brave enough to get your photos done in the winter, you’ll have to make one big decision, which is how cold are you okay with being? If you’re okay with being cold, I recommend a sweater and jeans or sweater and skirt and tights, or dress with tights and sweater or jacket. If you’re NOT okay with being cold, I recommend wearing a formal coat like a peacoat with jeans or dress pants! Either way you can put your coat on at any time and take a break from the cold.
SPRING
Spring, like fall, can be tricky because you don’t know what weather you’re going to get! But planning for mild temperatures I think is a good move. I think that florals and patterns can be really fun and some brighter colors look lovely with spring colors!
SUMMER
Summer, though pretty reliable in it’s hot weather, is also hard to dress for because you want to choose something that will be least likely to show sweat. We ALLLLL sweat, and it’s pretty inevitable in your photos, so it’s good to choose something that one, won’t make you sweat extra, and two won’t put your sweat on display. I think it’s best to avoid super tight fitting garments and go with comfortable, thin fabrics!
I hope this was helpful! And never be afraid to reach out to me with specific questions or ideas! I’m also always happy to have my clients send me photos of the outfits they’re thinking of, and we can make sure they’ll be absolutely perfect for your shoot.
xoxo
Alyssa