One of my most frequently asked questions before an engagement shoot is “What should we wear?”. So, I have created a little guide with tips to make sure that we can create the perfect images without letting a bad outfit get in the way!
Before you keep reading remember this is just a guide to help, and you by no means need to follow it! The two most important things are that you are comfortable and you are yourself. If you have these two things, everything else will just fall into place.
Co-ordination is key!!
Co-ordinating your outfits is vital to creating some epic photos. How do you do this? Firstly, it is important to understand that coordinating does not mean matching! Be sure to wear colours that compliment each other and work together, for example if your partner is wearing a blue dress – throw on some denim blue pants to compliment without being too “matchy”! It is also important to co-ordinate styles, so if your partner is rocking jeans and a shirt, maybe save your best suit or gown for another day and put on some chinos instead!
Wear something that is you!!
You’ve probably heard it before “be yourself”, and it applies to your engagement outfits too! Wear an outfit that you’re comfortable in. If you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, please don’t show up in a formal gown. Wearing an outfit outside your comfort zone will make you uncomfortable and awkward which isn’t good for you or the camera! Engagement sessions are about telling your story and capturing you – so rock an outfit that screams who you are. I promise you’ll be thanking me later.
Patterns and Tones
When choosing your outfit colours and patterns, this is usually a case of less is more! Try and avoid neon or super bright colours. For example, a neon yellow top might make you look like a McDonalds sign whereas a less crazy mustard yellow sweater or top would probably look amazing without distracting your image too much. Not sure about colours? You can’t go wrong with neutral colours (think beige, browns, creams) or light pastel tones. I usually recommend wearing block colours, however if your choosing a pattern keep it simple and not distracting! Try to avoid logos, we are focusing on you, not Adidas!
Location and Season
Make use of the location and season that your engagement shoot is being shot at. For example, if its winter or autumn add some layers! Don’t be scared to throw on a denim jacket or a cool beanie, wear a knit and use winter tones. If its summer, wear a maxi or summer dress with basic florals or pastel colours and ditch the shoes. For location, if your shoot is at the beach (in summer) bring some swimmers along and we can spend the last of the shoot splashing around and having fun. If your shoot is in a country paddock or grassed area, wear some boots!
Visual Contrast
Want to get really creative? Create some visual contrast with your outfits. What on earth does that mean (I hear you). Instead of wearing the same material all over add in some layers - for example a denim jacket or throw a button up over your t-shirt for the guys – adding texture to your images by throwing in different fabrics or layers adds warmth and character to your images.
Can’t decide on a style or outfit for your shoot? Bring two! We can always do an outfit change half way through.
