What to wear on a photo Engagement shoot
There are a few things I like to let couples know before their engagement shoot regarding clothing mainly the colours you choose and a few suggestions.
Before I start, remember wedding photographers like myself have guidelines which help us get the best out of our photographs, but when it comes to artistic ideas and creativity I am always open to suggestions! So, just let me know if there is anything you think, may be a little more unusual that you would like to try for your engagement shoot.
As I mentioned, everything in this blog is only a guideline and will depend on a few factors such as the style you want, the time of year, location etc…
The colours you choose!
The colours that are generally best are pastels, cool colours, and neutral tones.
In general, the colours you choose for my style of photos and my style of editing are natural colours and pastel colours. If you want something ‘more punchy’ that's ok but be careful, as we don’t want to be distracted from you as a couple! Also, staying away from loud designs/logos or too many patterns is a good idea, the plainer the better. Smart/casual always tends to work well.
When choosing your outfit try to be mindful of the colours your partner is wearing, and to try and complement each other, it is okay to both be wearing the same colours like white, but think about having one person in a shirt and the other in a T-shirt, you would still need to break it up somehow, for example, black trousers and blue jeans or an accessory like a red scarf.
Some Don't's
Avoid anything very bright, neon and red is the colour your eye is drawn to immediately, and you don't necessarily want your shirt or other clothing items to be the focus of your photographs. You want your faces and the love between you to ‘stand out.’
Avoid matching prints, for example, stripes, and polka dots... as these will clash and can make your photos look strange.
My style is to capture you and your relationship together in a relaxed and fun way, so when choosing your clothes try to make yourself feel comfortable and like yourself!
Location and Season
Would you like to do your engagement shoot in Autumn and in the woods or at the beach in spring?
Also, another thing to think about when choosing your colours is your location, for example, green clothing might not be best, if your photoshoot is at a park, surrounded by lots of green grass and trees in the summer. However, if it is autumn this might be okay if you have the autumn colours, all the oranges and browns from falling leaves. This is my favourite season, the best time is normally late October or early November for this.
Props
Another nice idea to consider is to include items in your engagement session that are important to you, or that you can have fun with, most couples don’t bring anything. However, I have had one or two bring a notepad and pen each, they write a message to each other, they don’t read until the wedding day, and this makes for a lovely moment to capture. For a winter shoot, I did a couple who had a flask of hot chocolate that they got cosy with and I did the rest! Another Idea is in a picnic with champagne and strawberries or in an approved and appropriate place, an outdoor BBQ!
Try accessories such as a stylish scarf, or hat, these can give the photos a punch to any engagement look. Plus, they're easy to slip on and off, which means you'll be able to go for different looks within seconds also use a scarf to wrap around your partner to pull them in tight!
I do always let couples know that they should only bring what they need, I sometimes find that when people bring bags or coats (weather depending of course), half the time they wish they didn’t as it can get in the way. One accessory you don’t need is your mobile in that front pocket, leave it in the car or in your back pockets.
If you are unsure then please feel free to look at my portfolio of engagement shoots to see what other couples have done and chosen, or Pinterest is great for this too!
