What Should I Wear to My Engagement Session?
Of course I want you to look {and feel} fabulous on not only your wedding day, but during those engagement sessions as well! I'm often asked "What should I wear to my engagement session?", so I feel it's the perfect topic to blog about this week with all of the Spring engagements scheduled over the upcoming weeks! I know this might be hard to believe since I don't always look so pulled together at this stage of my life (babies might do this to you), but I used to own a trendy little boutique and also wrote a fashion column for our local paper once upon a time! Here are ten tips for looking confident and pulled together for your engagement session. Enjoy!
- Variety. I typically recommend planning two outfits for an engagement session. While this is by no means a requirement, I have found that most of my brides like a little variety in their portraits. One relaxed, or casual look, and something a bit more dressy rounds out your session and keeps it feeling fresh!
- Style. I want you to feel confident and look like yourself. Don't be afraid to rock your own personal style and put your own spin on things. Your casual look might be something you'd wear any day of the week. Your dressy look might be something you'd wear on a special date. Keep in mind 'dressy' doesn't have to mean a suit & tie or formal dress. Cater it to fit your own unique look.
- Coordinate. Make sure your styles pair together but aren't too 'matchy'. Also keep things similar in formality. A ball gown paired with basketball shorts doesn't make sense, right? I realize thats a bit extreme, but you get the picture!
- Texture. I'm big on texture in photographs. You can layer to achieve this or simply mix and match. Think scarves and jackets as potential layering pieces for women. They add interesting elements and can be removed for even more versatility in your shots. Lace can also be a great way for us ladies to bring some visual interest into our look!
- Color. Don't be afraid of some color! Color can add pop to your images and make you stand out beautifully. When working in color, try to coordinate (number 3), but please don't show up wearing matching polos in the same color. You can come up with a color scheme, or even mix neutrals in with bright colors to tone them down. The only thing I recommend staying away from, is neon colors. These can tend to cast unwanted color onto your face and often tend to look unflattering with most scenes!
- Neutrals. If you aren't a colorful person, don't force it. Neutrals can be just as gorgeous and aren't distracting. If you have a difficult time pairing looks, it can also be helpful to stick to neutrals. Think white, beige, cream, tan, browns, grey, black, and even soft blues (jeans, etc) and muted greens. I find that all of these can look great paired together correctly. Just be careful with black, which can tend to fall on the edgy side (wonderful in more urban settings, but can sometimes feel heavy in a field or country setting).
- Accessorize. Don't forget the details! This can mean a variety of things, from shoes jewelry to hats. Yes, your feet will be in some shots, so don't forget to wear footwear that coordinates with your look. That doesn't mean you need to wear six inch heels, unless you want to of course. Keeping in mind tip number two, make sure your accessories match your style, and don't over do it.
- Prints. I typically say keep the prints to a minimum. Of course some rules are meant to be broken, so if you want to wear a floral print top with striped pants and that's your style, wear it like you mean it! If that doesn't sound like your style, be wary of prints. They can get busy on camera and take away more than they add to a shot. One good rule of thumb is that very tiny prints can get lost, so a little bigger is better (plaids, florals, etc). Another tip is that the bride opts to wear a print, groom should be in solids, or vice versa, unless you're a print pairing pro! :-)
- Comfort. Guys... dress for the weather! If we've scheduled an engagement session in march, be sure your options are going to be comfortable according to the weather report. Chances are, it might be cold and damp in early spring here in Pennsylvania, so dress accordingly, down to the footwear!
- Flattering. This might be a no brainer, or it might not! Stick to things that you know flatter your figure and go with your skin tone. I always try to pose my clients (when I am posing) in ways that are most flattering to their figures, but clothing also plays a huge role in this and is not something I can control. If you're worried about looking wide, horizontal stripes are probably not the best idea. Be sure that what you choose is something that actually looks good on you. If you need help, ask your most honest bridesmaid! :-)
Keep in mind in my experience, some rules are sometimes meant to be broken, so please don't feel like you must follow these guidelines to have a successful session. These are just some of the tips and tricks I've learned along the way! The most important part of your e-session outfits is feeling confident and comfortable in them.
View more engagement sessions by Nicole DuMond Photography: http://www.nicoledumondphotography.com/category/engagements/
View NDP weddings on the blog: http://www.nicoledumondphotography.com/category/weddings/
Nicole DuMond is a wedding and portrait photographer based in the rolling hills of Stillwater, Pennsylvania and serving the surrounding areas of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania, including Bloomsburg, Benton, Berwick, Red Rock, Stillwater, Danville, Lewisburg, Hunlock Creek, Sweet Valley, and surrounding areas. For more information on Nicole’s Danville Wedding Photography offerings, please use the contact page.