In preparing for your engagement session, you may wonder what each of you should wear, and if it will look good together. I get that question a lot and thought it might be good to give you my general thoughts first, so we can get into the details on a phone call if necessary.
The following are my top things to consider when choosing a wardrobe for your engagement session.
1. Your Personal Style
Your engagement session should showcase who you are as a couple. Your style, your energy, your level of outward affection for each other. It's different for every couple.
This one item influences all that follow. What do you do when you're spending time together? Are you dressed up and out on the town exploring new restaurants, shows, or art exhibits, or are you chilling on a beach somewhere quiet?
If your partner isn't the khaki and blue blazer type, don't try to fit him into that box for photos, he'll be uncomfortable. If you lean more toward jeans and sweaters, or button-down shirts, then that's what you'll be comfortable in. If he usually has his shirt untucked, that's fine too.
If you have a specific theme for your session, like vintage, Hollywood, or anywhere your imagination takes you, then great! We love that.
2. Match Each Other's Style
Once at an engagement session, I had a couple show up whose styles didn't match. She was dressed up cute in a bright sundress and heels, while he was wearing a polo shirt and....wait for it...cargo shorts with athletic shoes. It looked like she was headed out to a garden party, and he was going to go coach a kid's soccer game. Their styles didn't match. Consequently, a lot of their photos were from the waist up. ;)
A rule of thumb for making sure your styles match is to imagine you are going to a specific kind of event. It could be a casual, or formal event, but make sure you're both dressed appropriately for it and you'll be set.
3. Avoid White- Unless at the Beach
When we look at a photograph, our eyes tend to go to the brightest thing first. If the brightest thing in the photo is your shirt, then it could be distracting.
Since the sand and sky at the beach tend to be bright, lighter colors aren't as distracting because they tend to blend into the surrounding more. This isn't to say that if we are doing a beach session that white is a must, but it's the one case where I've seen it work.
4. Match the Style of the Location
If we agreed on a woodsy, outdoor location, then wearing a suit and ball gown with heels can create a visual disconnect in the final images. Not to mention the potential for twisting an ankle and ruining the dress.
Some locations are neutral enough to accommodate a range from casual to dressy. Garden locations and downtown areas are good examples of this.
5. Compliment Colors and Patterns
If one of you is wearing a patterned top, the other should be in a solid color. If one is wearing a bright color, be sure the other is a bit more subdued. If one is wearing a warm color, the other should wear a cool, or neutral color. The idea is to create balance.