Ever wonder what to wear for an engagement session? Well, look no further!  This blog post is going to answer the burning questions you have about what colors you should wear, what type of clothing, and what is going to look best in your engagement session! Let’s do this!!

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Don’t Be Afraid to Bring Options!

First off, I always recommend bringing options with you to your engagement session! Of course, start by wearing your favorite outfit first but it doesn’t hurt to have a few others for you to change into based on the environments we’re shooting in! Plus, it’s always helpful to have your photographer look over your selections to pick the best outfit for the location that won’t distract from the main focus – you two!!

Don’t bring too many options though because your time is valuable! We want to take a few minutes to go through your options, and then get on our way to shooting some beautiful photos! Most couples bring a couple options each (and usually men only have 1-2 shirts and the same pair of pants, haha). Think dresses, accessories, jackets, pants and whatnot! One thing to note is depending on where we’re shooting you may be changing in the back of the car or on the side of the road – if it’s a heavily trafficked trail usually we can find a secluded area off to the side or a bathroom at the trail head!

If you don’t want to bring a few options, that’s okay too! Just text me a few photos of your options and we can pick it together before your session.

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Climate + Location – Does It Make Sense?

If we are going to be shooting in a colder area, bring layers, warm socks and boots! And if you are planning on braving the cold weather, please consider at least bringing some layers to wear in between shots! Another thing I recommend is to grab some hand warmers from a sporting goods/hiking store! They are usually 50 cents to a dollar if anything and they are LIFE savers!

If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it would look strange to be in closed toed shoes or heels (booties are okay)! So think about sandals or even going bare foot for some shots!

If the weather for the day is going to be windy, remember a short dress probably won’t be very comfortable! This goes for hikes with higher elevation at the summit as well. It may not be windy at the bottom but once you reach the top you may find yourself reaching for your dress more often than you think!

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Be Comfortable

Like I mentioned, make sure the clothes you select are easy and comfortable for you to move around in! You don’t want any distractions or scenarios where you are trying to make sure everything stays in place! I recommend bringing clothes that you have worn before so you’ll be as comfortable as possible.

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What Colors Should You Wear?

Here’s a question I get asked all the time!

I typically tell my couples to stick to neutral colors or muted/earthy tones, however, there are more neutrals out there than just black and white! Think burnt orange, navy blue, forest green, a maroon/wine color etc. Stay away from bright colors that will be distracting in your photos. A few examples of distracting colors are bright red, bright yellow, pinks and bright oranges to name a few. Try and stay away from these colors if you can, but if you are dying to wear a certain outfit just shoot me a text with a photo and I’ll give you my recommendation based on where we are going!

If you’re still feeling lost, look through some of my past blog posts for more color scheme inspiration OR you can check out my Pinterest board I have created and send to my couples prior to working together!

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Patterns

My goal when I shoot an engagement session is to capture real genuine connection and moments between my couples! Patterns can be distracting from those moments and feelings, so I recommend to stay away from them! Try to avoid anything chunky, crazy or distracting. More subtle patterns are okay and if it is a patterned dress that is a neutral color it may work!

If you or your partner decide to wear a patterned top/dress/etc, make sure only ONE of you has a pattern on! Have your significant other in something that pairs well with the pattern, but is solid and neutral.

Lastly, be sure to iron your clothes before so there aren’t wrinkles! It happens more often than you think!

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In Summary

I know this was a long one! If you just want a quick summary from this blog post about what to wear for your engagement session, here it is:

-Wear neutral colors that complement the location you are shooting at and don’t distract from the main focus: you two and your love!

-Don’t be afraid to text me (or your photographer) for our opinion! We would love to help you!

Want to book your engagement, elopement or wedding with me? Click HERE to view my contact form and let’s get in touch!