Birth

Tea for Two

We are often asked: What should we wear for our engagement session? Casual or dressy?

Our answer: How about both! Some couples change clothes mid-way through their photo session, so they have pictures with causal and dressy clothes.

Engagement photo sessions are usually the first time a newly engaged couple works with their professional photographer. Often, it is also the first time you and your fiance have photos taken together. Making sure you’re wearing the best clothes can make a big difference in the look of your photographs.

Suggestions on what to Wear 

• Choose comfortable clothes: If you’re not comfortable, it will be noticeable in the pictures. Also, wear comfortable shoes if your location will include a lot of walking (but not old tennis shoes).
• Choose clothing that compliments your personality: Make sure your clothes look like “you” and fit your personality.
• Choose solid colors: Patterned prints look busy in photos and draw attention away from your face, so choosing solid colors are often best. Also, keep in mind that darker colors are more slimming.
• Coordinate your clothing with each other: Wear clothes that are the same level of “dressyness.” and wear similar shades that go together. Choose clothes that look best on you, but don’t be too matchy.
• Choose clothes to compliment your location: If you are taking pictures in a field or the mountains, consider a casual dress or skirt and a cute top for the girl, and a polo shirt or button-up shirt and nice jeans for the guy. If you are taking pictures in a downtown area, you might consider more urban clothes, such as a nice button up shirt for the guy and more dressy pants or a dress for the girl.
• Avoid trendy clothing: They will date your photos as soon as the trend goes out of style.
• Avoid tight clothing: Tight-fitted pants or tops often restrict movement and make it hard for various poses. They also show curves and can show skin that you don’t want to reveal.
• Choose colors that compliment your skin tone: For example, if you have light skin, white clothing can wash out your complexion in photographs.
• Avoid any major changes with your hair and makeup: You want your engagement photos to reflect who you really are, and you want to be comfortable in your own skin.

Suggestions on what NOT to Wear :

• T-shirts and old tennis shoes: Guys, we know you are comfortable in t-shirts and your favorite tennis shoes. They’re totally “you,” but they just don’t look the best in photos. Unless you want to get a few shots in Neyland Stadium with your UT Vols t-shirts on the 50-yard line (if you know anyone who can make that happen, please let us know!), you probably want to leave your t-shirts at home.
• Wide striped shirts, dresses and tops with large patterns on them such as big plaid prints, large polka dots, or animal prints.
• Large shirts that are not tucked in. Guys, it’s usually better to wear a belt if you are wearing a polo shirt or a nice button-up shirt. Sometimes, if untucked shirts are too big or too wide, they don’t look good and are “boxy.”

Ohter thing to remember about engagment photos

• If you choose a location outside, the best time for the photo shoot is in the late afternoon. You can avoid hard shadows in photos taken in the late afternoon.
• Plan on having a good time. If you’re in a good mood, it will show in the pictures and you will get more great photos!
• Consider bringing an outfit to change into mid-way through your photo session. You could start your photo session wearing dressy clothes, and then change into more casual clothes (or vice versa)