Tips for what to wear to engagement photography session.

How to dress for engagement photography from wedding photographers

In 2003, actress Carmen Electra and her then-fiancé, former Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist Dave Navarro, shot pre-wedding photos that showed them stripped naked and posing dead in a morgue. 

Creative? A little weird? Both. The marriage didn’t last, but the photos will live on forever. 

Even so, there are better ways to make a statement with your engagement photos.  It's all about being you and a lot of that has to do with what you and your spouse-to-be choose to wear the day of the shoot. Check out these tips. 

1. Have fun! Engagement photos are less formal than wedding pictures. Accessorize if you want!  Wear a tie with cool designs.  Wear hiking boots and your favorite dress. Laugh and play and show your affection for one another. Do you and your spouse-to-be ride motorcycles or bicycles? Show us! 

2. Decide when you want to shoot your engagement photos – and dress for that season. Don’t wear shorts in photos shot in the fall, around autumn leaves and colors. Don’t wear a sweater and boots when the setting is clearly summer, you'll just be a sweaty mess. 

Spring Engagement Wardrobe Ideas

• cardigans

• vests

• cute jeans

• ankle cut jeans (or roll the cuff)

• boots

• light spring colors

• light scarf

• any fun shoes (consider spring time can be a little wet - bring some tennis shoes to get around)

Summer

• sundress

• shorts (maybe fun colors)

• short sleeve button ups

• breezy skirts

• polos

• sandals

Fall 

• sweaters

• sweater vest

• jeans

• slacks

• sweater dress

• boots

Winter

• a great statement coat

• furry - fuzzy accesories

• scarves

• adorable mittens

• heavy sweater

• hats

3. Do wear clothes that you’d normally wear. You and your beloved want to look like yourselves, not different versions of you. Wear outfits that reflect who you are. Are you sophisticated or sporty? Casual or glamourous? The people who see your engagement photos (including you) want to be able to recognize the people they all know and love. What’s more, by expressing your own personal style – the one that you feel great in – your confidence will show and your photos will turn out better.

4. Don’t match.  You don’t want to look like you are marrying yourself. However, you SHOULD wear outfits and colors that work together, so there is harmony throughout your photos. Wear colors that tie things together. For example, you can pair light blue and pale yellow or cream, or pink and gray.  Tip: Dress the hardest person first and work out from there.

5. Wear neutral colors and pastels. Cool pinks, blues and grays are great in different hues. They complement most couples’ skin tones and make the photo about the people in them – not the clothes they are wearing.

Neon colors attract too much attention, making the colors the focus of the photograph instead of the people in it. If neutral seems too boring, add a bright necklace or tie. Bold colors can be nice too, as they can come across as festive – just make sure that like neutrals, they play off each other. A splash of bold that accents calmer colors looks great, too. 

Congratulations on this special time! These are YOUR engagement photos, so have fun with them and let them be a stunning reflection of the love and joy you have for each other.  We’ll be with you every step of the way, even if you copy Carmen and Dave with the whole nude dead thing.

Maybe.