This is the time of year that us photographers get excited about! Sure holidays are around the corner but what we’re really excited about are all the cute new couples that will be getting engaged this season! Thats right! Fall is engagement season. If you are reading this , you are suspecting that you may be next or maybe you already got a ring on it and you want to be proactive in preparing for your engagement pictures. The number one thing a bride asks as soon as she books us is, what do we wear for our engagement session? Well lets get right to it!
What to Wear for your Engagement Session
1. Ladies dress it up.
This is your time to get dolled up! Ladies bring out the cocktail dresses. Long flowy dresses are always a favorite and they are so flattering to all different shapes and sizes! Dresses give great movement and are so much fun to play with for pictures!
If you want to wear a short dress to show off your God given Beyonce legs, go for it. Just make sure that its something you are comfortable with and that you aren’t going to become self-conscious because its too short. Sit down at home before you walk out the door to make sure you are comfortable with how much of those Beyonce legs you are showing!
If you’ve been wanting to add a permanent piece to your wardrobe, this is the perfect occasion to do it! Some of my favorite places to look for dresses is Lulus ! If you’re wanting to achieve the look without breaking the bank, some of our brides rave about Rent The Runway ! This way you can get a designer dress that makes you red carpet ready for a ridiculously affordable price! You can literally pull things off the runway, have 2 sizes mailed to you for three days and they you just mail it back. They take of the dry cleaning and everything! Talk about easy peasy!
Wear those sexy heels you’ve been dying to wear. Heals are know for elongating those legs and making those calves pop in all the right places! So bring on those Jimmy Choos, Badgley Mishckas, or Valentinos! YAS! Closed toe shoes are always a guaranteed win . But if you decide to wear open toe shoes , take the time to get a pedi!
Finish off your look with your accessories! Accessories make for a great statement piece! Earrings, necklace are always a perfect finishing touch. The key is to stick to the same color palette.
Kai +Kira | New Jersey Engagement
2. One or Two dresses is the question!
This is totally up to you!!!! A lot of our ladies will take advantage of this opportunity to model two dresses. One formal and the other a little more causal.I always say the more the merrier but make sure you feel delicious in both! Like you were trying to impress your guy on your first date 🙂 . Here is a great examples for a casual look for you ladies!
3. Guys get dapper
Leave the jeans at home! Leave the shorts at home! Leave the sandals at home! This is your time to shine too! Its no secret that the ladies love James bond. Want to suit it up to match your gorgeous lady, PLEASE DO! The only thing sexier than a man in uniform is a man in a suit! It’s not just a coincidence that all the men on the red carpet wear a tuxedo! Nothing stands out like a sore thumb more than a casual outfit on a guy then when he stands next to a hot tamale. Don’t be afraid of the bowtie, or tie. Embrace it! Own it!
Want a casual look? Bring on the dress pants and button shirts! Say yes to a jacket. Layers always photograph well! Nice thing is that if you wear layers you can just take some off for the second look instead of having to get a completely new outfit! BAM! Win!
Frankie + Sayhe | Clermont Fl.
4. Coordinating outfits
The camera LOVES pastel colors! So say yes to the blush and muted colors! Coordinating outfits is supper important. You want to look like you’re going to the same place. So not only should you coordinate the level of formality of your outfits but you should also coordinate colors! These aren’t holiday mall pictures so stay away from being to matchy matchy. You should still pick colors from the same color palette. You want them to compliment each other!
Brides pick your dress first! We all know the biggest challenge is finding your outfit. Once you’ve found the dress that makes you feel delicious, pick a color from your outfit to be your fiancé’s dominant color. You also want to refrain from clashing patterns. Rule of thumb is only one of you wear something with any pattern if at all. I love patterns and there are some that just photograph beautifully. But there are some patterns that are just so distracting and we want the focus to be on your beautiful faces. Here is an example of a couple that complimented each others outfit perfectly and and example of a lovely floral pattern :-).
Trent + Jessica | Lake Louisa State Park.
5. Get Professional Hair and Makeup!
Trust me, from experience we’ve seen that nothing gives women that extra boost of confidence than a perfect face! Get your hair and makeup professionally done! Makeup artists , especially the ones we work with, are experts at applying makeup that photographs magically! Not only will you look amazing in person but girl, in pictures it is just magic.
In the past we’ve had ladies opt to do their makeup themselves and unless they so happened to have the hidden talent it just didn’t work for pictures. What happens is that when we do our makeup ourselves we only keep in mind how we look in the mirror. We have no idea what its going to photograph like. The result? The makeup barely shows up in pictures and that extra shine just isn’t there! You’ll look like you didn’t have any makeup at all.
Makeup artist know how to apply enough makeup so you look flawless in pictures without looking like a clown in person! We always tell our brides to get their makeup trial for their engagement session. That way you kill two birds with one stone! Figure out how you want your makeup for your wedding and see how your makeup artists work photographs!
6. Prep your ring for the spotlight
Girls, its no secret that the first thing that happens when we get engaged is that we find every reason to look at it! Its no big surprise that we will to! We love highlighting the bling during engagement sessions so prep for that by having your ring cleaned and polished before your engagement session. Let that gorgeous ring be the center of attention on your cute little fingers by taking the time to get your nails done! Treat yourself to a mani before your session!
Tyler + Kim | Clermont Fl.
Chris + Shenele | Winter Park, FL.
7. Add the extra elements that will take your session to magazine level!
Don’t be afraid to bring along some props! They can be large; vintage car, bike, or small like a flower crown, wine or a little picnic. These little props give a dash of magic to your pictures and take them to that next level. Plus they add such a sweet personal touch! You can bring things that are a reflection of your true personalities or your love story! Don’t over think it! Just have fun with it!
Chris + Shenele | Winter Park, FL.
8. Have a pup, dress them up!
Bring your four legged babies if you want to! Nothing sweeter than seeing the complete family come together. If you are bringing your pup, dress him/her up too. Flower collars and bowties are always adorable!
You’re only engaged for a short period so enjoy it and have fun with it! Can’t wait to see you for your engagement session!
