Engagement Shoot 101: Becoming the Pair with Flair

You two have got that natural spark… but a knack for fashion? Well, let’s be honest. Not everyone can claim they know how to style themselves. Selecting what to wear for an engagement session can be a bit tricky, but luckily, you two can become quite the dynamic duo with a few pointers.

This shoot is the time for you and your soon-to-be spouse to shine, so, first and foremost, choose a location that is comfortable, allows you to relax, and where the two of you would typically visit. If you’re an artsy, eclectic couple, perhaps do it at your favorite art district or get out a paintbrush, canvas, and make each other your masterpieces. If you’re a rugged, outdoorsy couple, tout that smile at your favorite lake, forest, or climbing gym.

At your session, bring along a few outfits to provide some variety, but ones that demonstrate a consistent theme. And the key is, wear attire that is ‘you.’ Don’t dress for anyone else. After all, you don’t want to look unrecognizable in your photos. Often, couples choose the same colors or similar clothes, and that’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Rather, select colors in the same family or colors that compliment each other. And, flaunt an ensemble that is comfortable and allows you to move. You may do a lot of walking or moving around. (And, remember, darker colors are most flattering on all body types!)

Need some visuals? Well, allow me to demonstrate with a few photos from my own engagement session with my husband, Scott, and a few others that caught my eye.

For the first half of our shoot, Scott and I decided to stick with warm, earthy tones because we knew we would be shooting in a natural, organic setting. Plus, if we were getting ready on a typical day, that’s what we’d put on. We wanted our engagement session to exude our creativity and spunk. Notice how my chocolate vest and detail on the shirt bring out the colors in Scott’s cowboy style button-up.

For the ‘night out on the town’ portion of our shoot, we opted for black, but we integrated brown and blues with Scott’s jacket and jeans, so it wasn’t totally matchy-matchy and/or… depressing.

Vanessa and Steve did a fantastic job dressing themselves for their summer ‘adventure’ shoot. They knew they were going kayaking, so what better garb than what they have on! Vanessa’s wearing khaki shorts, a flattering dark cotton shirt, and elegant hat. Steve’s green shorts compliment Vanessa’s and his plaid shirt is every bit of stylish. Did they flip through a J. Crew catalog before getting dressed? (In fact, that may be a good idea for inspiration!)

I am truly a fan of what Genevieve and Brian selected to wear. They dared to sport two completely different striped button-ups, but it sure worked. The stripes are different widths, colors, and are even going different directions, but they look urban chic because overall, it’s cohesive and unified. Genevieve successfully chose the black sash to tie in Brian’ shirt. In addition, their jeans and funky backdrop balances it all out. Well done.

Remember, you’re already a terrific twosome. So relax, and if you grab a few things out of your closet that display the essence of you, you’ll look fabulous.