Believe it or not, you have so much control over the outcome of your shoot and what it looks and feels like! What you choose to wear is a big decision that often causes some stress for the bride beforehand. However, I hope that with a little education, you will be able to determine the style and feel you desire for your shoot which will make your outfit selection so much easier and less complicated! Let's start by debunking some very common outfit myths that a lot of people believe about what they should wear to their session!

Outfit Myths:

1. MYTH ONE: Avoid neutrals, they wash you out!

Whoever started this myth couldn’t have been further from the truth. Some colors don’t work for some people, but for the majority of people, they look amazing in neutrals and those colors shouldn't be avoided. The truth is, neutrals are the most photogenic color for portraits.

2. MYTH TWO: Always wear black or you won’t look thin!

Sure, black is slimming, but it also photographs very heavily in portraits. There is nothing wrong with black, but if you’re only wearing it to look thinner and deep down you’re hoping for light and airy portraits, it may not be the best choice.

3. MYTH THREE: You two need to match!

Please don't try to match your significant other. Instead, try to coordinate! Coordinating is a completely different concept than “matching." Coordination means you are usually choosing different colors that look good together but are not close to being the same. I have some more tips about this concept in the following pages.

4. MYTH FOUR: Your location determines your style more than your outfit!

False! Your outfit has way more impact than your location. Your location is just a setting in the background, but you two will still be the main focus of the images. If you want a light, airy, and overall romantic look to your photos, you will need to wear lighter, more neutral colors in your photos to achieve this look!

5. MYTH FIVE: You have to buy something new!

False! If you know you look awesome in an outfit that you already have, and it fits the style you want for your engagement session, that would be a great choice!

Which style do you prefer?

BOLD or NEUTRAL, DRESSY or CASUAL, CLASSIC or TRENDY

These choices represent the three main decisions you will have to make regarding your outfit choices. There are no right or wrong answers! You may want one outfit to be dressy and the other to be casual. You may wish for one outfit to be very light and neutral but you want to wear more color in the next outfit. These categories will help you determine what you’re hoping for in your engagement session. If you’re feeling stuck and can’t seem to determine what you prefer, that’s very normal!

Here are some general “rules of thumb” when it comes to styling during an engagement session. Once you read through these, you may have a better understanding of what you prefer, and you can start planning your outfits. These “rules of thumb” are based on my experience and aren’t concrete rules that can’t be broken. However, if you have questions about one of them concerning what you want to wear, just email me and we can talk about what would be best!

Things to Avoid:

1. Colors to avoid: bright reds, neons, bright oranges (they reflect color onto skin and can be difficult to edit!).

2. Avoid patterns smaller than a quarter: Tiny patterns cause something called “Chromatic Aberration” in digital images. Men’s checkered shirts are acceptable if the “checks” are larger.

3. Alternate Heaviness: If one of you is wearing very dark jeans, the other may want to wear lighter pants. If one of you is wearing a navy top, the other shouldn’t wear a dark/heavy-colored top. To a certain degree, alternating the “heaviness” of your outfits can make your images look more balanced.

4. Avoid one of you being casual while the other is more dressy: This can look a bit awkward in your photos. 

5. Other pieces to avoid: Tennis shoes, graphic tees, bold logos on shirts, sunglasses & baseball hats.

ROMANTIC STYLE RECIPE

If you’re hoping for a more romantic style of shoot that includes “light” and “airy” colors, you can make outfit choices that will allow your images to turn out brighter, softer, and extra photogenic! Here are some elements that go into creating a romantic-styled shoot. It’s important to note that you do not need to make all of these choices to have a light and airy style to your images, but the more ingredients you include, the more romantic and bright your images will be:

- Neutral Colors: Blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues, and light minty teals, creams, grays, and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look in your images. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!

- Long, Flowy Skirts/Dresses: Dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric, and the ability to blow and move in the wind will always photograph beautifully! You will be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.

- Khakis vs. Jeans: If you want your images to be as bright as possible, consider having your groom wear lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.

Book now to obtain more tips on outfits and styling ideas for your engagement shoot as I provide my couples with my very own wedding guide!