As a photographer, we LOVE our job. We love our clients and of course, whatever they end up wearing we will be pumped to just get to party with them!!! BUT I feel it is also my job to help make the photos the best that they can be. This includes what my client’s wear to the photoshoot! One of the biggest asked questions I get from my couples is “What do I wear to my engagement session?” So here is a small 10 step guide to helping lead you to the “best outfits” for your upcoming session!
https://www.pinterest.com/kortneyjphoto/client-outfit-inspo/
- COORDINATING COLORS.
This one is huge. You want everything to flow and to look nice. Biggest tip for making sure colors coordinate, would be to look at this amazing chart that I found by A pair and A spair. It perfectly explains what colors go best with what.
2. COMPLIMENT THE WEATHER.
This. I cannot tell you how many times I have had people show up to a snowy engagement session wearing white or cream. It might be a super cute outfit…But your body is going to blend right on into that snow. Of course if you are a bride in the snow, we do what we gotta do! (side note, Ivory dresses are amazing in that case!). But if it’s a regular session and you can avoid the white on white, let’s avoid it and make you contrast against it.
Spring/Summer: Summer trends such as sun dresses, nicer sandals (not casual flip flops), lightweight light colored pants and a lightweight button up on the men are great examples for a solid summer session outfit. I love lighter colors in the summer such as pastels or light neutrals. So often in summer we end up shooting surrounded by greenery, so staying away from wearing greens, or darker colors are usually best to make you stand out from the background.
Fall: Time to layer up! Whatever you decide to wear, layers are your best friend. We are talking a cute top, jacket or sweater, little neck scarf, whatever you want to add more depth into your outfit. Fall is perfect for that. Tones during this time of year (at least local to Idaho) are typically yellows and oranges outside. So try to get tones and outfits that go well with this. I would not recommend wearing bright floral or major distracting prints during this time of year since the fall leaves already bring so much to the photo.
Winter (snow sessions): Layers like the fall session example are perfect as well! For winter I also love a cute beanie, some mittens to throw on for a few shots, be creative and have fun with it! Just remember…If there is snow, do not wear white or creams if you can avoid it. If we are going to be in a heavy snow area, you can still wear lighter colors just make sure they contrast against white enough so you don’t disappear into the photos.
3. GO WITH THE LOCATION.
Will you be surrounded by pretty greenery? Wear lighter colors to stand out. Will you be surrounded by rolling hills with more of a tan tone overall the dry grasses or at the sand dunes? Wear whatever colors for this, but my personal fav is when there is a pop of color in those! Imagine yourself at the sand dunes in a hot red flowy dress and him in some neutrals…perfection! have fun with it. If you need help or guidance, talk to me or your photographer for more help.
4. PUT THE ELECTRONICS AWAY.
I’m sorry, I know you wear your Apple Watch so much that it is basically a part of your body. 😉 But please take it off for your photoshoot and replace it with a classic watch. I promise it will look so much better in photos! 🙂
5. PATTERN GUIDE:
Patterns are TOTALLY okay. Just don’t let them take away from you or the beautiful surroundings. I also suggest that if one person from the couple is wearing a pattern, that the other person should be wearing a solid print. This helps things not to get too crazy.
6. ACCESORIES:
Hats. Scarfs. Belts. Bandanas. Flower crowns. You name it, I love it. Anything to give us something more to play with I love. Dainty necklaces and bracelets are also so beautiful. I love rings! But keep In mind if this is your engagement session, you probably want to show off the main ring. So don’t distract us from that with other rings on the same hand.
7. MOVEMENT:
Let’s create movement not only in the poses we do, but in the clothing you wear. If you are all for those flowy movement/candid shots we see everywhere…A tight fitting outfit won’t do it all for us vs a beautiful flowy skirt or dress, hair down and curled to get movement captured as you move, etc are you catching my drift? I love movement and the more that is moving in the photo the better!
8. BE UNIQUE
Or should I say…Be YOU-nique 😉 haha! But actually. If you guys go fishing every week together you better bring your fishing gear with you for the shoot. If you guys play music and sing together, BRING IT and we can have a show while I capture that. Love to swim? Deal. get in your suits and jump into a lake or the ocean and I’ll capture the heck out of it. Whatever makes you guys unique PLEASE bring it along so I can capture you being you together.
9. SHOES
Ladies, this is mostly for you. While I love me some good high heels, keep in mind that a lot of walking and sometimes hiking happens during sessions. If you plan to wear heels for your photos that is perfectly fine, but bring a side pair of walking or hiking shoes for between shots.
10. IN HOME SESSIONS
All of the above applies, but for in home sessions I say the more skin showing the better! No that doesn’t mean you need to be borderline naked, I’m just saying the photos will look a lot more comfortable and intimate than if you’re in lots of heavy layers! Cause let’s be real, most of us walk around without pants on at home anyways. I recommend bringing options of tank tops, shorts, sweaters, and jeans to mix and match! Anything that will show some skin is perf! Or if you wanna just wear a sweater with undies for a few or have your bae be shirtless, then heck yes to that. I pinky promise I’m not a creep haha.
AND THERE YA HAVE IT. Of course I could go on and on about what to wear, but If you need even more inspiration, here is a link to my Pinterest board I have made specifically for you to get your inspiration for your next session going!
https://www.pinterest.com/kortneyjphoto/client-outfit-inspo/
xo, Kortney J
