Engagement Photos: How To Pick Your Outfits

Ah the outfits, this was my favorite part of engagement shoot planning, but also the most stressful part! “What do I wear” was also my most asked question on Instagram, so I’ll go into more depth here 🙂

Also, if you missed Part 1 and 2 of my Engagement Shoot series, then click here for location scouting tips and tricks and here for info on how to pick your photographer!

Ok – onto the clothes! So I thought about these outfits for months – mainly because I was excited, but also because I had no idea what type of look I was going for. I knew I wanted these photos to be special, but what did that mean? Did I want to wear white? Did I want them to feel “fall” since they were happening in October? Did I want them casual? Formal? What about shoes? Do I do booties? Heels? What should Ben wear? I felt like I had all the options in the world and yet, couldn’t make my mind up on a direction.

After a lot of back and forth, I eventually went with a floral dress from Abercrombie with booties, two white dresses with heels and a custom jean jacket from Etsy to throw on at the end. Once I had those picked out, we turned to Nordstrom to get Ben’s outfits locked down!

Five Tips for Picking Outfits

First

If you can, try to do at least one outfit change. It’ll give your photos two different vibes and it’ll give you a little more runaway with your shoot! Think of one look for save the dates and one for framing in your home or even using for that years holiday card. I love that our photos are a mix of outfits and locations, I just feel like I can do a ton with them!

Second

If you can do two looks then I would recommend one “casual” and one “dressy” look. Throwing those in quotations because that can mean something different for everyone.

For casual, I would just suggest something that you feel 100% comfortable in and a look that feels very “you.”

For dressy, I would have some fun! Is there a dress you’ve been eyeing? Or one that has amazing movement that you want to capture in a photo? This is a great opportunity to splurge a bit 🙂

If you’re struggling, start by looking up dresses or tops in your favorite color or a color you feel confident in. For instance, I love blush, so I googled “blush dresses” and went from there.

Third

Think about what you’re using these photos for. Do you need a save the date photo? Are these just for fun?

Thinking of these things ahead of time will allow you to alter your outfits as needed. I knew we wanted to do a shot for our save the dates and so I ordered a white dress and a custom “Beard to Be” jacket from Etsy to throw on for a few shots at the end.

Note: I love a good personal touch and these bride-to-be Etsy jackets are so cute!

Fourth

Don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for suggestions! Sam (our photographer) sent us a list of ideas and what colors/styles he would suggest based on his photography. He had some great insight about what type of fabrics look good in different settings and with different poses.

Fifth

If you can’t get to a store or are uncomfortable with covid, order from a store with fast shipping and an easy return policy. We used Nordstrom for Ben so he could try at home and easily return and then I used Revolve since they had two day shipping and easy returns as well.

Bonus: What Not To Do!

I actually asked our photographer this because as much as I wanted to know what to do, I wanted to make sure I knew what not to do too! There seems to be some standard “do’s and don’ts,” but each photographer will most likely have their own list based on their specific editing techniques.

Sam told us to avoid baggy button-down shirts, light denim, polos, tennis shoes/sneakers and logo shirts. He also suggested to avoid clothing that may show visible bra straps, tags or undergarments. Sounds obvious, but when you’re wearing white it’s definitely something to pay attention to! He also told us that primary colors play a big role in his photos – his style is a bit darker and more editorial, so reds, yellows, etc. stand out really well!

If you think you found you’re look(s), then I would suggest having someone snap a few photos of you in them to may sure you like how everything lays and looks on film. Sometimes what we picture in our heads doesn’t always translate and that way you’ll know what to expect!