An engagement photoshoot is a great opportunity for you to showcase your relationship and personalities. It’s also a wonderful way to practice in front of the camera in a less formal setting. Your engagement photos should be fun, but picking engagement photo outfits can feel overwhelming. You’ll likely use these photos for save the dates, a wedding website, and countless instagram posts, so you’re going to want to look and feel your best.

From cozy fall and winter outfits, to spring and summer-friendly t-shirts and dresses, read on for all our recommendations and tips.

1. Use the location as inspiration

Each couple likely has a place or two that is sentimental and special for them. With each location comes different engagement photo outfit pieces that will complement it. If you’re planning on taking your photos at the beach, you should opt for something super light and flowy. It’s also probably best that it’s something that can get wet and sandy. One great example is when we had a session at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the beautiful bride-to-be went ALL OUT with a vibrant gown.

2. Have two outfits ready

Having two outfits for your engagement photos is great for if you’re planning on going to more than one location. The outfit you choose for your in-the-park photos may not go best with more urban/city settings. I wouldn’t plan on changing more than once, though. You don’t want to feel rushed, and it’s important not to overthink something that’s supposed to be fun!

Bianca and Michael were literally the only people on the beach for their engagement photos, and did a more casual outfit change toward the end of the session. As it got chillier, Bianca added a denim jacket as an accessory.

It happened to be super hot for Sammy and Justin’s engagement photos, so they were happy to change into some lighter clothes.

3. Incorporate a fun accessory

Whether it’s heirloom jewelry or a versatile new bag/clutch, accessories are a great way to mix up your look. They’re easy enough to slip on and off, so you can opt to have them or not during your photos. It also makes for some great variety/detail photos.

4. Bold colors are always fun

There are probably tons of other wedding-related sources out there claiming that “neutrals” are best for photos. While I can agree to an extent, sometimes neutrals make you fade into the background a bit. If you’re wearing earth tones in a photo surrounded by greenery, you’re not exactly going to stand out. And we WANT you to stand out. So, with that, consider this a blessing to dress in bold, fun colors. Within reason, of course.

5. Complementary Engagement Photo Outfits

When you and your partner are trying to decide what to wear, your goal shouldn’t be to match. Instead, you should try to complement each other’s outfits. Play with layering, similar textures, and complementary colors (red/magenta & green, yellow & purple, or orange & blue).

6. Aim for classic instead of trendy

You might love your fur-lined bucket hat now, but next year you might think “…I wish I didn’t wear my fur-lined bucket hat to my engagement photos.” Trust us.

7. Engagement photo outfits should feel like you

If you feel your best in a white tee and jeans, now’s not the time to pull out a three piece suit. You are going to look amazing in whatever makes you feel amazing. Wearing anything outside of your comfort level is going to show in photos. In other words, you’re going to be uncomfortable and you may be counting down the minutes until you can go home and change. The goal of your engagement photo outfits should always be to showcase your authentic personality. Plus, you’ll be wearing/walking around in it for at least an hour, so don’t try to break in new shoes either, lol.

8. Flatter your features

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. That’s really it.

9. Bring a second (more comfortable) pair of shoes

Trust us, you don’t want to be walking for an hour in the city in your brand-new Louboutins without the option of changing into your broken in birks.

10. Take off your apple watch or fit bit

You’ll thank us later

All of this is to say: if you have an outfit that you’re really excited about, or one that makes you feel amazing, go for it. There’s always a way to incorporate it into photos in a creative, sensible way.

CLICK HERE‘ to book your engagement session!