Engagement photos Outfit ideas

As a wedding photographer in Chicago, I have always preferred doing engagement sessions with couples before their special day. This way, we can all learn how to work together and reach the goal of taking the best engagement photos and even better ones when the wedding arrives.

If you haven’t read my previous blog post, “Why you need engagement photos”, please do so.

Because it is important to have an engagement session before your wedding, all of my wedding packages are coming with a free engagement session. Please make sure to ask about the details.

We also talked about posing and how to pose in front of a camera according to your gesture and style which I explained in a separate pdf file I named, “posing guide” for you. Please download it now before you forget.

 

 

 

Alright! Lets’s talk about  Engagement photos Outfit ideas ands what to wear in an engagement session.

Usually, couples are unsure how to dress for this occasion and ask me for advice. From my experience and other wedding photographers near me, a free and creative style is expected. As you know, I consider myself a lifestyle and documentary wedding photographer which means that the images I take are very close to reality. I capture one hour of your happy/intimate moments artistically. Lots of laughter, emotions, and interactions are happening and it is important for me to encourage you to be yourself.

What to wear

I recommend clothes which will make you feel comfortable and allow you to move freely. Choosing plain clothes without texts, numbers, or brands is the best, so it won’t steal the attention from what is important for your engagement photos – your expressions, gestures, smiles, laughs, and romantic glances. To create a sweet and natural look, go with nude makeup and a simple hairstyle. Imagine a date day out with your fiance. What would you wear to go for a short walk?

For your engagement photoshoot in Chicago, I advise you to dress according to your partner. You can use the same tone and style – neutral, and light colors are ideal. The goal is to choose looks that complement each other but don’t look alike. Your clothes don’t have to match perfectly, but they have to harmonize with the vibe of the whole shoot. Imagine a couple, one in a formal black dress and high heels while the other one is wearing khaki shorts and a T-shirt. It doesn’t make sense. In order to elaborate what I mean here are the do’s and don’ts.

 

Do’s and don’ts for male outfits:

• Personally, I don’t like short sleeves shirts and t-shirts for men. I also don’t recommend wearing shorts for your engagement photo sessions, even if it is a summer engagement photo session.

 

• You can wear long sleeve cotton t-shirt if it is hot. If you prefer a dress shirt, you can roll up your sleeves to have a cool look.

 

• I also recommend not wearing plaid shirts or pants. I like everything to be plain for men, but again, the session is about you and your fiance’. If everyone knows you by wearing outfits with patterns, so then go for it.

 

• I also don’t like sneakers and tennis shoes. Simply casual shoes work. I personally LOVE the Cole Haan brand for men and women and I think they have many styles which you can match with your casual outfits. (trust me I am not making commissions promoting Cole Haan. lol)

Do’s and don’ts for female outfits:

• The same rules go for women/female outfits. Wear something comfortable so then you can be yourself. Even if your body shape looks better in a pencil skirt for instance, which is supposed to be tight, go for s stretchy material which allows you to walk and run easily.

 

• I love patterns and colors. I am madly in love with motifs (check out my Side hassle, Maloos Design) I just cannot help; It is part of me. Where I grew up_ in Iran_ floral design and geometric mosaic arts are part of everyday people’s life. For instance, when a couple gets married, traditionally, in some central states, the parent of the bride, would give the newlywed couple, a Persian Rug as their wedding present, for it is very important to decorate your house with a beautiful element designed with patterns and colors.

 

• Long story short, I get excited when people wear a dress with patterns and floral designs. Usually (not always), female on the engagement sessions or the wedding day get more attention than males and as you can see the wedding dress is more elaborate than the groom’s, therefore it should not hurt to go for something bold in my opinion. Although I still suggest choosing a dress with subtle patterns so then it won’t steal the attention from you and your face and stay away from neon color, for its effects on your skin color.

Headpieces :/ meh! Well, it depends.

Do you usually, wear a flower crown when you go out for a walk? Is it part of your outfit on a date with your fiance’? If yes, go for it!

As I said, I like to capture your true moments, close to the reality of your life and relationship.

I don’t mind if you wear a simple headband if that is what you wear most of the time.

• Shoes must be comfortable! Even if you decide to wear a pair of uncomfortable ones, always bring a pair of casual shoes just in case. I don’t want your facial expressions to be affected by the excruciating pain that your feet are experiencing.

 

• Pieces of jewelry, are welcomed but again must represent you and no one else.

 

• Bring a backpack for me Because I don’t want to miss any in-between moments and transitions from one set of poses to another, I end up carrying my clients’ stuff:) Please bring a backpack for your belongings; Cellphones, purse, extra layers of clothes, water bottle, and snacks, so then I can carry them on my back while shooting. Therefore, I can keep photographing and capturing all the memorable moments without being worried that something distracting is in our way of being flawless.

I designed a What-to-Wear PDF file to visually instruct you how to get prepared for your engagement session. Feel free to download it.

 

Location:

Take into account the place you chose as the best engagement photo location and try to choose outfits that make sense of the environment and are comfortable since comfort is essential to achieve candid and natural photos.

I think every wedding photographer in Chicago would agree – include your shared passion in your engagement photoshoot. That can be pets, hobbies, a sport, or an object representative of you. In this way, your photos will reflect your essence.

In my consultation sessions, If the couple doesn’t have a specific location in mind, I list the places I love the most and let them pick.

Usually, locations and sceneries are one of these:

• Cityscapes like North ave beach Engagement location
• in the city, Downtown Chicago photo locations, such as the Chicago theater, Wrigley building, and the south garden Art Institute of Chicago
• Green areas, which can be the Lincoln park itself as well as the suburb forests, for instance, forest preserves in Skoki which is very secluded.
• Monuments, like the Bahai Temple as well as the lighthouse in Evanston
• Lifestyle sessions can also take place at your favorite cafe or ice-cream or book shop

Time:

And finally, the most important thing to make your engagement photos look bright and beautiful is to have enough time for the session. I usually schedule my engagement sessions 1.5 hour before sunset so then we can end the session, by taking advantage of the golden hour.

Read LIGHT in photography!

Once again, don’t miss the opportunity to get a free engagement session in your wedding photography package.

Always here to answer any questions you may have 🙂