Engagement Photo Attire

This forum has been such a wonderful help to me, but there's one thing I haven't been able to find on here - help with choosing outfits for engagement photo sessions!!!

I've heard a number of different suggestions:

1. No logos

2. No distracting patterns

3. Stick to the basics, some say dark denim or khahis and white or black shirts

While I agree with the logos and patterns, I really don't want us to look too matchy matchy or boring!  I'd like to be somewhat dressed up as we don't get professional photos taken every day, but I don't want to look overdone!  Does anyone have any other tips?

We're doing our engagement session Oct 6th and hoping to get some beautiful fall colours in the background!

Thanks for you help and happy wedding planning!

We did fun colors AND matched!!! We didnt look cheesy at all, its all in the way you do it.  Make sure you bring a few outfit changes, we did three outfit changes, here are a few of my faves! Hope they give you some ideas! Also,cute props help, i know etsy sells mini chalkboards where you can put messages on, those would be cute.   Our props were our hats...I think they added a nice touch to our Save the Dates

Thanks Bride2012!  Your pics were fabulous!  And looks like you had a fun time shooting them too! 

That's exactly what I was thinking about doing...complimentary colours!  Things that are in the same colour palate without being exactly the same shade! Now I just need to go through the closet and see what we already have that will coordinate!  When I said matchy matchy, I meant that I've seen some where both people wear khakis and white dress shirts - that's too coordinated for my liking I think.  

One more question, given that we're going to likely do 2-3 outfit changes, should we try to do a more formal look?  Thinking a cocktail dress and heels for me, and dress pants and dress shirt for my FI?  I think it would be nice, but all of the fall e-pics I've seen have been more casual and playing with the leaves, outdoorsy, etc.  I'm just scared to waste a bunch of our pics on formal outfits that end up looking silly in the end!? Any opinions?  

Originally Posted by Bride2012 

We did fun colors AND matched!!! We didnt look cheesy at all, its all in the way you do it.  Make sure you bring a few outfit changes, we did three outfit changes, here are a few of my faves! Hope they give you some ideas! Also,cute props help, i know etsy sells mini chalkboards where you can put messages on, those would be cute.   Our props were our hats...I think they added a nice touch to our Save the Dates

 

It is all your style. You want the pictures to reflect YOU. We are getting FI's mom to take ours (she has photography experience), and went to take some during the summer (we are taking more in the fall). We found out that we laughed the whole time and just joked around with each other, teasing and everything. It was silly and very us and I love the pictures! At the same time, we also love being dressed up, so we are going to be a little more stylish mixed in with fun next time.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it really depends on you as a couple and your location. We are going to play in a park with our dogs when we go next time, which is very typical for us. If you are a very sophisticated style, goofy playing in leaves pictures may not suit you. Similarly, if you live in sweats and jerseys most of the time, cocktail dresses, suits and heels will look out of place.

My best recommendation is to try and find some middle-of-the-road outfits. I would google tons of pictures for ideas, and especially look at what your photographer has done before. Let's say you can do 3 outfits. I would do:

1 very nice, but casual, look: Dark denim, nice sweater or blouse.

1 dressier look: little dress, heels, that idea.

1 casual dress OR more casual (another colour is a good idea) OR maybe a jersey or something if you are avid sports fans?

For our summer ones, I wore layered tanks over a denim skirt. For the fall ones, either a black or deep pink sweater over dark denim. I am also bringing a jacket I love so I look more put-together but can take it off too. Layering might be a good idea.

Okay, that is a lot of layering. My advice, in summary: bring different type of outfits. Google LOTS to get ideas of what you love for inspiration.

I asked my photographer for tips, she directed me towards the style me pretty blog.  I think your location plays into your attire a fair bit... I drove my FI crazy 2 weeks before the shoot (also coinciding with our trip to the island for our site visit) We are both very simple people, definitely not trendy at all... Whatever you wear make sure you are comfortable i it and it suits who you are otherwise it will show in your photos! 

These are great suggestions!!
 

Originally Posted by Peach 

It is all your style. You want the pictures to reflect YOU. We are getting FI's mom to take ours (she has photography experience), and went to take some during the summer (we are taking more in the fall). We found out that we laughed the whole time and just joked around with each other, teasing and everything. It was silly and very us and I love the pictures! At the same time, we also love being dressed up, so we are going to be a little more stylish mixed in with fun next time.

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that it really depends on you as a couple and your location. We are going to play in a park with our dogs when we go next time, which is very typical for us. If you are a very sophisticated style, goofy playing in leaves pictures may not suit you. Similarly, if you live in sweats and jerseys most of the time, cocktail dresses, suits and heels will look out of place.

 

My best recommendation is to try and find some middle-of-the-road outfits. I would google tons of pictures for ideas, and especially look at what your photographer has done before. Let's say you can do 3 outfits. I would do:

1 very nice, but casual, look: Dark denim, nice sweater or blouse.

1 dressier look: little dress, heels, that idea.

1 casual dress OR more casual (another colour is a good idea) OR maybe a jersey or something if you are avid sports fans?

 

For our summer ones, I wore layered tanks over a denim skirt. For the fall ones, either a black or deep pink sweater over dark denim. I am also bringing a jacket I love so I look more put-together but can take it off too. Layering might be a good idea.

 

Okay, that is a lot of layering. My advice, in summary: bring different type of outfits. Google LOTS to get ideas of what you love for inspiration.

Thanks so much Starfish, Peach and Bride 2012!  I really appreciate all of your input!  We were having such a hard time!

So I made my FI (he was less than impressed) try on a whole bunch of outfits the other night, and I think we finally have it figured out!  We're going to do 2 separate outfits, and use jackets with scarves over another outfit for a 3rd easy look.  Our first outfit it more dressy, with my FI in a dress shirt and dress pants, and I'll wear a skirt and nice sweater.  We're hoping to do some of the more formal shots around our Parliament buildings,etc.  Then we're changing into dark denim and trying to look coordinated ish with him in a chocolate brown top and me with a chocolate tank and tan sweater.  We're going to do more of the playing in the leaves and waterfront shots in those.  Then we'll add the jackets for some pics overlooking the city and more urban pics.  So I think we finally figured it out!  Wow, what a lot of coordinating for a simple photo shoot!  I think the main thing is that we'll be comfortable and look like ourselves, just like you ladies suggested!

So thanks again so much for the tips!  Wish me luck this Thurs, and I'll make sure to post once I get some pictures back!  

Haha! After all my suggestions, I just realized I might have to change my plans for more pictures this weekend.... apparently there is a chance of snow in the mountains where we are going for them. Hmm.... time to dig out the bigger sweaters I guess!

That could make for some really beautiful pictures!! As much as I hate to admit it, im really excited for snow, because that means its that much closer to my wedding!
 

Originally Posted by Peach 

Haha! After all my suggestions, I just realized I might have to change my plans for more pictures this weekend.... apparently there is a chance of snow in the mountains where we are going for them. Hmm.... time to dig out the bigger sweaters I guess!

Awww!! We are starting to worry about weather here too...not quite snow but I might freeze in my skirt!  Oh well, beauty is pain! lol!

It may be cold, but a little bit of snow could definitely add to your pictures!  I've seen some amazing snow fall e-pics!  Just don't freeze!  Let us know how they go! 
 

Originally Posted by Peach 

Haha! After all my suggestions, I just realized I might have to change my plans for more pictures this weekend.... apparently there is a chance of snow in the mountains where we are going for them. Hmm.... time to dig out the bigger sweaters I guess!