Q. I was wondering if I could ask your opinion on what to wear for an engagement shoot. We’re going to be taking photos in a nearby park, and are a casual couple who appreciates comfort.
– Stacy
A. Congratulations!
My feeling about engagement shoots is that most important thing is that you a) look like yourselves, and b) have fun. What that means: simple pieces that you’re all comfortable in, and that feel like things you’d actually wear not just for a photo, but in “real life”, as it were. That said, feel free to dress up a little – a light, romantic dress is perfect for an engagement photo shoot.
1. About that dress: skip the patterns in favor of solid colors (like the Asos dress pictured above). Avoid shiny fabrics, as well as red, white, and black (white and red are too bright for the camera, and black absorbs too much light). For a spring/summer outdoor shoot, a bright color will look especially pretty against all the greenery (just avoid bright green and green-tinted yellows; you’ll blend right into the background).
2. Choose a neckline that frames your face and makes your neck look longer (neck elongation makes for a great photo). Style your hair away from your face to avoid shadows, and choose simple, elegant jewelry that doesn’t distract – crystal stud earrings. a slim bangle…and your ring, of course.
3. If you’re a little nervous in front of the camera, props can really help, so bring along a picnic basket with some champagne and a couple of glasses, a shawl, maybe a sun umbrella – all of these items will help give you something to do with your hands and add life and movement to the photo.
4. Footwear: I’d personally go for flats so you can feel free to move around, but in a metallic color that dresses them up a bit.
5. Finally, let’s talk about your fiancé’s attire: few things look more awkward than a man who has been trussed up for a photo in an outfit that he’s uncomfortable in, so don’t try to stick your husband-to-be in a suit if he’s more of a tee-and-sneakers kind of guy: if he wants to wear ripped jeans, just balance them out with a nice button-down and call it a day.
Have fun!
(More dress ideas for you above…plus one that defies most of the “rules” that I listed above…but that’s the one I’d probably end up wearing myself, with a pair of broken-in boots because that sounds sort of amazing.)
