What to Wear for Engagement Photos?

The last time I wrote about some engagement photo tips I also briefly touched upon what to wear for your session, but I feel like this topic deserves its own blog post. As I mentioned in the last post, comfort & solid colours are the way to go.  Please don’t wear anything with logos on them as they end up being so distracting in the photos. I want the photos to be about you rather than a Nike sweater, for example.

I welcome ripped jeans and flowy dresses/skirts, leather or jean jackets, and your favourite hat, just to name a few examples. Essentially what I’m trying to say is that I welcome casual comfort. You don’t have to dress to the nines if you don’t want to.

Another tip I want to touch on again is that if you do opt for heels over sneakers, bring flats to walk in while we move locations. The same goes for winter engagement sessions, please bring a coat, hat and gloves! This way if you need a break to warm up, you can take a moment to bundle up.

The location of your session typically sets the mood for your photos so it helps if you choose outfits that look harmonious with your chosen location. For example, if your location is a colourful urban city location with graffiti, it would be best to wear dark, neutral colours so you stand out from your surroundings. Same goes for mountain sessions with lots of neutral colours and greens, a pop of colour like a red or yellow flowy skirt will help you stand out among the greenery.

Here are some various outfit examples from some of my favourite sessions:

For engagement sessions in the mountains, comfortable footwear is key! The ground can be uneven and may be a bit challenging in heels when off the beaten path. I like to get into spots that are not heavily crowded by tourists, so there is some potential for hiking. For guys, there is no need to wear dress shoes if you opt for a button up shirt over a t-shirt. Sneakers or Blundstones work just fine and won’t look out of place in a casual setting.

Black and darker clothing are a safe bet and honestly you can’t go wrong. I can’t name a time where black was a bad idea, so when in doubt, wear something black!

This brings me back to earlier when I mentioned bringing coats. This session was moved inside because a winter storm was moving in and it doesn’t look like it, but it was SO COLD! But having coats with you does allow for outdoor photo opportunities without freezing your butt off for the most part!

Don’t fear casual! I think a lot of people think engagement sessions = having to get dressed up. That’s not necessarily the case if it’s not your thing. It’s okay to opt for jeans and a t-shirt instead of getting dressed up if you don’t feel comfortable doing so or if it doesn’t resonate with your style of wedding. The reason I suggest neutral colours is because they are timeless. You can’t go wrong with a plain t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

This is a visual example of what I mean when I say choose outfits that compliment each other. This session had me in awe while editing because that’s when I realized that their outfits actually also complimented the backgrounds of certain locations we were at, so the entire session has a beautiful monochromatic colour tone (that wasn’t planned)

I’m a very visual person and I have always preferred showing a direct example of something rather than trying to explain it because I suck at explaining things. So for some further inspiration, here is a link to my Pinterest board of engagement session outfits I love that inspire me, and hopefully it will make your outfit planning a little bit easier. I’m so so excited to photograph your session. See ya soon!

Erika Lagy Photography is a Calgary Wedding and Elopement Photographer. Let’s plan your perfect engagement session. Reach out to learn more!