Engagement sessions are super fun sessions filled with purpose and beauty. They have so many benefits to them which is why I always include them in my wedding collections. First off, they are a really great way for us to get to know each other better before your big day. Everyone gets some practice with being in front of my camera which is incredibly beneficial in preparing you for your wedding day photos. It won’t be the first time you’ve been photographed by me which calms the nerves and sets you up for success on your actual wedding day. Secondly, it gives me a chance to get a sense of who you are as a couple, how you act around each other, and what makes you smile and be yourself. And as an added bonus, we get to create beautiful imagery together that you can used on save-the-dates, your wedding website, and social media as you celebrate and prepare for your wedding.
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits and importance of having an engagement session, I’d like to share some outfit inspiration and tips with you in creating the most meaningful and pretty session possible with styling. Styling your session will include taking the time to consider each part of your session and making decisions that will create depth and beauty in your images!
How to Style Your Engagement Session:
- Plan for more than one outfit
- Consider the season and dress appropriately
- Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
- Think about the location and practicality of clothing
- Layer with texture and color
- Dress up more than you normally would
- Schedule a trial hair and makeup
- Get your nails professionally painted
- Plan part of your session around an activity
If you haven’t already seen these, below are 4 Pinterest boards filled with outfit inspiration pertaining to each season to get your ideas rolling. You can access those at the links below. I have also created some visuals to help you plan according to your season. Just remember to play with layers, colors, and textures and accessorize as much as possible! And as always, I am here to help if you need anything or have any questions.
Pinterest Boards To Help You Style Your Outfits:
Plan for more than one outfit:
Choosing what you wear is an incredibly important aspect in creating the prettiest and most meaningful engagement session. Not only does it determine the overall look but it can really add in sophistication and style with the proper choices. I always recommend bringing more than one outfit to add variety and get a sense of what your style is. You may opt to do one more casual outfit and one more dressy. Or both can be dressy with different textures and layers.
Spring Outfit Sample 1:
Spring Outfit Sample 2:
Consider the season and dress appropriately:
Don’t forget to consider the season and dress appropriately. If it is incredibly hot out, keep that in mind and try for some looser fitting clothes that won’t make you sweat. If it is snowing and freezing, plan accordingly. It can be really hard to fake being warm when your skin is pink from the freezing temps. Make the most of it with a cozy oversized sweater or a tailored coat and scarf. Either way, plan ahead and chose what will work best.
Winter Outfit Sample 1:
Winter Outfit Sample 2:
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize:
Never underestimate the look of your accessories. Whether you add a hat, bracelets, earrings, or rings any and all accessories add to the visual quality of your images and gives me more to focus on when photographing you.
Fall Outfit Sample 1:
Fall Outfit Sample 2:
Think about the location and practicality of clothing:
If you’ve made plans to use a creek in your backyard, high heels are probably not the best choice. The same goes for if a long walk is required to get to our location. Consider bringing a change of shoes with you so you can get there easier without the fear of twisting an ankle.
Layer with texture and color:
Don’t forget to have fun with your choices. Too many patterns or bright colors can be distracting but layering and choosing color wisely can certainly add to the beauty of your photos. Try adding a sweater or vest to add layers. Consider using a pop of color and accenting it with neutrals to balance it out.
Summer Outfit Sample 1:
Summer Outfit Sample 2:
Dress up more than you normally would:
this is a wonderful opportunity to get dressed up more than you normally would. Not only are you investing in these services but it’s also a once in a lifetime opportunity to be models for a day. Not to mention dressing it up photographs really well as opposed to more casual wear.
Schedule a trial hair and makeup:
A lot of salons offer to do a trial hair and makeup for you to see what you want for your wedding day. Plan this the same day that you have your session and then you will have professional hair and makeup!
Get your nails professionally painted:
Your hands will be in a lot of photos so this is really important to consider. The last thing you want to think about when looking at your photos are chipped nails.
Plan part of your session around an activity:
To help create a more captivating story to go along with your session, you might consider using some props or planning an activity. This can be super simple or it can be extravagant. It all depends on how you want to style your session. Some examples of activities you can plan are fire pit, s’mores, lunch/picnic with a cheese board, going for ice cream, popping a bottle of Champaign, or ordering coffee. It could be related to your first date or just something that you both enjoy doing. Either way, it is a fun way to add depth to your photos and the possibilities are endless.
