Having your photo taken can be nerve-wracking for many people. It’s normal, don’t worry. I’ve done this hundreds of times and I’m here to make this a fun and relaxing session. But there are things that you can do to make sure you feel comfortable, relaxed and confident during our photo shoot.
One of the questions I often get asked is “What should I wear to my photoshoot”?
This is a tough question to answer. The type of clothes you wear and the kinds of accessories you use to either jazz them up or tone them down, says a lot about who you are, where you’re from, what you do and how you feel about yourself and others. What is right for one person is wrong for another. The best advice I can give is to be yourself, be true to yourself so that you will recognise yourself in the images we create together.
So, I have put this article together for you to help you choose what to wear. But please remember your style is often a reflection of your personality, it’s part of you, so dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable as this will help you feel more confident in front of the lens.
So, let’s get to it, here are a few of my favourite tips for choosing the perfect outfits for your next photo shoot.
Light-coloured clothing always photographs better than darker clothing! That doesn’t mean you can’t wear black or dark colours to your session. I’m just saying lighter colours reflect more light onto your skin and photographs nicely! So, consider neutral tones, pastel colours or cool hues. And you can always add a pop of colour with your accessories! You can’t go wrong with a flowy white or cream-coloured dress!
That said, try to choose colours that match your skin tone. If you have light skin, white clothing can wash out your complexion in photographs. If you have jet-black hair, a navy shirt or jacket might not look the best.
Some things just look better when they are photographed. It’s true to say that solid neutrals photograph much better than any sort of print does. Prints, patterns and graphics can be somewhat distracting in photos. But it doesn’t mean ALL patterns are bad. A good rule to follow is the larger the pattern, the better. Smaller, tighter patterns will appear much busier in photos than the large print plaid will.
The same rule applies when it comes to florals and stripes. The larger the floral print, the better! So, if one of you decides to wear a print, I would recommend the other to wear a solid neutral to balance each other out!
Fluorescent colours (such as bright orange) tend to colour cast on faces, necks and hair. When the shirt is so bright, it often also changes the colour of the person standing next to them, so these are best avoided.
Wear colours that complement each other instead of the “matchy-matchy” look.
Avoid both wearing the same colour top to bottom. For example, avoid both of you wearing denim bottoms with a white coloured top. Try to mix it up! Clash, be brave and bold. Look at fashion magazines for some inspiration.
It’s also a good idea to dress for the same occasion. If one of you is dressing for a ball and the other is dressing for the gym, it’s difficult to make that work. Be true to yourselves but make sure you both look like you are going to the same event.
There are many ways to add some personality to your engagement photos. Have fun with some accessories! It can be anything from a hat, a statement jewellery piece, or bold lipstick colours. Layers and textures are your friends! Layering different pieces and mixing in textures are always a great way to accessorise your outfit!
This is the most important tip! Be true to yourself and make this a fun experience! Wear something that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable! If you know you look and feel great in a certain colour, wear that colour! If wearing heels makes your feel more confident, rock them! Just be true to yourself!
That said, I am a great believer in going hard or going home. How often do you have your photos taken? Make the most of it, do your hair and make-up, dress yourself up and look as glamorous as you dare whilst staying true to yourself.
It’s a good idea to bring some comfortable shoes with you which you can wear when you are moving around, then slip into your glamorous heels before each photo.
You are more than welcome to bring a change of clothing, or two! You could start your photo session wearing dressy clothes, and then change into more casual clothes later.
This will give you a set of images that have a variety of looks. Just remember we will be outside so you should be comfortable changing outdoors.
Be brave, it will be worth it.
I always try to make the most of an engagement session and I always want to give you amazing photos you want to use in photo albums, hang on your wall, or place in engagement announcements and “save-the-date” cards.
But don’t feel pressured, be yourself and let’s have lots of fun. After all, that will make much better photos than anything else could.
Taking a few moments to make the best of your photos will be priceless in the years to come.
Engagement photoshoots are a great way to get to know your wedding photographer and see if you both click. They are an invaluable part of the wedding packages i offer as they help the couple feel at ease in front of the camera well ahead of the big day.
I work with many stylists and am happy to recomend someone who can help make sure you look your very best if you want to push the boat out. We don’t often take the time to get all dolled up and have our photos taken, splash out, make the most of it. You’ll look back on these images in years to come with a twinkle in your eye.
