The What to Wear Engagement Guide.
Before we talk about what to wear, it’s important to acknowledge where we are doing photos. Different locations have different types of vibes for outfit choices. For example… you wouldn’t want to be dressed in “Black Tie” attire for the beach. It just doesn’t go together. But a dressy casual outfit choice for the beach sends the message of relaxation… much like what we think of when we are heading out for a day at the beach.
Let’s talk about colors
-I always say to have two outfits for engagements- one outfit that is dressy, like you are going to a wedding as a guest and one that is a casual outfit, but one that is an elevated casual date outfit.
-Pick your colors! Pick colors that complement each other well and try to avoid mixing patterns. Sometimes, couples think that should “match” for their pictures… don’t think of it as matching each other, but compliment each other. You can be in the same color family but avoid wearing the exact same color! You will each get lost or look like one blob in the photo.
-Be mindful when picking colors based on the scenery you are taking photos in. For example: If you are taking photos in a garden space (lots of greenery) darker colors tend to get lost against the green, if you want to stand out, make sure that at least one of you is in a lighter colored outfit.
-And lastly, be mindful of the season you are shooting in for your location and color choices!
Beach Vibes
I love nothing more than a dramatic maxi dress with a slit down the for ladies and a white button down and jeans for the guys. I think there is nothing more romantic than the capture of movement your dress gives in a picture when the wind blows. For guys- think crisp and clean. For ladies you… you have some options. If casual is your thing, be crisp and clean with your guy. Lights and darks that contrast well will always look great together. If romantic is your vibe, then you can be bold. You can throw a pattern in or make a statement with a bold colored dress. Always remember to to wear what you feel is true to you and who you are. Making drastic changes about your outfit styling wont make you feel like you are you. Be bold, but also be true to yourself and choose what’s flattering for your body.
Things to know…
We will likely get sandy and wet! I will never pressure you to get fully in the water (above the waist) unless you want to. But also keep in mind that because we may get sandy and wet, to bring a towel and possibly a change of clothes to change into after your session. And if the outfit you are wearing are very important to you, you may not want to wear it to the beach!
Timing
Because the beach offers little to no shade- I always recommend that we shoot at golden hour to just past sunset. This will be the best lighting for beach sessions. Harsh lighting before these times will make you squint in your photos, which is something we want to avoid. Plus it gives your images a warm golden glow… which is super romantic
Accessories
Don’t be afraid to dress up your look with accessories like hats- not baseball hats, sorry guys… but floppy hats, cowboy hats, brim hats etc. You can dress up your look with things like earrings, watches, necklaces etc. Just keep in mind that if you don’t want things to get wet, to take them off before we dip our toes in the water.
Take me to the Gardens
Green-space with flowers and big oak trees and Spanish moss… That’s me setting the stage for what I feel like is a romantic setting. And with that, this could be where you bring in your “Black tie” or Fancy date outfits. Don’t get me wrong- you can wear your elevated casual date outfits here too. It’s more so the vibe you are trying to portray. Also- just like with the beach… you can also dress up your look with accessories. Remember to be true to yourself in what you choose to wear and choose what is right for your body type.
Know the space
Before you go, know what/if anything is in bloom. Mostly everything goes with green- but if there are flowers in bloom, make sure you don’t pick colors that will clash with those that are in bloom.
Timing
Shooting in a green space affords us the opportunity to start shooting before golden hour because there will likely be trees that offer shade for us to shoot in. Starting earlier means brighter and more crisper images. Be mindul when picking outfits about what colors look best for your skin tone in natural light!
Cityscape and Architecture
If Charleston is known for anything, it’s known for its charm of still being an old Southern city that’s big on Romance. Whether we are doing your session in downtown Charleston or any other city… I always feel that city scapes provide a certain level of romance with their architecture so your outfits should be based on that. Charleston is so unique in that downtown already provides so many amazing beautiful colors that choosing an outfit can seem overwhelming. Don’t be afraid to think clean and classic for your outfit choice here. Pastels and lighter colors working well and dark colors like black, navy and gray can also work well! And again be true to yourself, flatter your body and don’t be afraid to accessorize!
Things to know
When we do our session downtown… there will be some walking involved. I always recommend that you bring a bag with a pair of walking shoes and some water with you. Your shoe choice in photos should make a statement, but I also don’t want your feet to hurt :)
Timing
The plus side to shooting in the city is that the building do provide enough shade for us to shoot at different times of the day, whether it’s morning or afternoon.
All the colors
Knowing the space can also be helpful when picking your outfits! If there is a particular part of the city that you know you want to focus on, base your color and outfit choice off of that!