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Hey y'all! I'm Nicole & I capture authentic moments for classically elegant, unconventionally adventurous couples who believe in stylish simplicity. 

What to Wear For Your Engagement Session

Client Resources

Hey all you newly engaged folks! I know that picking your engagement session outfits can feel like a daunting task, and sometimes it’s difficult to know where to even start. Well today I’m sharing my Top 3 Tips for engagement session outfits and I hope this gives you a good starting point for brainstorming and shopping 🙂

#1. Rent The Runway.

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ve probably heard me sing the praises of RTR before. And I promise, no one is paying me to say this stuff! I just truly think it’s an absolute GOLD MINE for engagement sessions. I’m literally always looking for a reason to rent from there…sadly, though, I really don’t get many excuses to dress up.

Here’s why I love RTR for e-sessions:

-Dresses and gowns photograph absolutely beautifully.

-There’s something for every budget (I’ve rented gorgeous gowns for $35).

-There’s the option to rent high-end pieces that you likely wouldn’t ever purchase on your own.

-You feel like a freaking model (ok maybe this is because the rest of my wardrobe consists of oversized cardigans, but seriously y’all, I feel unstoppable in those gowns).

-You just ship it back when you are done – no cleaning. Who isn’t a fan of that?!

-The dress comes in 2 sizes (FOR FREE) in case one size doesn’t fit right.

If you’re going to try it out, here’s a couple tips:

-Read the stylist notes. This will give you a general idea of the fit and what body types it may be better for.

-Read the reviews. You can filter to find a review from someone who is a similar height/weight as you to make sure that the piece fits well for your body type.

Generally, unless the notes and reviews explicitly state that the dress runs BIG, I get my normal dress size and have my backup size be one size larger.

#2. Choose your fabrics wisely.

Not all fabrics are created equal my friends. A couple wrong picks when it comes to the makeup of your outfit can be a disaster for your images. Here’s a couple things to keep in mind:

-Clingy Fabrics

Ok, real talk. Unless you are 100000000% confident in your body, you will probably not like the way you look in photos if you are wearing clingy, unforgiving fabrics like spandex or satin for example. Flowy fabrics are much more flattering and move beautifully. Note: Clingy is not the same as fitted. If you want to wear a fitted dress, that can certainly be a gorgeous option; just make sure it is made from a more structured, thicker fabric, rather than a thin jersey knit for example.

-Wrinkly Fabrics

I’m going to be very blunt here. I, and most photographers I know, do NOT photoshop out wrinkles. If you show up in wrinkled clothing and are expecting us to fix it, you can expect additional fees for every image. So, if you’re not someone who loves to iron, steer clear of fabrics that show a lot of wrinkling, such as linen. Wool or synthetic blends like polyester/nylon + cotton are some good options.

#3. Opt for muted colors.

Ok now don’t mistake this one to mean don’t wear colors. I love colors and love when people get creative with colors! But there’s a difference between a bold shade and a muted shade. Let’s do some Bold vs Muted comparisons shall we?

Muted shades generally photograph much better than bold. With bold shades, your eye tends to be drawn immediately to the bright color; with muted shades, your eye will be drawn to your beautiful loving faces rather than being distracted by the clothing. Another potential issue with bold shades is color cast. If it’s a bright sunny day and you’re wearing a bold pink top for example, you run the risk of your partner’s face looking pink in the photos.

So embrace color, but choose those gorgeous dusty, muted tones!

Want more tips and tricks? Download my FREE mini-guide with engagement session do’s and don’t’s!

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