So, for all of you NH Brides out there, here are some tips and tricks that will prepare you for your engagement session! I’ll also be sharing additional tips for engagement photos that I’ve never shared before!!
1. Most of my couples have two outfits for their engagement session. One outfit is normally on the dressier side and one outfit is more relaxed and casual. The more outfits you have, the fewer portraits you’ll receive but you will have more variety in your portraits.
2. Coordinating doesn’t mean “matching”. For example, I would avoid both wearing navy tops and khaki bottoms because it could potentially come across as being very uniform-esque!
Colors that coordinate well together are much more flattering than wearing the same matching outfits.
3. If one of you is wearing something with a lot of color and pattern, sometimes it’s best to have the other person wear a neutral to tone it down a bit.
4. This is just an idea! Take it or leave it! Some couples plan their attire to coordinate with their wedding day so that their Save The Dates match the wedding theme and decor!
5. Don’t overthink it! Some of my favorite outfits have been when the guy is just wearing a simple colored button-up!
6. Make sure you are equal when it comes to how formal your attire is. If the bride is wearing a little black dress…. the groom probably shouldn’t be in shorts and tennis shoes 😉
7. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and wear something that is unique to you! It’s great to wear a dress with a cardigan… but if you have a unique style, be sure to show it off! Some of my favorite engagement shoots have incorporated my couple’s unique style!
8. If you’re wearing plaid or other patterns, the bigger the better!! This is just a personal preference. I probably feel this way because David always wears large plaid button-ups constantly. However, it is true that larger plaid photographs better than tiny little-checkered patterns. It would be better to have a solid dress shirt than a shirt with teeny tiny patterns. This is one of the best tips for engagement photos that I can offer! Who wants their photos to have a weird effect on them? No one!
The camera can’t pick those tiny patterns up from far away and that can sometimes result in CHROMATIC ABERRATION.
9. Accessorize! Scarves, necklaces, belts…. I love them all! They can add so much to an outfit AND it gives you something to hold onto if you don’t have long hair!
10. Last but not least, this is a tip that I highly recommend paying attention to: Wear attire that is flattering to your figure and your skin tone. It seems like common sense but I’m guilty of this all of the time. We all know that everyone has certain things that look GREAT on them and certain things that aren’t really made for them. I personally never LOVE the way I look in pictures in sleeveless shirts. Why? I don’t know! I’m fine with my arms…. but I just don’t like that look! So if I were to have a portrait session with David… I wouldn’t wear a sleeveless shirt.
It’s a compliment to say “Oh, well Nataly will make it look amazing”…. but the truth is, if you don’t like the way you look in stripes on a normal, day-to-day basis, you’re not going to love the way you look in your images that I take.
If you’re self-conscious about your legs, don’t wear a mini-skirt. If you’re self-conscious about your arms, it’s probably not smart to wear a tube top…. not that those are even “in” anyway (thank goodness). The bottom line, make sure you wear something that you’re comfortable in. Sure, I’m going to teach you how to pose in super flattering ways, but you’ll love your images so much more if you wear an outfit that you’re comfortable and CONFIDENT in!! Confidence photographs well!! 😉
BONUS Tips for Engagement Photos!!!
If you want extra ROMANTIC images, consider wearing something long and FLOWY! I absolutely love photographing fabric that flows in the wind! Also, light & neutral colors allow images to appear more romantic, and light and airy no matter what the weather is like!
This information is actually coming straight from my Bridal Guide! We love giving our brides resources to help them feel prepared!! Contact me HERE if you would like to be part of the NH Bride Tribe and also have an amazing client experience!
