After “should we have an engagement photoshoot?”, one of the most common questions I get asked is what to wear for one.
The answer is actually pretty simple. Wear something that makes you feel good.
If you are wearing clothes you like, that fit properly and that you feel comfortable in, you are going to be more confident in front of the camera. The more confident and relaxed you feel, the easier the photoshoot becomes and the better the photographs will be.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things worth thinking about. After photographing lots of couples over the years, there are definitely some outfits that make life easier and some that can become a bit of a distraction. But this isn’t about giving you a list of photography rules or telling you that engagement photos only work if you both dress in carefully coordinated shades of beige.
The most important thing is that you still look like yourselves.
What Should You Wear for Engagement Photos?
If you want the short version, wear clothes that feel like you, make sure you can move around comfortably and try to coordinate with each other rather than match exactly.
Think about where we are going, what the weather is likely to do and whether you can actually walk in the shoes you have chosen. Avoid anything you know you will spend the whole shoot adjusting, and don’t feel you need to buy something new unless you genuinely want to.
You also don’t need to avoid colour, patterns or anything remotely interesting just because you are having your photograph taken.
That is pretty much it.
If you want to know why, keep reading.
Wear Something That Actually Feels Like You
An engagement photoshoot isn’t fancy dress and it isn’t a fashion shoot unless you specifically want it to be.
If you normally spend most of your free time in jeans, trainers and a jumper, there is no reason to suddenly turn up dressed for cocktails at Claridge’s because you have seen twenty engagement shoots on Pinterest where everyone looks like that.
Likewise, if you love getting dressed up and feel your best in something smarter, then absolutely go for it.
I always think the best way to approach it is to look like yourselves on a good day.
You want to make a little effort because you are having some lovely photographs taken, but you shouldn’t look back at them and wonder who the two people in the pictures are.
Your engagement photos are about you as a couple. They shouldn’t look like you borrowed two complete outfits, along with somebody else’s personalities, for the afternoon.
Comfort Really Does Matter
I know “make sure you’re comfortable” sounds incredibly obvious, but it is probably the most useful advice in this whole guide.
During an engagement photoshoot, we are going to move around. We might walk through woodland, wander around a city, sit somewhere, lean on things, hug, talk and generally do anything other than stand bolt upright staring at the camera for an hour.
If your trousers dig in every time you sit down, your top constantly needs pulling into place or your shoes start hurting after ten minutes, you are going to be thinking about that rather than enjoying yourselves.
And that shows.
Before the shoot, put your outfit on properly and spend some time wearing it. Sit down. Walk around. Raise your arms. Give each other a hug. Basically, do all the things you might actually do during the photoshoot rather than simply standing in front of the mirror deciding whether it looks good from one angle.
If you forget what you are wearing after five minutes, that is usually a good sign.
Coordinate Your Outfits, But Please Don’t Match
The aim is to look like you are both going to the same place, not like your mums dressed you for a family photograph in 1994.
Matching outfits are rarely necessary. Matching jumpers definitely aren’t.
What works better is making sure the general style of your clothes sits well together. If one of you is very smart and the other looks ready to clean out the garage, it can feel slightly odd. If you are both casual, great. If you both want to dress up, also great.
Colour can help tie things together too, but it doesn’t have to be exact.
For example, if one of you is wearing something with a little blue in it, the other person might pick up that colour somewhere else in their outfit. It could be a shirt, jumper, jacket or even just a smaller detail.
You are looking for a bit of harmony rather than a uniform.
And if you do own matching shell suits, I probably need to see them before I completely rule that option out.
What Colours Look Good in Engagement Photos?
The old version of this article said bright, rich colours work well, and I still stand by that.
Colour is your friend.
Deep blues, greens, reds, rust, mustard and plenty of other stronger colours can look brilliant in photographs. They can work particularly well against woodland, countryside or more muted urban backgrounds.
Softer colours and neutrals also work beautifully, but there is no rule saying every engagement shoot has to feature cream knitwear, beige trousers and sage green.
If those are genuinely your colours, wear them. If they aren’t, don’t.
I would much rather you wear a bright blue jumper you love than buy something pale and neutral that makes you feel nothing simply because somebody on Instagram told you it photographs well.
Are There Colours You Should Avoid?
There aren’t many.
I would generally be cautious with very bright fluorescent colours because they can dominate the photograph and sometimes reflect colour onto your skin.
That doesn’t mean “bright” is bad. There is a big difference between a rich red or strong blue and something that looks like it came from the high-visibility section of a workwear catalogue.
White can look great. Black can look great. Strong colours can look great.
The biggest question is whether you look and feel good wearing them.
What About Patterns?
I used to recommend solid colours over patterns pretty strongly. These days, I’m much less bothered by them.
Patterns can look great.
Florals, checks, stripes and other fairly simple patterns can add personality and work really well in photographs. The problem only comes when everything starts competing for attention.
If one of you has a fairly bold pattern, I would usually keep the other person’s outfit a little simpler. That gives the photograph some balance and stops your clothes becoming more interesting than the two people wearing them.
I would also avoid huge logos or massive bits of text where possible. You probably don’t want to look back at your engagement photographs in twenty years and discover the dominant feature is a four-foot sportswear logo across somebody’s chest.
Think About Texture and Layers
Texture tends to photograph really nicely and is something people often forget about when choosing outfits.
Denim, knits, wool, linen, leather, corduroy and jackets can all add some visual interest without making an outfit feel busy.
Layers are particularly useful because they give us an easy way of changing the feel of the photographs without needing a full outfit change. A jacket can come off, sleeves can be rolled up, a coat can be added and suddenly the photographs feel slightly different.
It is a lot easier than trying to change your entire outfit behind a tree.
Layers are also useful because, depending on the time of year, Lincolnshire has a habit of reminding us that weather forecasts are really just optimistic suggestions.
Do You Need More Than One Outfit?
You can bring another outfit if you want to, but for most engagement shoots I don’t think you need to.
Some guides suggest bringing one casual outfit and one smarter outfit, which can work perfectly well if we are somewhere with easy access to somewhere you can change.
In reality, lots of engagement shoots take place in woodland, countryside or somewhere else where changing your trousers becomes unnecessarily complicated.
For most couples, one really good outfit with a jacket, coat or another layer gives us plenty of variety. I would rather spend the extra time taking photographs than watching you disappear into the distance looking for a suitable changing room.
If we are using two very different locations or you really want two different looks, then bring another outfit. It just shouldn’t feel like another thing you have to do.
Dress for the Location
This sounds obvious, but it can make a big difference.
Where we are going should influence what you wear, particularly when it comes to shoes and how practical your outfit needs to be.
Woodland and Countryside Engagement Photos
If we are heading into woodland or across fields, you need to be able to walk comfortably.
That doesn’t mean turning up dressed for a hike. It simply means thinking about the ground and whether the clothes you have chosen will make the whole thing harder than it needs to be.
Very high heels and a muddy field are rarely a happy combination.
You can always bring another pair of shoes to walk between locations and then change into the ones you want for the photographs. Nobody looking through your finished gallery will know you arrived wearing a pair of old trainers.
Engagement Photos in a Town or City
Urban locations give you a little more flexibility. Smarter outfits and footwear are normally easier because we are on pavements rather than trying to cross a field without losing a shoe.
Cities can also suit a slightly sharper or more contemporary look if that feels like you.
Equally, jeans and trainers work perfectly well.
There still isn’t a dress code.
Beach Engagement Photos
For beach photographs I would generally keep things fairly relaxed and make sure you are comfortable moving around on sand.
You might end up sitting down, walking close to the water or deciding halfway through that shoes are more trouble than they are worth.
Again, practicality helps.
Trying to look relaxed while sinking into soft sand in heels is quite an advanced acting exercise.
What to Wear for a Spring Engagement Photoshoot
Spring can be beautiful for engagement photos, particularly when everything starts turning green again, but it is also one of those times of year where the temperature can change dramatically within an hour.
Lighter layers work well. Shirts, dresses, jeans, cardigans, lighter jackets and knitwear all give you plenty of options.
If we are shooting around blossom or spring greenery, don’t be frightened of colour. Stronger colours can stand out beautifully against the softer background.
I would also bring a jacket even if the forecast says you won’t need one.
Trusting a British weather forecast completely is rarely a good long-term plan.
What to Wear for a Summer Engagement Photoshoot
Summer is probably the easiest season when it comes to clothing because almost anything goes.
Dresses, shirts, T-shirts, skirts, jeans and lightweight trousers all work well. The main thing is to think about how warm you are going to get, particularly if the shoot involves quite a bit of walking.
That heavy jacket might look fantastic when you leave the house, but after twenty minutes in the sun you might begin to hate it.
Choose fabrics and clothes you are comfortable moving around in. If we are heading into countryside or long grass, it is also worth remembering that nature has a remarkable ability to attach itself to your clothes when you least expect it.
What to Wear for an Autumn Engagement Photoshoot
Autumn is one of my favourite times of year for engagement photographs.
The colours are brilliant, the light can be beautiful and clothing becomes really easy. Jumpers, jackets, coats, boots and layers all look completely at home.
Richer colours can work particularly well too. Deep green, burgundy, rust, mustard and navy can all look amazing against autumn leaves and woodland.
Layers also mean we can change the look of the photographs quickly without doing anything complicated.
Most importantly, make sure you are warm enough.
It is difficult to look lovingly into each other’s eyes when both of you are mainly thinking about whether you can still feel your hands.
What to Wear for a Winter Engagement Photoshoot
For winter, warmth wins.
A great coat can look brilliant in photographs, so there is no reason to freeze yourself because you think you need to take it off.
Jumpers, scarves, coats, boots and layers all work well. If you want a few photographs without your coat, we can take it off for a few minutes and then put it back on.
Nobody gets extra points for suffering during an engagement shoot.
Shoes Matter More Than You Think
Your shoes need to work with wherever we are shooting.
If we are staying in one compact area, almost anything is fine. If we are walking through woodland, around a country estate or along a beach, comfort becomes more important.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing two pairs.
Wear something sensible while we are moving between locations, then change into the shoes you want for the photographs.
This is particularly useful if you want to wear heels or smarter shoes somewhere that involves muddy paths or uneven ground.
Should You Buy Something New?
Only if you want to.
Buying a new outfit can be part of the fun, but there is no need to do it purely because you have booked an engagement shoot.
Clothes you already own have one very big advantage: you know how they behave.
You know whether they fit properly, whether they are comfortable and whether you still like them after wearing them for an hour.
New clothes sometimes reveal their faults a little later. Shoes are particularly good at this.
If you do buy something new, wear it properly before the shoot. Discovering that your lovely new shoes turn into instruments of torture after twenty minutes is much better done at home.
What About Accessories?
Accessories can work really well because they help an outfit feel more like you.
Jewellery, watches, hats, sunglasses and scarves are all absolutely fine if they are things you would normally wear.
There is no need to add things simply because you think an outfit needs more interest. You don’t need seventeen accessories for a photograph to work.
One slightly boring but useful tip is to empty your pockets before we start.
Phones, keys and wallets are very good at creating strange lumps in places you don’t really want strange lumps.
I can hold them for you.
What If You Feel Self-Conscious About Having Your Photograph Taken?
This is really common.
In fact, most couples I photograph tell me some version of “we’re awkward in front of the camera” before we start.
If that sounds like you, don’t make your clothing another thing to worry about. Choose something you already know makes you feel good.
If you put an outfit on and immediately start checking yourself from fifteen different angles in the mirror, that probably isn’t the outfit to wear.
The whole point of an engagement shoot is to help you relax in front of the camera. You get to see how I work, I get to see how you both interact and, after a little while, you normally stop thinking about the camera quite so much.
That is when the photographs start feeling like you.
What Should You Avoid Wearing for Engagement Photos?
There are very few absolute rules, because every time a photographer says something will never work, somebody turns up wearing exactly that and looks amazing.
However, I would think twice about:
- very large logos or text;
- extremely fluorescent colours;
- several strong patterns fighting with each other;
- anything you constantly need to adjust;
- shoes you can barely walk in;
- an outfit that makes no sense for the location;
- clothes you feel self-conscious wearing;
- anything you are only wearing because somebody told you it is what people are supposed to wear for engagement photographs.
That last one is probably the most important.
Should You Follow Engagement Outfit Trends?
Be careful with trends, but don’t be frightened of them.
Fashion dates. It always has and always will.
Somebody reading this probably owns photographs from twenty years ago that prove the point better than I ever could.
But I don’t believe the answer is to deliberately dress in the blandest clothes possible in the hope that nothing ever looks dated. If you love fashion and there is something current that feels completely like you, wear it.
What I would avoid is choosing an outfit only because it happens to be all over Pinterest this year.
There is a difference between your personal style being fashionable and dressing like a trend because you feel you should.
Your engagement photographs will probably outlive the trend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Engagement Photoshoot Outfits
Can We Wear Jeans for Engagement Photos?
Absolutely.
Jeans are probably one of the easiest things to wear because most people already feel comfortable in them. They work well in countryside, woodland and urban locations and can be dressed up or down depending on what you wear with them.
Can We Wear Black?
Yes. If you normally wear black, wear black.
You do not suddenly have to discover pastel clothing because you are having professional photographs taken.
Can We Wear White?
Yes. White can look really fresh in photographs and works particularly well against darker or more colourful backgrounds.
The only thing worth thinking about is the location. If everything around you is also very pale, you may blend in slightly more, but that is something I can work with.
Can We Wear Bright Colours?
Definitely.
Strong colours can look fantastic. I would only be cautious about very fluorescent shades that could dominate the photograph or reflect colour onto your skin.
Should Our Clothes Match?
No!
Coordinate them rather than matching them.
Think similar levels of formality, colours that work together and outfits that feel like they belong in the same photograph.
Can We Wear Patterns?
Yes.
If one person is wearing something particularly bold, keeping the other outfit simpler often works well.
Do We Need Two Outfits?
Usually not.
One outfit with a jacket or another layer is normally enough to give us some variety. Bring a second outfit if you genuinely want a different look and changing is practical.
How Far Ahead Should We Choose Our Outfits?
You don’t need to plan months in advance, but I wouldn’t leave it until five minutes before you need to leave the house either.
Choose your clothes a few days beforehand, try everything on together and make sure you are both happy.
What If We Still Can’t Decide?
Send me a photo.
If you have narrowed it down to a couple of options and genuinely can’t choose, I’m always happy to give you an opinion.
The Most Important Thing Is Still to Be Yourself
You can read hundreds of engagement photoshoot outfit guides and come away believing there is a complicated formula to getting it right.
There really isn’t.
Wear something you like. Make sure it is comfortable. Think about where we are going and try to make sure your outfits work reasonably well together.
Then stop worrying about them.
Once we start the shoot, I am going to be far more interested in the two of you than whether your jumper perfectly coordinates with your partner’s shoes. I will be looking at the light, watching how you interact and trying to capture photographs that actually feel like your relationship.
The best engagement photographs are normally the ones where you forget about what you are wearing, stop worrying about the camera and just enjoy spending some time together.
That is far more important than getting the “perfect” outfit.
Ready for Your Engagement Photoshoot?
If you are planning an engagement shoot and you are worried about what to wear, how to stand, where to look or whether the whole thing is going to feel horribly awkward, you are definitely not the first couple to feel that way.
An engagement photoshoot is supposed to be relaxed. We will have a wander, have a chat, take some great photographs and, more often than not, you will wonder afterwards why you were worried about it.
If that sounds like your kind of engagement photography, get in touch and let’s have a chat.
