February 27 2021

Top 10 Wardrobe Ideas For a Fabulous Engagement Shoot

Don’t get caught with your pants down with wardrobe malfunctions. Boss up and follow my top 10 wardrobe ideas, so you end up with engagement photos your friends will be envious of. Over the years of being on set, I have picked up many wardrobe tips from my stylist friends. I’m happy to share them with you… If you read on, I’ll make your life so easy and hook you up with a celebrity stylist who created an app to pair you with your own personal stylist! You will get an A-list experience. So you look gorgeous for your shoot. Bonus, it’s really affordable!

May sound simple, but plan your wardrobe out ahead of time. Don’t leave it to the last minute and then feel like your scrambling to make something work. Remember there are 2 of you in the engagement pictures. So your outfits have to work together, which can be a little trickier than anticipated. Your clothes help set the mood for your engagement session, so it deserves some forethought. For inspiration look to mood boards on Pinterest.
First, decide what “look” you want to create with your clothes. Are you going for a casual, dramatic, dressy, bohemian, or sophisticated vibe? Consult with your photographer for guidance if you need help. The shoot locations will also dictate what you may want to consider wearing.
Using stylist lingo, both of you need to “pull” your wardrobe options to see what works best collectively. A “pull” is literally gathering clothes from your closet that you are considering wearing for your session. Then putting the outfits together that works best for the “look” you want to achieve. Ultimately you may decide you need to purchase something new. So following steps 1 & 2 will give you enough lead time ahead of your shoot to figure that out and shop/return if necessary.
Don’t wear anything you haven’t tried on before your shoot. Yes buying something specifically for your session is exciting. But please try it on first before the shoot to ensure you like the fit. Stylists call these “fit sessions”. As we all know, what looks great on the hangar may not translate in real-time on your body shape. You want to feel and look your best and a fit session will ensure the clothes are comfortable and flattering and work well together.
Be sure to have fun with your wardrobe. A long flowing maxi dress in a gorgeous jewel tone will pop in photos. It will catch the wind so you can play with the movement of the fabric. Don’t underestimate the power of color. I did some research for you and found some color inspiration on Pinterest featuring “570 Color Crash Course” -featuring Instyle Magazine mood boards! For those of you who really want to dive into color theory and fashion. Here is a link to a quick but complete guide on how to color-match clothes to create your own gorgeous looks.
On the day of the shoot don’t be afraid to bring outfit options to change into, if time permits during your session. This way you can try a couple of different wardrobe “looks” especially if you are going to shoot in a few locations. If you’re short on time and can’t change a whole outfit, swapping in different accessories is a quick way to add variety to your pictures by using hats, sunglasses, belts, shoes, jackets, and scarves to name a few.
Busy patterns can be a visual nightmare, especially for a duo taking pictures side by side. Clashing prints are never pretty. LOL So if one of you wants to go bold and wear a Missoni print dress, then the other person definitely needs to wear solids. Also, some prints can create an optical illusion in the camera and make you look larger than you actually are, so be aware of that. Also, know your location. If there is a lot going on in the background better to dress in solids. Too many visual elements going on can be overwhelming and distracting and take away from your images. So use prints wisely and sparingly. Treat them like a pop of color to add a fun element.
You want to accentuate your best features from cut to color. Stick to what you know works well on your figure and skin tone. Basic tip match your color choices to your skin tone; cooler colors like blues, greens, and violets look good with yellow-toned and pale skin. While warmer shades on the color wheel like amber, golds, and yellows pair well with darker complexions.
Don’t get caught up with wearing what’s trending. If you’re unsure, always best to have images that have a timeless feel rather than a trendy dated look. Remember your high school yearbook photos? LOL
Still feeling overwhelmed but want to crush your look on your engagement shoot, I have you covered! Celebrity stylist Karla Welch is the creator and founder of Wishi. Wishi is an online affordable styling App that pairs you with your own personal stylist to help you create a mood board, shop online while incorporating what’s already in your closet! How cool and easy is that?!