If you’re anything like me, picking out an outfit on an average week day causes unnatural amounts of stress and anxiety, not to mention an early onset of grey hair. EEEK!! :) So, I completely understand the stress that can come from picking out your clothes for your photo session! After all, your engagement photos are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! However, it doesn’t have to be that way. I always encourage my brides to ask me questions — and some even send me photos of their outfit options too! :) It’s the best! And, while Pinterest is one of my favorite inventions in the world, I sometimes I think it can make things even worse!!! Information overload & indecision…am I right?!?

So, in the spirit of education, I wanted to share two tips to keep in mind when choosing outfits for an engagement session that make all the difference!

1. Coordinating colors does not mean wearing the same exact color. Guys, I cannot stress this point enough! Gone are the days where everyone had to wear the exact same thing for a photo shoot. Yes, you should definitely match each other, but that doesn’t mean you both have to wear jeans and a white t-shirt! Instead, try wearing different shades of the same color, mixing patterns with solids, or even wearing completely DIFFERENT colors that still go together! This last option can especially work with a bright funky outfit paired with a neutral tan, navy, creme, or black! And I always love a good pop of color too — whether that’s a fun necklace, sassy jacket, big earrings, or a great scarf! Bold, bright colors photograph beautifully, so whenever you can add in some color, I always recommend it!

For example, Kyle and Casey’s outfits were perfect! Both teal, yes, but notice that he wore a plain shirt and she went for something patterned. Not too matchy-matchy, but not clashing either :)

I also loved how Peter & Bobbi tied in their denim look without being too over the top! Her neutral maxi-dress & belt provided the perfect contrast :)

Becca & Greg also both wore blue, but his was much darker than her’s. Oh, and you know I loved her coral necklace for that extra pop of color!
Kim and Kent chose two completely different colors, but because they were both more neutral, their outfits worked perfectly together! Neutral colors alone can sometimes be too plain, but by choosing a lace top and fun earrings, her outfit still stands out! I loved it!

And I love how Megan wore brighter colors with a fun scarf in contrast to Dave’s neutral shirt! Plus their outfits were very seasonally important — another crucial thing to keep in mind :)My second tip?

2. Make your session YOURS. Remember, these photos are for you! Don’t just wait until the last minute to throw on a random outfit…think about what you LOVE, and make it happen! I always get so excited when a couple requests a few photos in their favorite team’s jerseys or with a special prop tied into their wedding theme — the opportunities are endless! I definitely still recommend taking the majority of your photos in a “typical” outfit…but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with unique details, too :)

Peter and Bobbi brought quite a few fun things for their maternity session last summer, which made for great variety in their session.And I LOVED Allie’s fun hat for their Christmas Tree Farm session! Accessories are always a great idea — we did some with the hat on and some with it off. (Oh, and this is another great example of the same color in different shades, too…perfect, guys!)

Shannon and Brian brought the cutest prop for their Indy engagement session last summer…

..and also decorated an Amazon box to tie into their unique love story! (P.S. You can read more about this here…Love it!!!)And of course Christy & Brian had to share some love for the Browns!!! They threw these jerseys on at the end of their shoot, and they are some of my favorite photos of the whole bunch :) Holly & Robbie met playing soccer, so of course we had to make this photo happen, too! We started the session out in their “normal” outfits, and then switched to these jerseys for some fun images!
:) I hope it was helpful to see these two tips in action! Remember, coordinating colors is always better than being too matchy-matchy, and, at the end of the day, you’ll want photos that reflect you!

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Happy Wednesday!

Love love love,

Sami