Engagement pictures

Mellllls

My wedding photographer is going to take our engagement pictures a month from today. They will be taken in and around Washington, DC and I would think outside. I have no idea what to wear or how to begin even thinking about this. I also think I will have to choose out my fiance's outfit as well which I am even more clueless about. Has anyone had done anything similar recently? How did you decide what to wear?

16 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Dashrashi

taylor

Veteran

I have no clue what works for photo's... so I am just bumping for you:)
Congrat's on your upcoming wedding:)

16 years ago

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

I think it's recommended to stick with dark colored, solid, long-sleeved tops in classic styles (light colors can look good too, but most of my favorite portraits of myself and others are in darker colors). You really want the focus of the portraits to be your faces, not your clothes and you don't want to look back on them in 20 years and say "what the heck was I thinking with that outfit," either. I think earthy tones tend to look better for outdoors photos (again, to keep the focus on your faces - no bright reds, etc.) You and your fiance don't need to be all matchy-matchy, but you do want to both be, say, smart casual (or whatever level of formality you want to do) and wear colors that look good together.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm going to be the voice of dissent! Wear whatever you feel good in and don't try and match up your look with your finance. Posed, matched pictures are seldom fabulous - spontaneous, thrown together ones are always best. Make sure you wear makeup and just have fun during the shoot.

Congratulations! I hope we see your wedding dress! I LOVE weddings :0)

16 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

Isn't the trend these days to do pics in a few different outfits? (which makes me glad I'm not getting married because I would have a hard enough time coming up with one cute outfit

16 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Wear bright lipgloss! And your most flattering outfit. That's my tip (-:

16 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Thanks for the ideas. It's hard because I have no idea what the weather will be like late March. The weather has been so crazy lately. I'm thinking about what you said about makeup and may have my make-up professionally done (I don't really know how to do it myself) and try to wear something I already own instead of buying a new outfit. That may be a better use of $$$.

Queenie, I"m thinking it will be only 1 outfit more because I don't know where I would change! They are going to be done outside at a location I choose, not in a studio.

16 years ago

rute

Veteran

When I have to take pictures that will last a life time I choose a trully flatering outfit! One that makes me slim and with the perfect color, I always have a dress for these ocasions!

16 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Are engagement photos a traditional American thing? Never heard of them until an American friend of mine said that they had just found a photographer to take their photos in London. Us NZer's (she is marrying one of my NZ friends) thought that she meant of their engagement party...

I would use it as an opportunity to trial your make-up for your wedding if you are using a make up artist.

I'm with Rute and Angie, wear what you feel fabulous in and the same goes for your husband to be. I think that the only thing you have to think about is the level of formality - for example both dressing casual, both dressing up etc.

16 years ago

Phoebe

Veteran

It depends on how daring you are, but my tip is: be brave!
When you look at engagement pictures of your parents or older friends, the fun part is the clothing that is out of fashion now. ANY outfit will look dated in 30 years, so make the best of it! I´d choose a very trendy outfit that you feel comfortable in, that is you. Your kids and grandkids will love it. Oh the fun!

16 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Angie, my photographer photographs in a photojournalistic style...so the pictures will be mostly be spontaneous. A few will be posed but the traditional stuffy poses. Londonkiwi, my wedding photographer includes an engagement session as part of the wedding package. Otherwise, I would not bother. Not sure if it is an American thing or not. Unfortunately, the pictures are being taken in DC (where I live) but the wedding is in Massachusetts (hometown) which is about an 8 hour drive. So I can't use the same make-up artist unfortunately.

I have a few outfit ideas...I may post when I get a chance.

16 years ago

Dashrashi

Veteran

I like the way you think, Phoebe. Sometimes "timeless" is overrated. Flattering, never. But "timeless," sure.

16 years ago

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