What to Wear to Your Engagement Session — Advice From Your Photographer

This is one of the most common questions I get before an engagement session — and one of the most underrated parts of the planning process. What you wear affects your photos more than almost anything else. It's the difference between images that look timeless and images that look dated in five years.

Here's everything I tell my couples when they ask.

The One Rule That Matters Most

Wear something you actually feel good in. That's the whole rule. Everything else is just strategy in service of that goal. When you're comfortable in what you're wearing, it shows — you relax, you move naturally, and the photos are better. When you're self-conscious about something, that shows too.

With that said, some choices photograph better than others, and a few common instincts tend to backfire. Here's what I've learned from watching thousands of outfits come through my lens.

Colors: What Works on Camera

Camera sensors see color differently than our eyes do, and the outdoor light at golden hour changes color dramatically from what you see indoors. A few patterns I've observed:

• Earthy, muted tones (sage, terracotta, dusty blue, ivory, warm tan) photograph beautifully in natural light and feel timeless in prints
• Deep jewel tones (burgundy, forest green, navy) are rich and elegant without overpowering the scene
• Soft neutrals (cream, champagne, blush, camel) work especially well at golden hour, when the warm light enhances them
• White can work beautifully — but avoid stark, bright white outdoors in full sun, which can blow out the exposure. Off-white or ivory is usually better
• Black photographs well but absorbs all light in dark conditions; balance it with lighter accessories or tones on your partner

Colors that look great together in real life sometimes clash on camera. When in doubt, send me a photo of both outfits before your session — I'm always happy to weigh in.

Coordination Without Matching

You don't need to be in identical outfits — in fact, that rarely looks as good as you'd expect. What you're going for is visual harmony: outfits that belong in the same color story without being a uniform.

A good approach is to pick a palette of 3–4 complementary colors and let each of you choose something from within that palette. One person anchors in a neutral, the other adds a deeper or more saturated tone. Textures can vary. Formality should roughly match.

The Do/Don't Breakdown

Patterns & Texture

Subtle textures photograph beautifully — a linen blazer, a knitted sweater, a flowy dress with subtle texture. They add visual depth without competing with your faces.

Large, bold patterns are trickier. They can work if they're part of your personal style and feel natural on you. But a big floral or a loud plaid can distract the eye from what matters — the two of you.

Location Matters for Wardrobe

Consider where we're shooting. If we're in a meadow at golden hour, a flowing dress in a warm earth tone will be iconic. If we're in an urban setting downtown, something more structured and modern may feel more at home. If we're hiking to an alpine lake, please don't wear heels — practical shoes that look good are a real thing, and I'd rather you be sure-footed and comfortable.

Natural tones, flowing fabric, and a location that matches the feeling — this is the formula that works every time.

A Note on "Dressing Up"

Engagement sessions are not as formal as wedding days, and you shouldn't feel like you need to be in ball gowns and tuxedos to get beautiful photos. Some of my favorite sessions have been couples in nice jeans and a linen button-down, looking exactly like themselves — just on a beautiful evening in a beautiful location.

Dress for how you want to feel, not how you think you're supposed to look. The camera picks up on the difference.

And if you're ever stuck — send me photos of your options. I review wardrobe choices with every couple I work with before the session. It takes five minutes and it matters.