Not Sure What to Wear for Your Engagement Photos? Start Here.
You’ve booked your engagement session (yay!), picked a dreamy location (maybe in Palm Beach?), and now you’re wondering:
“What do we wear for photos that actually look good on camera?”
Don’t worry—I’ve got you. As a wedding photographer, one of the questions I get asked the most is how to dress for engagement photos. Your outfit choices make a big difference in how your photos turn out—not just in how they look, but how confident and comfortable you feel while we’re shooting.
Here’s a breakdown of what to wear (and what to skip) to make sure you look and feel amazing during your session. (And yes! I do already have another helpful blog post on this topic, so check it out when you’re done with this one.)
👗 1. Choose Neutrals or Soft Colors That Compliment the Location
Neutral tones—like beige, ivory, blush, soft blue, and olive—photograph beautifully in natural light and work well with most backgrounds. These colors don’t compete for attention and allow your connection as a couple to shine.
Pro Tip:
If you’re shooting in a colorful location (like The Colony Hotel or Worth Avenue), go for light neutrals or pastels to balance the scene. For more earthy settings like gardens or parks, warmer tones like rust, cream, or sage work beautifully.
👔 2. Coordinate—Don’t Match
You don’t need to wear the same color, but you should make sure your outfits feel like they belong in the same story. Think complementary colors and a mix of textures that flow together without being identical.
Example:
If one of you is wearing a soft blue shirt, the other might wear a cream dress with gold accessories. It’s all about balance!
📷 3. Dress It Up (You Won’t Regret It)
A little effort goes a long way. Engagement photos are the perfect excuse to wear that outfit you feel amazing in. Flowy dresses, structured jackets, heels or boots—they all photograph beautifully and elevate the final gallery.
Bonus: Dressy outfits often bring more movement and interest into photos, especially when you’re walking, spinning, or playing around together.
👟 4. Bring a Backup Pair of Comfy Shoes
We’ll likely walk around a bit during your session, especially if we’re at a place like Worth Avenue or the Society of the Four Arts. Bring some easy-to-slip-on shoes for walking between locations, and then switch back to your photo shoes when we’re ready to shoot.
🧥 5. Avoid Loud Prints, Logos, and Neon Colors
While bold can be fun in everyday life, most bright colors and loud patterns don’t translate well in photos. Neon reflects light onto your skin in weird ways, and logos tend to distract from the emotion of the moment.
Stick with solid colors or subtle patterns for a more timeless, romantic feel.
📸 Bonus: A Quick Packing Checklist for Your Session
- Photo-ready shoes + walking shoes
- Hairbrush, lip balm, blotting paper
- Ring box (for a detail shot!)
- Water and a snack (especially if it’s hot out!)
- Blanket or towel if we’ll be sitting
Ready to Look and Feel Like You?
I always help my couples choose outfits that feel authentic to who they are—nothing stiff or staged, just you two, looking your best. When you’re confident and comfortable in your clothes, the photos reflect it.
Still unsure? I offer outfit guidance with every session booked.
📩 Contact me here to start planning your engagement session and get personalized styling tips!
❓FAQ: What to Wear for Engagement Photos
Should we bring more than one outfit?
If your session is 60–90 minutes, two outfits can give you great variety—one dressy, one casual. Just make sure they’re easy to change into if we’re outdoors.
Can we wear black or white?
Yes! Black is sleek and slimming, while white is classic and bridal. Just avoid wearing both in heavy contrast (e.g., one person in all black and the other in all white), and pair them with soft accessories or layers for balance.
What should we wear if we’re taking photos at the beach / garden / city?
- Beach: Flowy fabrics, soft colors, bare feet or neutral sandals.
- Garden (like The Society of the Four Arts): Romantic dresses, earth tones, wedges or block heels.
- City (like Worth Avenue): Dressier looks, statement pieces, polished shoes.
