Dressing yourself in the morning is hard enough when you don’t have to stand in front of a camera and be your best self. Choosing what to wear for a photoshoot can trigger even the most confident, fashion-ey fashionista to pull their entire wardrobe out onto the floor in search of the perfect outfit.

So if your nerves start to fizz when you think about what to wear, don’t worry. This is SO normal! Before you lose sleep to late nights spent online shopping--putting articles of clothing in your cart only to take them out again--let’s talk about what works and what doesn’t.


























Awkwardness: I know, you’re probably thinking “that’s not helping me stress less, Kaylyn.” But it is something you should be aware of. And the good news is, it happens to every couple but doesn’t last long. Unless you’re used to being in front of a camera together, it may feel odd in the beginning. I’ll be there to help you loosen up so that you can forget about if that hand of yours is placed in the perfect spot and start to embrace your partner lovingly instead. I’ll talk you through what to do to help you both get comfortable in front of the camera and what will result in the best photos.

In general, it never fails to just act silly, kiss and go with the flow. The more relaxed you are and the more you can be yourselves, the more you’ll love the photos. By the end, you’ll feel like professional models. I definitely mix posing and prompts within my sessions. Trust me, we will make some unforgettable memories.

Fun: I know it sounds cheesy, but seriously, expect to have fun! Your engagement season doesn’t last long and it’s an incredible feeling to capture your love on camera during this stage. Embrace that and enjoy it!





BIGGEST THING IS NEUTRALS, NEUTRALS, NEUTRALS!!!



Be yourself: Have fun and be bold with your personal style, just be sure to keep it balanced and photogenic. You both want to feel fierce and confident but remember that when you look back on these photos, you’ll want to see your love and relationship, not just your outfits. Let me give you some examples…



Color: Stick to neutral colors + earth tones. Every color has a neutral! This is also a good time to mention to avoid super loud or distracting patterns.

The reason we encourage people to stick to neutral colors is not for basic aesthetics– It’s because it keeps the sunlight from reflecting the colors back onto your skin, causing a discoloration. On a really bright day, red will reflect onto your skin, causing your photographs to have a pink tinge and no true whites.



Patterns: Avoid large bold patterns as they often dominate the photograph and distract attention from your beautiful face. Usually, subtle smaller patterns work best. Flannels or a light floral print are great when they complement the location. But less is definitely more with this one, try to limit yourself to one pattern at a time. Matching patterns is a tricky task, and it’s super difficult to do well.



How to coordinate: Don’t match too closely unless you’re wanting to make a fashion-forward statement. Guys can't go wrong in khakis and white button downs. Try going for complimentary colors, patterns or textures. So if someone is wearing a patterned top/dress etc the other person should be in a solid colored top/dress.



Textures and patterns: Pick fabrics that move and flow with you. Ones that add a cosy texture, or get picked up by the wind, filter the late afternoon sun, and glow in the morning light. Natural fibres like linen, cotton, or wool are amazing.



Color block: If you like to keep things more simple, consider your color palette and make sure there is dimension. In other words, avoid being too monotone. Monochromatic is okay, but monotone can look a little lifeless in photos. As an example, if you’re going for blue tones, try putting one person in dark wash jeans with a light top (light grey, white, beige, etc.) and the other person in white bottoms with a light wash denim jacket. This keeps the colors on the top and bottom halves of the photos balanced and keeps the photo from looking like it’s “cut in half.” Essentially, you just don’t want both people wearing the same tone on the same half of the body.

WHAT TO EXPECT

What to Wear

Recap:

This whole process can feel really intimidating if you’ve never been in front of a camera, but if you follow these steps as you start to think about your engagement session, I really think it will ease some of the stress, anxiety and unknowns. The one thing to keep going back to is to make it fun! This is such a momentous time in your relationship journey, and you deserve to enjoy every moment of it! But, of course, if you have any questions that I didn’t answer here, I’m always just an email away!