What to Wear for Engagement Photos: Tips from a Photographer

Engagement

It can be hard to figure out what to wear for engagement photos! You could go for casual engagement photo outfits or dress more upscale. Luckily, in this blog post, I’m going to help you find out what engagement photo clothes you should go with.

As a Pennsylvania photographer, I’ve photographed many engagement sessions for incredible couples in love over the years. I’ve got a trick or two up my sleeve when it comes to trying to pick the perfect engagement photo outfit and the best part? It’s really not one size fits all!

Keep reading to learn all about what to wear for engagement photos.

Engagement Photo Outfit Tips

A couple holds hands while walking through a grassy field, the woman’s white dress flowing as she smiles at the man in a dark suit.
A couple embraces in a grassy area with trees in the background, the woman in a white dress with floral details and the man in a dark suit, both smiling at the camera.
A man lifts the woman in a white dress as they stand on a dock by a lake, surrounded by autumn-colored trees, both smiling and looking at each other lovingly.

Make sure your dress is long and flowy

First things first, if you or your partner chooses to wear a dress, I highly recommend that your dress be long and flowy. Why? Well, with a flowy dress, you’re able to add a lot of fun movement to the session, whether it’s your partner twirling around or you picking up the skirt of the dress. The movement adds an incredible whimsical touch to the photos!

Wear what makes you confident

At the end of the day, I want you to feel confident in your photos. Choose what makes you feel most comfortable, confident, and like yourself. 

Believe it or not, if you’re uncomfortable in your clothing or in front of the camera, it does show, unfortunately. While I do everything in my power to make sure that you’re comfortable with the lens, you still want to be comfortable in your own clothing. Don’t wear anything that you wouldn’t normally wear on a date night to your engagement session. (Yes, that includes footwear… we want you to be able to move around freely!)

Close-up of the couple sharing an intimate kiss, the woman touching the man’s face, showcasing her engagement ring, set against a blurred outdoor backdrop.
A couple stands closely together in a park with the sun setting behind them, the woman in a white dress and the man in a dark suit, both gazing into each other’s eyes.

Go for elevated date night attire

One of the best tips for what to wear for engagement photos is to make sure that you’re both dressing for the same occasion. What occasion should you dress for, though?

My advice is to dress for an elevated date night. Whether that’s a flowy dress, a tux, a jumpsuit, or something else, wear what you would wear if your partner were to bring you out for an upscale dinner at one of your favorite restaurants. 

Don’t go 100% matchy-matchy

When it comes to what you should wear in engagement photos, don’t go 100% matchy-matchy. This isn’t your family’s early 2000s photoshoot at JCPenney, where you all show up in matching jeans and white t-shirts!

Instead, wear outfits that coordinate with one another. Pick colors that go well together or are complementary. Or, if you both want to wear the same color, go for different shades or tints so that it doesn’t look 100% exact. This will help to add a bit more depth to your photos while also allowing each of your personalities to shine through instead of blending together.

A couple poses on the steps of a historic building with a yellow exterior, dressed in semi-formal attire, the woman in a white dress and blue shoes, and the man in a dark suit.
A couple leans in for a kiss.
A man dips the woman in a white dress on a dock by a lake, surrounded by autumn-colored trees.
A couple holds hands by a lake, surrounded by autumn-colored trees, the woman in a white dress and the man in a dark suit, both looking at the camera.

Be wary of patterns

Listen, I love a good pattern myself! However, if you’re looking for engagement photo outfit inspo, try to avoid wearing patterns. There are some patterns that usually work perfectly fine (like florals), but most patterns are very loud and distracting and can sometimes even come across as a bit funky in a photo.

Stripes, in particular, are one of the patterns you’ll want to try to avoid, especially thinner strips. Bold stripes are never the way to go.

When in doubt about a pattern that you really want to wear, just reach out to your photographer to get their feedback. They will be able to help steer you in the right direction!

A couple walks hand-in-hand through a grassy field with trees in the background, the woman in a white dress and the man in a dark suit, both looking at each other.

Don’t blend into your backdrop

This may seem obvious, but… take into consideration the location of your photo session. If we’ll be photographing in a park for your engagement, then it may not be a good idea to wear green. Meanwhile, if we are surrounded by a garden in spring, you may want to avoid pinks or any other floral colors.

The goal here is to make sure that you don’t blend in with your background and instead pop with confidence. This is why it’s important to try to pick your location before you pick your outfits!

Avoid clothing with logos

When you can, avoid all clothing with logos. There are some instances where this is unavoidable, like if you’re wearing a polo with a really tiny embroidered logo in the corner, but you want to avoid the large logos as much as you can. 

Big logos tend to be found on t-shirts or accessories like hats more than any other clothing item. Logos can be distracting, and we want the focus to be primarily on you and your partner’s love in your photos. If you have a clothing item that you really want to wear that has a logo on it, I recommend trying to find a version without a logo at a local boutique (usually, bigger brands are more likely to have that logo!).

Close-up of the couple with their eyes closed, the woman resting her head on the man's shoulder, showcasing her engagement ring on his arm.
A couple stands on the steps of a historic building with a yellow exterior, the woman in a white dress with blue shoes and the man in a dark suit, both looking at each other with smiles.
Black and white photo of a couple kissing in a field with the sun setting behind them, the woman in a white dress and the man in a dark suit.

When in doubt, wear neutrals

If you’re ever not sure what clothing colors to wear, try to wear neutrals. You can never go wrong with neutrals because they’re going to go well together and not blend into the background, especially here in Pennsylvania. Neutrals can also be really easy to find.

This could also mean just wearing plain colors, too, in order to avoid anything that’s too overly busy. Try to pull basic, upscale outfits from your closet.

Intentionally choose accessories

Listen, I love a good accessory as much as the next person! However, one of the biggest mistakes that a lot of couples will make is overly accessorizing. Again, the goal here is to focus on the two of you, so you don’t want to choose accessories that are too above and beyond.

Try to choose accessories with intention. It could be a simple bracelet or necklace and, of course, an engagement ring. You might even add a belt. But please don’t go overboard!

The same goes with hats – it’s totally okay to put on a hat if you’ll be having your engagement session outside. However, try not to wear the hat in every single photo. Hats can sometimes cast awkward shade across your face, and we want to be able to see your face in your engagement photos.

Close-up of the couple’s hands reaching out to each other, showcasing the woman’s engagement ring, with a blurred nature background.

Dress for the weather

This is Pennsylvania, so be sure to dress for the weather. We get all four seasons here. If we’re taking photos in summer, opt for more flowy clothing, like the dresses I recommended earlier, or even linen tops. Winter, on the other hand, means dressing a bit cozier, even if we are indoors.

Fall and spring are where it can get a little bit tricky. I like to recommend dressing in layers so that you are always prepared for the weather. This could mean bringing a light jacket that matches your outfit if we’ll be taking photos outside to make sure that you’re comfortable because we don’t want you to be freezing in your photos!

The couple embraces in a grassy field with the sun setting behind them, the woman in a white dress with an open back, and the man in a dark suit, both gazing into the distance.
The couple stands closely on a dock by a lake, the woman in a white dress and blue shoes, and the man in a dark suit, both smiling and looking at each other.
The couple dances on a dock by a lake, surrounded by autumn foliage, the woman in a white dress and blue shoes, and the man in a dark suit.

Bring an extra pair of shoes

This may sound silly, but be sure to bring an extra pair of shoes. This is especially true if you’re wearing shoes that aren’t the most comfortable or heels. This is so that you can be comfortable when walking in between locations!

Trial your makeup

Last but not least, I suggest that you plan your makeup trial for the day of engagement photos. If you already know what your makeup look will be for your wedding day, now is the time to try it out. 

This will help you to feel comfortable and confident with your makeup look and also allow us to get used to photographing it in the best light possible. 

A couple embraces in a grassy area with trees in the background, the woman in a white dress and blue shoes, and the man in a dark suit, both gazing into each other's eyes.
A man dips a woman in a white dress as they stand on a dock by a lake, both smiling at each other, surrounded by autumn foliage.

Final Thoughts: What to Wear for Engagement Photos

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post filled with advice on what to wear for engagement photos. Truly, at the end of the day, as long as you aren’t 100% matchy-matchy and feel comfortable and confident, then you can’t go wrong with whatever you pick, whether that’s upscale or a bit more casual-leaning.

Plus, your photographer is always a great resource if you’re stuck on what to wear for your engagement session or if you even just want another pair of eyes to check to make sure your outfits will look good in front of the camera.Are you still looking for an engagement photographer in Pennsylvania to help you celebrate saying, “I do?” I’d love to photograph you and your partner. Click here to get in touch with me!

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A couple in an engagement photo outfit leans in for a kiss.
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