STYLE GUIDE
how to style your session to look great on camera and help you both feel
Welcome
I am so stoked for your engagement session! I’m honored to help you create memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. I’ve created this guide to help you get the most out of your photos, and by the time you’ve read through, you should have all your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session. Then, your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot and HAVE FUN. I’ll take care of the rest!
Now, this is important: wear whatever you want. This guide is not meant to make you feel constrained or pressured to dress a certain way. The most important thing to getting beautiful photos is comfort, so if you’re more comfortable in your sweatpants, or you feel most like yourself when you’re dressed in a dramatic fur coat—BY ALL MEANS—rock it.
Permission to be Extra
Want to do something a little different or make your session even more of an experience? Bring a little extra something with you! Flowers in your hair, fun hats, or picnics are a fun way to add a little extra flair. You can also incorporate larger items like your camper van, motorcycle or even a rowboat! Custom pieces like embroidered jackets are also something you might not have thought of that are a nice addition!
Don’t be afraid to be ‘too extra’ because in my opinion, there is no such thing!
ONE OR TWO?
FANCY OR CASUAL?
Many clients choose to have two outfits—one that’s more fancy and one that is more casual. You are welcome to have just one outfit, rock two extravagant looks, or stay casual the whole time. Again—these are your photos—wear what you feel best in!
Fancy
If you want to dress up fancy and do it big—I always recommend long flowy pieces made of a light fabric. Long dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they flatter every body and bring extra movement to the photos. Softer fabrics like silk or chiffon will allow for the most natural movement. Also consider pieces with intricate sleeves, lace, or beadwork for a more boho/adventuresome look. You can also do a flowy pant if you’re not a huge fan of dresses and skirts—or don fitted pants and closed toe shoes. They are a sophisticated look and draw attention away from the legs and feet and to where you want it—your face! Feel free to experiment with colored pants instead of feeling like you have to stick to a classic black or khaki. Maroons, deep blues, greens, and mustards are all good choices!
Keeping it Casual
Sweaters, jackets, and flannels all look good on camera. I would recommend dressing as if you were going out on your first date again—so you’re dressing to impress but you’re not getting TOO fancy—if that makes sense! Steer clear of anything that is too big or too small for you unless it’s specifically styled to be oversize. Think about putting your best foot forward.
Layering your look will add dimension and visual interest to your photos and will automatically level up any outfit. Think about blazers, vest, scarves, etc. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little!
More tips on how to coordinate your outfits and how to add a little extra pizazz below.
✨PRO TIP ✨
Large logos or graphics don’t normally work well on camera. In the same way—smart watches and hair ties also tend to be distracting. It’s best to leave these at home or stashed away somewhere safe during the session.
Flattering Your Features
In my experience, every person, regardless of their shape has an area of their body they are self conscious about, so recognizing what that is for you is important. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.
Loose sleeves create a great slimming effect on arms as well as fitted jackets, blazers or cardigans. Skinny straps have the opposite effect, so if you want to show your arms off, that’s a great choice! Heeled and closed toed shoes will elongate your legs and carry the line of your leg all the way down to your toe.
Choosing Colors + Coordinating Outfits
When choosing colors, I recommend either more muted tones or deeper shades. This would be things like maroon, deep blues, mustard, tan, olive, rust, you get the idea. By avoiding super bright bold colors you bring all the attention to your face and these choices often look more at home in a natural environment as well. If you want to rock a more bold outfit, I would recommend thinking about using patterns and accessories rather than color.
As you are coordinating your outfit with your partners keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera if the color palettes coordinate but don’t necessarily match. You should each aim to wear a different dominant color, but stay within a similar color palette family. So if you’re wearing a red dress with mustard accents (red being your dominant color) then they could wear a mustard shirt with blue pants paired with gray or brown shoes (their dominant color is mustard, which ties in with your mustard accents).
Lastly, consider your location when choosing your outfits. Think about pieces that make sense in your environment. You’re not going to be wearing a sweater when you’re on a beach in SoCal in the summer, and you’re not going to be wearing a short skirt in the snow on Mt. Hood. You can use tools online or ask me about what colors would look best in particular settings as well—for example: creams, blues, and sage look great in the Red Rocks of Las Vegas, velvety maroons and tan are gorgeous in the snow, and black, rust, and turquoise will look amazing on the beaches of San Diego.
✨PRO TIP ✨
Your hands will be front and center for a few photos on your shoot day. Getting your ring polished, hands moisturized, and your nails touched up is always a fabulous idea!
Pattern Mixing + Textures
When mixing patterns, think of mixing opposites. If you have a curved pattern or dainty florals—pair it with a geometric or bold pattern. Choose pieces that follow the color coordinating rules from above.
If adding color in with pattern mixing is too hard—choose one color (or black and white) and stick with it. Choosing the same color palette or neutrals almost guarantees what you pair together will work.
The fabrics and materials your clothes are made out of can add a lot to the look and style. For dress shirts, opt for natural fabrics like cotton, wool or flannel. Articles of clothing with some type of interesting weave or fun details like pom-poms and tassels are a great visually interesting addition.
Casual Outfit Ideas
There are a lot of examples above of fancy dresses and people in suits. While I love the drama and elegance of these outfits, I also love casual outfits that show some personality! If you want to mix in a casual outfit, here’s what I recommend:
Long flowy patterned pants paired with a neutral shirt and denim jacket and sandals.
Skinny jeans paired with a neutral top and a flowy mid calf length cardigan with boots or wedges.
Skinny jeans paired with neutral top with a small pattern and a chunky, textured jacket.
Maroon jeans with a black and white shirt with a medium sized pattern, paired with a tan or mustard yellow jacket and white sneaks.
These are all just ideas and options to get you thinking, but they illustrate the idea that layers, textures and pieces with movement will add visual interest to your photos and outfits.
Layers also allow for versatility because you can always take pieces off for a different look. I would highly encourage you to avoid shorts for photo sessions, as they don’t photograph as well and don’t allow for as much movement as other options
Beauty Squad
I always recommend professional hair and makeup because it looks amazing on camera, and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. From lash extensions to blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera. When working with a makeup artist, have them apply your makeup in natural light, if possible, so that it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Many people feel like their makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than you would wear on a normal day, especially when it comes to false lashes, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result.
✨PRO TIP ✨
Skip the spray tan. Trust me, as an Oregon native I understand the desire to look a little sun-kissed. However, spray tans tend to photograph really orange, even when applied by a professional. Your natural skin tone will translate the most beautifully. Talk to your makeup artist about how to add a little extra warmth to your makeup if you want thtat sun kissed look!
One Final Note
I know I just gave you a lot to think about. I created this guide to help make your session experience something you’ll look back fondly on for years and years to come. At the end of the day, though, the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as the memories you make together.
Your future memories are the most important thing to me, and I want your session to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it. Have fun together, laugh a lot, and I’ll take care of the rest! And remember, this style guide is truly just that…a guide! If anything doesn’t resonate with you, feel free to do what feels right for you! Can’t wait to see you soon!
P.S. Always feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about your outfits or if you want help!
