How to Look Good in Engagement Photos

A fun wedding tradition that's sprung up in recent years is engagement photos. The right engagement photos will carry you through your save-the-dates, invitations, wedding website and other pre-wedding options with style. I asked our engagement shoot photographer, the talented Emily Phelps of Eccentric Photography in Columbus, Ind., if she would share some hints and tips about how to get engagement photos you'll love.

What should we wear for our engagement photos? 

When trying to decide what to wear for your engagement session, picking the right outfit can be crucial. The styles, colors and designs we wear reflect who we are as individuals. Let that be the very first guiding point when trying to pick out the right outfit — to do what best suits you! Put on those perfect jeans or that maxi dress that makes you feel amazing! If you aren’t comfortable or don’t feel “good” in your outfit, chances are your emotions being captured won’t look good, either.

Some helpful tips I normally recommend to clients are to wear color (stay away from white!) and don’t be afraid to layer! Adding nice textures and patterns to your wardrobe truly helps create wonderful images. Ladies, embrace accessorizing! Having said that, I would recommend staying away from logos, graphics or text because you're not there to advertise.

When it comes to a certain style of clothing, having a nice mixture really makes you look unique. Outfit changes are highly recommended. Start out in dressy and more sophisticated outfits and end your shoot in nice, casual clothing. That way, you are adding a different effect to each photo taken, which gives you a large variety of images to choose from. Also, complement your partner by wearing a few pieces that pick up the same color tone as what your fiancé is wearing. For example, if you want to wear a nice yellow dress with a turquoise necklace, have your fiancé wear a flannel shirt that is dark blue with small hints of turquoise. Just remember, DO NOT match your clothing! You two weren’t born twins, right?

What about hair? Do particular hairstyles work better in photos than others?
No matter what your hairstyle is, it won’t make or break the photos. Wear your hair the way you normally wear it. You obviously wear it like that every day because you like it, so don’t think about changing it now. However, don’t look like you just stepped out of the shower. Remember, you will be looking back at these photos for a lifetime, so embracing and enhancing every aspect of your look will be the finishing touch.

What do's and don'ts should people know about for engagement photos?

• Don’t try to reenact someone else’s photo. Your engagement pictures are a time to capture the love and joy between you and your fiancé. Relax and enjoy the time you are spending with one another. Getting to a point where you forget you're even getting your picture taken can turn the moments into a beautiful memory that will last forever.
• Don't overthink and make the session stressful. Have fun, be playful, and make each other laugh! You have heard the saying, “Location, location, location,” when it comes to buying and selling real estate. For pictures to really turn out incredible, natural, natural, and more natural is what it’s all about!
• Don’t act too distant from your partner, but don’t be so close it becomes inappropriate. There is a fine line between sweet, gentle love and the point where it becomes overly intimate. These photos will be shared with all of your friends and family, and the last thing you want to do is make someone feel uncomfortable with how explicit the images may come across.

What pet peeves do you have when shooting engagement photos?
Number one pet peeve when shooting engagement photos or any photo session would be unrealistic expectations. We all have our own ideas and thoughts on how things should be or how we would like them to be. The chance it will turn out 100 percent that way is unlikely. As much as I wish I could finish each session and say it went exactly like it was supposed to, I know that’s not reality. It’s a tough thing to swallow at times, but having clients who understand and appreciate the memories that were captured makes my job a thousand times easier, not to mention ten times more enjoyable!

How should couples prepare for the engagement shoot? Should we bring ideas or props?
The first thing to do would be to set out the outfits you want to wear and decide at what points during the session you are going to wear them. This will place you at ease once you begin shooting. This will also prevent you from wasting time during the shoot by deciding clothing options.

I always tell my clients they are welcome to bring any props or personal keepsakes they may want to incorporate into their photos. Of course, running ideas by your photographer can be helpful to prepare him or her for what you would like. Your photographer might be able to help you find other props you want.

Any other secrets on how to look good and get the shots you want?
Embrace your love for one another, have fun, enjoy your time, relax, don’t stress and most of all, be YOU!