What to Wear for Your Engagement Session in Branson & the Ozarks
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
One of the first questions almost every couple asks me after booking their engagement session is:
“What should we wear?”
Such a great question, and I am always glad when couples ask me for advice, since I know what photographs well!
When you are choosing what to wear for your engagement session, please consider at least these four things:
Does this feel like you?
Will it look beautiful in the environment we’re photographing in?
What colors do we look best in?
What Season will we be getting our photos taken in?
The good news is that you do not need to completely reinvent your wardrobe for your engagement photos. You simply want to choose outfits that feel like the best version of yourselves.
Start With Your Own Style
The most important thing is that you still look and feel like yourselves.
You do not need to wear something simply because you think you are “supposed” to for engagement photos.
If you normally love dresses, this is the perfect excuse to wear one.
If you feel more like yourself in jeans, boots, and a beautiful top, that can photograph wonderfully too.
When you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing, it changes the way you move, interact, and relax in front of the camera.
Your engagement session should feel like the two of you, only slightly elevated.
Bring a Casual Outfit and a Dressier Outfit
I often recommend bringing two outfits to your engagement session.
One can be a little more casual, and the other can be more dressed up.
Let's start though with the dressier version, that way if you'd like, you can put on a hat, or have your hair in a ponytail, or clip it up for a different look after we capture your dressier styled hair maybe!
This gives your gallery variety and lets us create two different looks without making the session overly complicated.
For your casual outfit, think about something you might wear on a really good date.
Jeans, boots, a beautiful sweater, a fitted top, a casual dress, a jacket, or something with a little texture can all work wonderfully. Layering a sweater, or a cardigan over a fitted top gives a put together look.
For your dressier outfit, you can go as elegant as you would like.
A flowing midi or maxi dress photographs beautifully outdoors because the fabric creates movement.
For him, dress pants, with a button-down shirt can work beautifully. Adding a jacket or sport coat instantly makes the look feel more elevated. I mean heck, he might even wear a tie for a traditional dressed up look!
There really is no rule saying you cannot be a little EXTRA for your engagement session.
If you have been looking for an excuse to wear the fabulous dress, this might be it. Maybe even "Rent the runway"! My daughters taught me this trick!
One more thing, an outfit idea that a lot of my couples choose, is having the girl in white or cream, this gives a nod to why you are here in the first place, to celebrate your engagements, and what better way than to wear the color white!
Colors That Look Beautiful in the Ozarks
Because so many of my engagement sessions take place in natural settings, I love colors that complement the landscape rather than fight with it.
Some beautiful options include:
Cream, Ivory, Soft blue, Sage green, Dusty rose, Mauve, NavyForest, burgundy, Olive green,Rust, Wine, Warm browns, & Soft neutrals.
What Colors do we look best in?
I googled what colors look best on everyone, and one outlet said red. Hmmm, I disagree with that statement for photos. Yes, red looks good on most people, If you find the right shade of red. BUT, for photography, red can stand out too much and takes away from you and your smile, but that's just my opinion!
I do agree with this though from "Color Class" on YouTube:
Navy Blue: A softer, more versatile alternative to black that rarely washes people out.
Emerald Green: A rich jewel tone that brings out warmth in different complexions
Purple (Eggplant or Plum): Combines cool blue and warm red to complement diverse skin tones.
What Missouri Season will we be getting our engagement photos taken in?
Dress for Missouri Weather:
Missouri weather has opinions...
Sometimes several opinions in one afternoon! Ha!
So we always want to think practically about the season.
For warmer weather, choose fabrics that breathe and clothing that will not leave you miserable after ten minutes outside. Choose linens, and cottons. One time I had on Rayon as I was photographing a family session. I learned my lesson the hard way...the humidity that day by the creek made my shirt full of sweat...oh my goodness! Was I embarrassed!
I also remember a Mother of the Groom wearing a dress on the day of the wedding that showed sweat in all the wrong places. I would have gone home if that happened to me. Luckily I edited it out of the final photos.
For cooler weather, layers are wonderful.
Sweaters, jackets, wraps, coats, and boots can actually make your engagement photographs feel even richer and more interesting.
I want you to look beautiful, but I also want you to be able to enjoy your session.
Spring and Summer Engagement Session Wardrobe Colors:
Cream and Soft Ivory: Pops cleanly against deep woods or lake water without the harsh glare of stark white.
Taupe and Oatmeal: Some people call this greige, it echos our region’s limestone and gravel bars.
Soft Sage or Eucalyptus Green: Acts as a seamless neutral.
Denim or Slate Blue: Provides a cool, classic contrast against water and green trees.
Fall Engagement Session Wardrobe Colors:
Richer colors such as rust, deep green, navy, wine, and warm brown can be gorgeous against the changing leaves and golden grasses here in the Ozarks.
Winter Engagement Session Wardrobe Colors:
neutrals work really well. Beige, cream, soft gray, sage green, and warm brown works best for photos in the Ozarks because they blend naturally with our region's forests, bluffs, and lakes like I mentioned before!
Colors to Avoid:
Neon or Bright Synthetics: Bright oranges, hot pinks, and neon greens cast unflattering color reflections onto skin under the thick tree canopy.
Stark Black: Absorbs heavy summer light and creates too much visual weight against soft outdoor backdrops.
The goal is for your eyes to go to you, not your outfits!
Another thing to consider, Coordinate Instead of Match!
You do not need to wear the same color.
In fact, I usually prefer that you don’t.
Instead, think of your outfits as belonging in the same color palette.
If she is wearing a soft blue dress, he might wear navy pants with a cream or white shirt.
If she is wearing sage green, he might wear tan, brown, cream, or darker green.
If she is wearing a floral dress, pull one subtle color from the print for his outfit rather than having both of you wear patterns.
You want to look like you belong together without looking like you were issued matching uniforms. 😉
Outfit Idea: Soft & Romantic:
For her:
A flowing cream, sage, dusty blue, mauve, or soft floral dress.
For him:
Tan, navy, or charcoal pants with a white, cream, or soft blue button-down.
This combination works beautifully in fields, wooded locations, overlooks, and other natural Ozark settings.
Outfit Idea: Classic Ozarks:
For her:
A cream sweater or fitted top with jeans, boots, or a casual skirt.
For him:
Dark denim or chinos with a solid shirt, boots, and perhaps a casual jacket.
This works especially well if you want your photographs to feel relaxed and natural.
Outfit Idea: Elevated Engagement Session:
For her:
A midi or maxi dress with beautiful movement.
For him:
Dress pants or chinos, a button-down shirt, and perhaps a sport coat.
This is one of my favorite combinations because it still works beautifully outdoors while giving your photographs a more polished, romantic feel.
Outfit Idea: Fall in the Ozarks:
Fall engagement sessions around Branson can be absolutely beautiful.
Think:
Rust, forest green, Deep blue, Wine, Cream, Brown, leather, Dark, denim
Layers can also add a lot of visual interest.
Jackets, sweaters, scarves, and textured fabrics work beautifully during cooler months.
One More things, Think About Your Shoes:
Shoes matter more than people realize.
A lot of my locations involve grass, trails, fields, gravel, hills, or uneven ground.
You are absolutely welcome to wear heels or dress shoes for your photographs, but I highly recommend bringing a comfortable pair of shoes for walking between locations.
You can switch into your prettier shoes when we are ready to photograph.
Your feet will be much happier, and so will you.
A Few Things I Usually Avoid:
There are very few absolute rules, but I usually recommend avoiding:
Large logos, Neon colors, Extremely busy patterns, Both people wearing bold prints at the same time, Anything you constantly have to adjust. Shoes you cannot comfortably move in
If you spend the entire session pulling at your dress, fixing your shirt, or worrying about your shoes, it becomes harder to relax.
Clothing Stores to capture the vibe you are searching for:
Free People, ASOS, Lulu’s, Vici, Zara, H&M, and J.Crew.
Most Importantly, Feel Like Yourselves
Your engagement session is not about creating some perfectly styled version of a couple you saw on Pinterest.
It is about documenting YOU during this season of your life.
Wear something that makes you feel confident.
Wear something that feels like your relationship.
And if you want to bring one relaxed outfit and one outfit that feels a little more glamorous?
Even better.
We’ll use the gorgeous Ozark landscape, beautiful light, movement, and the two of you to create photographs that feel natural, romantic, and completely yours.
Can't wait to capture your LOVE & personality during your engagement session!
I'll be adding Amazon links to this blog soon! Stay tuned!
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