Girl, you’re engaged and I bet reminiscing that moment your man got down on one knee still gives you goosebumps. I know when I think back to our proposal I still get butterflies and feel all the emotions I did that day even all these years later. Now that you have that stunning ring on your finger it’s time to plan for your engagement session.
Engagement sessions are the best because they give you a chance to be in front of the camera before your big day and they are photos you will hang on your walls for years to come. When thinking about engagement photos so many girls have an ideal location but it’s easy to get stumped on what to wear. You want photos that capture you in a fun , genuine and timeless way so today I’m sharing my top 5 style tips to totally help you ace your engagement session with a few links to some of my favorite resources here in San Diego.
1. Dress it up
Have you dreamed of rocking a sequined gown, tulle skirt or flower crown and just never had the occasion for it? This is your chance to live it up! The biggest thing to remember is that there is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! A lot of our brides love Rent the Runway for the engagement photos to wear something they may never wear again and other brides love the excuse of bringing a new permanent piece (or two) into their closet!
2. Say Yes to the Dress
Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement into the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the ocean cliffs, grasslands, desert, forest or beach. Cute, shorter-length dresses photograph beautifully as well. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they flatter the female body so put those pantsuits away and say yes to a dress or two.
3. Choosing Colors
When choosing colors for your outfits, we recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades. Bright and bold colors tend to distract for where we want all the attention to be, on your faces. Soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white fit beautifully into almost all natural outdoor settings.
4. Flattering Your Features
In my experience, every woman, regardless of her shape, has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about, so recognizing what that is in advance is key. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, cute jackets, blazers and cardigan’s also help flatter your upper body. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so I recommend avoiding these whenever possible if your goal is slimmer-looking arms (and whose isn’t?). Heels (especially close-toed) are AH-mazing, they elongate our womanly legs, making them look fabulous.
5. Go Pro: Hair + Makeup
This is one thing I highly recommend and guarantee you won’t be disappointed in doing! Whether it’s lash extensions, micro-blading, or blown-out hair, professional hair and make up will give you an extra boost of confidence in the camera and it photographs like a dream! It’s also super important to remember that your new bling is going to be photographed a ton so make sure you treat yourself to a fresh mani and pedi because a little extra polish goes a long way!
So girl, give yourself every excuse to make your engagement photo session dream a reality and help ensure you love your photos for years to come!
