Old Town photo by Alexandria Virginia Photographer Justin Hankins

What to wear for engagement photos

Relaxed style tips to help you look and feel your best

December 26, 2025 By VJjdLGgmAKiZcoet 3 min read

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K&J's Engagement Portraits — You're going to look great
Everybody stresses about what to wear for engagement photos, so rest assured: you’re not alone! Here are some general tips to guide you in the right direction.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and relaxed.
If you’re constantly thinking about how the outfit is making you feel, it will show in the photos. So instead of spending the session worrying about whether something is too tight or too revealing, pick something that makes you feel relaxed, happy, and confident.

L&C's Engagement Portraits — But it’s also important to dress nicer than pajama pants!
A good approach is to think of it like your anniversary date night out. And if you’re going to purchase something brand new, make sure to give yourself some time to break it in and feel comfortable in it. (Hint: it’s not a good idea to wait until the night before to head to the mall.)

M&J's Engagement Photos — Keep the location in mind
The location you choose for your photos should serve as a general guide. For instance: a tuxedo might not be the best choice for a beach shoot, and a bathing suit might not be the best choice for a library. The same goes for colors: if we’re doing urban photos in front of a red brick wall, a pink/red dress might clash with the environment. Likewise, if we’re out in nature, fluorescent anything might look out of place.

Danielle & Andrew's Engagement — Examples
As far as specifics, stay away from noisy patterns (narrow bold stripes, neon yellow, etc), and avoid red, dark pink, and orange tops if you can (they reflect into the other person’s face and can make them look demonic :).
You don’t have to dress identically, like you’re 80 years old on a church retreat to Disney World, but it’s a good idea to make sure your colors compliment each other. Natural tones are always very classy and flattering: browns, khakis, blues, etc.
In general, people tend to feel happier with the way they look in photos when gentlemen cover their legs (pants instead of shorts), and when ladies cover their upper arms/shoulders. You don’t have to, of course. But upper arms, in particular, are sensitive for a ton of people. What happens is that bare upper arms draw attention away from people’s pretty faces and tend to make people look wider. So if that’s a sensitive area for you, simply opting for covered upper arms can easily make you feel 20 pounds lighter in photos.

Danielle & Andrew's Engagement — Examples
As far as specifics, stay away from noisy patterns (narrow bold stripes, neon yellow, etc), and avoid red, dark pink, and orange tops if you can (they reflect into the other person’s face and can make them look demonic :).
You don’t have to dress identically, like you’re 80 years old on a church retreat to Disney World, but it’s a good idea to make sure your colors compliment each other. Natural tones are always very classy and flattering: browns, khakis, blues, etc.
In general, people tend to feel happier with the way they look in photos when gentlemen cover their legs (pants instead of shorts), and when ladies cover their upper arms/shoulders. You don’t have to, of course. But upper arms, in particular, are sensitive for a ton of people. What happens is that bare upper arms draw attention away from people’s pretty faces and tend to make people look wider. So if that’s a sensitive area for you, simply opting for covered upper arms can easily make you feel 20 pounds lighter in photos.

O+J's Engagement — Examples on Pinterest
I’ve created a few Pinterest boards that might help:
His n’ Hers
Same-sex ladies
Same-sex gentlemen

MD&D's Engagement Portrait Session — Can we wear more than one outfit?
Yes, absolutely! Two outfits can work really well with the amount of time we have. Three outfits are doable but might require some extra time. Doing more than three will stress you the heck out. 🙂

MD&D's Engagement Portrait Session — Can we wear more than one outfit?
Yes, absolutely! Two outfits can work really well with the amount of time we have. Three outfits are doable but might require some extra time. Doing more than three will stress you the heck out. 🙂

B&F's Engagement Photos — Bottom Line
Dress nicer than usual — like you’re headed to a romantic night out. And wear something that won’t make you feel awkward or stuffy. And if you have questions about specific items, feel free to shoot a photo with your cell phone and send it over.

Last Updated

July 13, 2026

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