Casual Engagement Photo Looks

Congratulations, you’re now engaged! To commemorate and announce the occasion, it’s common to have a professional engagement photoshoot session. But you may be stuck on how to pose, how to act, and what to wear. Since these pictures will be featured on your Save the Dates, your wedding invitations, and will be hanging in your home for your children to see, you’ll want to make sure you look the best you can. Here are some tips for casual engagement photo looks to give you inspiration before you get in front of the camera.

Pick an outfit that feels like you.

Your engagement pictures are meant to showcase who you are as a couple, so it’s important that you look and act authentically to your true selves. If you’re jeans and t-shirt wearing couple, pick your favorite pair of Chico’s jeans and a casual top that feels comfortable and not restricting. You can always dress up the look a bit with a nice jacket or a blazer. There’s no need to get all fancy in dress clothes and heels — if you choose an outfit other than what you normally wear, you will look stiff and uncomfortable. Dressing more simply makes it easier to find outfits. You don’t need any fancy boutiques that will overcharge, instead you can head to Chico’s outlets to see the select styles and final sale items they’re offering. You’ll be spending plenty on the wedding, so if you can save money by getting an additional discount on sale items and Chico’s, you’ll be ahead of the game. Also, if you keep your style simple there won’t be anything to take the focus away from that diamond engagement ring on your finger. So don’t be afraid to be yourself!

Coordinate but do not match.

Getting too matchy-matchy will make your photos look dated and unoriginal. Instead, you’ll want to complement each other’s outfits, without matching the same patterns and fabrics. Stay in the same color palette, and shy away from large, bold prints as they can end up clashing and looking weird in photos. Once you’ve settled on your favorite handful of outfits, put them on and take a picture to see how the outfits translate into still images. You never know — that one favorite jacket of yours may be unflattering or can wash you out once a flash is involved, and that petite t-shirt you weren’t considering seriously might be just the ticket.

Add in one accessory besides your engagement ring.

While yes, your diamond engagement ring will be the star of the show, it is always a good idea to balance out your outfit with at least one more accessory. This can be anything from a scarf, a statement necklace, or a fun belt for women to a jacket, pull-over, or hat for men. Adding more depth to your outfits will translate to more a visually interesting shoot. Don’t wear anything else with jewels, because you’ll want the sparkle of the jewels in your engagement ring to stand out.

Only choose two outfits.

Too many outfit changes can make the photoshoot more complicated than necessary. You won’t need more than two outfits to add diversity to your photos, as the shoot will be more about you guys interacting with each other rather than what you are wearing. Buy two sale items and call it a day. The last thing you want is to be rushing around, worrying about what outfit is next, where you put your blazer, and where you can get dressed.

Look at your parents.

Are your parents still together? If so, consider looking at their engagement pictures (or even wedding pictures) for any looks and poses you can possibly recreate. For some extra sentimentality, you can go the next step and even take your pictures in the same place they did. Once you get your photos back, you can make a side-by-side picture to gift to your parents, or your in-laws (or both!) the morning of your wedding.

Bring your furry friends.

Do you share a pet together? Well, it only makes sense that they come with you to the shoot! Our animals are our family, so why not strike a few poses with your fur child? Just make sure to invite a caretaker along to watch over the animal during the rest of the shoot, as you’ll want some pictures of you two.

The best thing about engagement photoshoots is that the whole purpose is to showcase the love you and your partner share. So feel free to get creative with your outfits and your poses, and you’ll have memories to last the length of your marriage.