Engagement Photos: What to Wear • AOK Style + Planning

We're thrilled to introduce you to the first in a series of posts from Allison Koehler of AOK Style + Planning, one of our newest Vendor Guide Members! One look at her feed, or the clients she's styled, and guaranteed you'll want her to come raid your closet AND be your best friend. Today she's sharing practical tips to choosing your engagement outfit... and really, this can be applied to any photography session. Engagement, Anniversary, Family - you name it, these rules apply! 

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One of the best ways to get in the wedding spirit, in my opinion, is by having an engagement session with your Wedding Photographer. It gets you and your partner in the zone for the day, and it feels indulgent and special.

Aside from selecting the location for your shoot, the biggest question on every couple’s minds is undoubtedly What should we wear? With Pinterest and incredible shoots featured in wedding blogs and magazines, the options are, actually, limitless. Having had my own engagement shoot, I completely understand the head scratching. And while I maintain that at the end of the day, it’s all about the love, I have a few tips for loving what you wear for your shoot!

photos by Julia Elizabeth

Be Yourself

This one seems obvious, of course you’re going to be yourself in your photos! More specifically, I’m talking about your style self. If you’re a jeans and tee shirt gal, don’t feel the need to wear a cocktail dress and Louboutins. When you show these photos to your Grandchildren someday, you want them to be a good representation of you at the time. My first rule is, stay in the same genre of clothing that you normally wear, and just elevate a piece or two. Wear your favorite pair of jeans, but buy that new top you’ve been eyeing. Same rule goes for your sweetie. Start here, and you’ll find everything else comes together quickly.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

I’m always careful to avoid over-styling my clients; I want them to look as they usually do, and goodness knows we don’t want any 90’s portrait studio matchy-matchy outfits. But there’s something to be said for thoughtful coordination. To avoid outfits that clash, stick to a color family (neutrals, jewel tones, etc), and layer in patterns and textures. Floral dress? Avoid plaid for your fiance’s shirt. Going neutral? Add a pop of color to break things up. There’s no real right answer here; chances are if you’re being mindful of coordination, you’re on the right track.

photos by Ashley Caroline

Avoid Themes

I love a good theme just as much as the next Bride, but I’m wary of going too far with regards to engagement shoot outfits. Things can get out of hand quickly, so I encourage my clients to take the subtle approach. If you’ve got a love for the 20’s, a drop waisted dress and loose finger waves are a great nod to your theme without going full Gatsby. Same rules apply for seasonal shoots. Not every Summer shoot has to happen on the beach, and not every Fall shoot has to have pumpkins and scarves.

Stay Timeless

You want to be able to proudly show off your engagement photos without cringing at your outfit, so be careful with trends when prepping for your shoot. Stay away from fad jewelry and go simple with your accessories, and have your make-up artist keep your look natural. I love one signature, eye-catching piece (a floppy hat, tiny gold earrings, your favorite trench) that can be layered in for some shots and removed for others.

photos by Caroline Ro

Still stumped? Hire a stylist! Styling couples for their engagement shoots is such a blast, and I would absolutely love to work with you! You can reach me at allie@allisonkoehler.com for rates and deets!

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