This is the most common question I get asked regarding an engagement shoot. You want to look and feel your best so you feel comfortable and yourself in front of the camera.
Shooting in NYC always presents a unique set of challenges with the biggest problem being footwear. We will be doing a lot of walking throughout the shoot, so please wear shoes you can walk comfortably in for 2 hours. I really recommend finding a comfortable pair of shoes that look good and you can walk in.. and then base the rest of your outfit around that 🙂 If you bring a spare pair of shoes and change them every time we move locations… this puts a halt on a lot of in the moment shots, turning the shoot into more staged production if you have to change your shoots every time we move locations.
When it comes to deciding on outfits, its best to find outfits that compliment each other without being too ‘matchy’. I always think plain colors photograph better then busy / pattern fabrics.. but at the end of the day, you want these photographs to reflect the real you.. so go with whatever you love the most.
Style-wise, you want to make sure you both match the overall feel of your look, if the lady is wearing a dress, make sure the man dresses up a little too. But I always think a more casual look photographs best for engagement shoots, normally they are more comfortable to be in and get around in and this reflects in the photographs of you both having a great time.
If you are wondering if you should have a few different outfit options – this will really depend on where we are shooting and thinking about the logistics. It’s not really possible to bring outfit changes with us if we are walking the streets of NYC, so unless you have a car to store your outfits in, I recommend only 1 outfit for the entire shoot. If I am going to meet you at your apartment, we can shoot 1 outfit first and before heading out, you could change outfits if you would like.