The engagement session season is in full swing! Couples who are planning late summer or fall weddings who got engaged this past spring are ready for pictures! Spring is a beautiful time to take engagement pictures or even family photo sessions. Really, just any session outside is going to look beautiful in the spring. But, uncommon opinion alert: I actually believe that any season can be beautiful for outdoor photos. Why is that? Because I’ve had lots and lots of practice to really hone my style so that a couple’s love and excitement for their big day outshines all the surrounding elements of their engagement pictures.

That being said, the big reason to pay attention to the season in which you get your engagement pictures taken is to give you an idea of what outfits you should plan. I’ve shared ideas of what to wear to your engagement session before, but today I wanted to share some specific ideas of what outfits you can wear depending on what season of the year you take your pictures. These tips go for anniversary sessions and future family pictures, too!

Winter

Winter gets a bad rep. Snowy engagement sessions are BEAUTIFUL! The clean snow (or if you can catch it falling during your shoot!) makes everything seem more romantic! I love the look of sophisticated, classy outfits in a winter session. For the bride, this looks like a flowy dress (bold in either pattern or color) and a nice suit coat for the groom. Casual outfits are great too, and nothing looks better than a classy lumberjack! (that means flannel, but not ragged flannel. Find a great selection at Kohl’s or Old Navy!) Long pants are a must, given the colder temperatures. Take it a step up from jeans and wear some nice pants for your casual outfit.

If you don’t like the look of snow on the ground, or if you are having a hard time finding a location where it isn’t half-melted and muddy, I always suggest trying a well-kept public building, like the Monson Center or the Utah State Capitol building! These locations are elegant and always picture-perfect, due to the regularly hired groundskeeping.

Spring

The flowers come out, and so do the photographers! I love taking pictures in spring because everyone is just so excited to start getting outdoors. Look for clothing that reflects the colors of your landscape. For example, if you’re planning to take photos in a field that typically has yellow wildflowers, choose a bright yellow top, or a white blouse with little yellow embroidery or something that will pull from your surroundings!

Spring in Utah can be a little tricky, with all the melting snow and surprise rain, but the abundance of pretty photo locations ensures that you can find a beautiful spot, wherever you are in the state! I like to recommend bright pastel colors to my brides taking engagement photos in springs. Guys can easily match pastel colors with khakis, too!

Summer

My favorite photo recommendation for summertime engagement photos is long, flowy dresses. Since maxi dresses are in season, you’ll have a ton of options to choose from as you’re selecting a dressier outfit. For your casual outfit, play with your style to find something dressy, but still casual, like a cold shoulder top or a ruffly short sleeve shirt. Take your photos somewhere where the heat won’t bother you, like in the cool breeze of a mountain or maybe even a greenhouse! You don’t want excessive sweating affecting your wardrobe!

Guys should be able to easily find some nice short-sleeve button-up shirts for a more casual look and a dress shirt to match your new maxi dress. Shopping for summer engagement outfits is always easy, and sometimes you already have the perfect options in your wardrobe!

Fall

I love fall colors. Deep oranges, yellows, and reds photograph beautifully in the yellowed fields that are on the downwind from the bright summer colors. As the leaves change, you’ll find plenty of beautiful locals for your fall engagement photos, so I recommend you embrace that color scheme for some really beautifully coordinated engagement photos!

Deep hued suit coats or formal dresses will be really pretty, For your more casual outfit, you can embrace the jeans look with nicer tops, like some dressier flannel button-ups for the guys and some beautiful sweaters for the gals. Who doesn’t love being super comfy during their shoot?

Let me know when you plan to take your engagement pictures — I’d love to offer outfit suggestions!