One of the questions I receive most often from newly engaged couples as a New Jersey Wedding Photographer — right after “how do we find the perfect location?” — is what do we actually wear? I love this question. Truly. Because what you wear to your engagement session matters more than most people realize, and getting it right makes an enormous difference in how your images look, how you feel, and ultimately — how effortless the entire experience becomes.
After over a decade of photographing couples across New Jersey, New York City, and destinations beyond, here is my honest, practical, and deeply style-forward guide to dressing for your summer engagement session.
Start With a Vision, Not a Trend
Before you open Pinterest or start scrolling through Instagram, take a breath and ask yourself: what do we want these images to feel like? Romantic and timeless? Editorial and modern? Sun-drenched and carefree? Your answer should drive every outfit decision. Actually every decision. I always recommend my couples think of their engagement session outfits the way a stylist thinks about a fashion editorial — everything should be intentional, everything should tell a story.
The Colors That Photograph Beautifully in Summer
Summer light is rich and warm, and certain palettes absolutely sing in it. My perennial favorites for summer sessions include:
Warm neutrals: Ivory, champagne, warm white, camel, and soft terracotta look absolutely luminous in golden hour light. They photograph as sophisticated and timeless — images that will never feel dated.
Soft earth tones: Sage, dusty rose, warm rust, and muted mauve complement outdoor settings beautifully without competing with the landscape.
Classic navy and white: For a more nautical or coastal session — especially at a location like Asbury Park — a crisp white linen and navy combination is eternally chic.
What to avoid: Bright neon colors and busy patterns. They pull the eye away from you and can cast unflattering color onto your skin in sunlight. Matching your partner perfectly head-to-toe can also look stiff — I prefer couples who coordinate rather than match.
Fabrics That Move
Summer engagement sessions often happen in nature — on beaches, in gardens, on boardwalks, in cobblestone streets. Fabrics that move with the environment — silk, chiffon, linen, lightweight cotton — photograph beautifully and feel far more alive than stiff, structured fabrics. A flowing midi dress catching the breeze at the Jersey Shore? That is the kind of image that ends up on the wall and mounted beautifully to remind you just how incredible this time in life is daily.
Two Looks: How to Style Them
I always encourage couples to bring two outfit changes if the schedule allows. A great formula: one more elevated, polished look (think a silk dress and tailored blazer) and one that feels more relaxed and personal to you as a couple (your favorite jeans, a cashmere sweater, bare feet on the beach). This gives your gallery range and tells a fuller story. More personal.
A Note on Hair and Makeup
For summer sessions, I always recommend booking a professional for hair and makeup — not because you need to look like someone else, but because professional artistry simply holds differently in summer heat and humidity. You will feel more confident, and that confidence absolutely translates in your photographs.
Your Style Is a Love Language
Ultimately, the most important thing you can wear to your engagement session is something that feels completely like you. The couples whose images I am most proud of are the ones who showed up in clothes they actually love — clothes that tell something true about who they are. That authenticity is what makes an image timeless.
Curious about how to style your specific session? When you book your engagement session with Michelle Behre Photography, we walk through a full style consultation together — because every detail of your experience matters to me. Inquire here to get started.
Thoughtfully Curating Your Engagement
A season as fleeting and full as an engagement deserves to be documented with the same care and intention you are pouring into every detail of what comes next. These are the in-between days — the ones before the vows, before the flowers, before the first dance — and they are some of the most quietly beautiful of your entire love story. Do not let them pass without something to hold onto.
At Michelle Behre Photography, we specialize in capturing this chapter in a way that feels completely natural, refined, and true to who you are as a couple — never staged, only beautifully preserved. From guiding you through location and styling to moving through your session with a quiet, unhurried presence that lets real moments breathe, every part of the experience is curated with deep intention. What you walk away with is not just a gallery of images — it is the first chapter of a bespoke heirloom that will live in your home, in your albums, and in your family for generations.
If you are dreaming of an engagement session that is as effortless as it is extraordinary — images that stop the scroll and make you feel something every time you look at them — we would be truly honored to be part of your story. Inquire within for further details on availability.
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Meet Michelle
I believe in images that remind you of the joy found in the simplest moments. I believe in enjoying the wedding album on the anniversary and creating tradition surrounding this day.
New Jersey Wedding & Portrait Photographer
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