Your engagement session is the first time we photograph you and your partner together — and for many couples, it is the first professional portrait session they have ever had. I want you to walk away feeling completely stunning, completely yourselves, and completely at ease. Getting dressed for the occasion is a big part of making that happen.
This is the style guide I share with every client before their session — elevated, practical, and deeply personal.
The Philosophy
I approach engagement session styling the same way I approach everything else in my work: with intention. The goal is not to make you look like someone else’s engagement session. The goal is to create images that look unmistakably, beautifully yours — ten years from now, twenty years from now. That means choosing pieces that reflect who you actually are, styled in a way that photographs with sophistication and warmth.
For Her
The Dress: For summer sessions, I am obsessed with flowing midi and maxi dresses in silk, chiffon, or lightweight cotton. They move beautifully in the breeze, they catch golden light in the most extraordinary way, and they read as timeless in photographs. My favorite palette: warm whites and ivory, soft champagne, dusty rose, warm rust and terracotta, sage. These tones complement almost every skin tone beautifully in summer light.
The Alternative: If dresses are not your style, a beautifully tailored wide-leg trouser in linen or silk paired with an elevated top is equally stunning. Please do not wear anything that makes you feel unlike yourself — confidence always photographs better than a trend.
Jewelry: Keep it personal and meaningful. A delicate necklace, your grandmother’s earrings, a stack of rings that have a story. Avoid anything that looks costume-y or that will distract from your face.
Shoes: Comfortable ones, please! We will be walking. If you love heels, bring them for a few frames and flats for the rest. I have photographed many a beautiful engagement session in bare feet on the beach — there is something perfectly poetic about it.
Hair and Makeup: I strongly recommend professional hair and makeup for your engagement session. Summer heat and humidity can be unforgiving, and professional artistry holds differently than what we can achieve at home. More importantly, when you feel beautiful, it shows. Effortlessly, visibly, photographically — it shows.
For Him
The Look: I love when men dress with the same intention as their partner — not necessarily matching, but clearly coordinating. A well-fitted linen shirt in a soft neutral or pale stripe, paired with tailored trousers or clean chinos, reads as elevated and relaxed in equal measure. A blazer is never a bad idea and can always come off classic, elegant, tailored.
Color: Coordinate with your partner rather than matching. If she is in warm ivory, he might be in a soft oatmeal or warm tan. If she is in rust, he might be in a rich camel or earthy olive. The key is that you look like you belong together in the frame — visually harmonious without being identical.
Shoes: Clean, simple leather shoes or loafers for a polished look, or clean white sneakers if the setting and vibe calls for it. Leave the athletic shoes at home.
The Two-Look Formula
If your session is at least ninety minutes, I almost always recommend bringing a second outfit. My favorite formula:
Look 1: Elevated and romantic — this is your “elevated” look. The silk dress, the tailored suit, the intentional styling.
Look 2: Personal and relaxed — this is where your personalities come through. A favorite denim jacket, a cashmere crew, comfortable jeans, the boat shoes you actually live in while going to lunch at the club. This look often produces the images people love most.
One Final Thought
I have photographed hundreds of engagement sessions, and the couples whose images I am most proud of are rarely the ones who were dressed the most expensively. They are the ones who showed up with intention, with each other, and with a genuine openness to the experience. That is what creates extraordinary images.
Everything else — the outfits, the location, the light — is just the beautiful frame around your love story.
When you book your engagement session with Michelle Behre Photography, we work through a full style consultation together before your session date. I am here to help with everything — from specific outfit feedback to location scouting to building the perfect timeline for your day.
Inquire here to begin planning your session. I cannot wait to create something unforgettable with you.
Michelle Behre Photography | Luxury NJ & NYC Engagement Photographer | Serving New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania & Destinations Beyond
Thoughtfully Curating Your Moments
A moment this meaningful deserves to be remembered with intention. Whether you’re planning an intimate proposal and your wedding tucked within a quiet garden or a grand gesture overlooking sweeping views, having it documented allows you to relive the emotion for years to come.
At Michelle Behre Photography, we specialize in capturing proposals in a way that feels natural, refined, and true to you—so nothing feels staged, only beautifully preserved. From discreetly documenting the moment itself to guiding you through a just-engaged portrait session afterward, we ensure your experience feels effortless from beginning to end and curated with deep intention.
If you’re dreaming of a proposal that is not only unforgettable in the moment, but timeless in how it’s remembered, we would be honored to be part of your story, inquire within for further details on availability.
