Choosing an outfit for your engagement sessions can feel like a daunting task. I understand the struggles! So, for all of you Weisz Brides out there, here are some tips and tricks that will prepare you for your engagement session! I’m sharing some additional tips that I’ve never shared before!!

1. Most of my couples have two outfits for their engagement session. One outfit is normally on the dressier side and one outfit is more relaxed and casual. The more outfits you have, the fewer portraits you’ll receive but you will have more variety in your portraits.

2. Coordinating doesn’t mean “matching”. Wearing the same color in a different shade is actually more ideal than trying to find the EXACT color purple! For example, I would avoid both wearing navy tops and khaki bottoms because it could potentially come across as being very uniform-esque!

3.  If one of you is wearing something with a lot of color and pattern, sometimes it’s best to have the other person wear a neutral to tone it down a bit.

4. This is just an idea! Take it or leave it! Some couples plan their attire to coordinate with their wedding day so that their Save The Dates match the wedding theme and decor!

5. Don’t over think it! Some of my favorite outfits have been when the guy is just wearing a simple colored v-neck!

6. Make sure you are equal when it comes to how formal your attire is. If the bride is wearing a little black dress…. the groom probably shouldn’t be in shorts and tennis shoes. 🙂

7. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and wear something that is unique to you! It’s great to wear blazer and teeshirt…. that’s probably what I would wear!… but if you have a unique style, be sure to show it off! Some of my favorite engagement shoots have incorporated my couple’s unique style!

8. If you’re wearing plaid or other patterns, the bigger the better!! This is just a personal preference.  However, it is true that larger plaid photographs better than tiny little-checkered patterns. It would be better to have a solid dress shirt than a shirt with teeny tiny patterns. The camera can’t pick those tiny patterns up from far away and that can sometimes result in CHROMATIC ABERRATION.

9. Accessorize! Scarves, necklaces, belts…. I love them all! They can add so much to an outfit AND it gives you something to hold onto if you don’t have long hair!

10. Last but not least, this is a tip that I highly recommend paying attention to: Wear attire that is flattering to your figure and your skin tone. It seems like common sense but I’m guilty of this all of the time. We all know that everyone has certain things that look GREAT on them and certain things that aren’t really made for them. For example… the past couple of years I have been pretty pale… mostly from sitting in the hospitals. I’ve accepted it… that’s the season I was in… and because of that, I also know that wearing a strapless, pale yellow sundress for a portrait session is NOT IDEAL! I also know that I personally never LOVE the way I look in pictures in sleeveless shirts. Why? I don’t know! I’m fine with my arms…. but I just don’t like that look! So if I were to have a portrait session with Justin… I wouldn’t wear a sleeveless shirt.

It’s a compliment to say “Oh, well Chelsy will make it look amazing”…. but the truth is, if you don’t like the way you look in stripes on a normal, day-to-day basis, you’re not going to love the way you look in your images that I take. If you’re self conscious about your legs, don’t wear a mini-skirt. If you’re self-conscious about your arms, it’s probably not smart to wear a tube top…. not that those are even “in” anyway (thank goodness). Bottom line, make sure you wear something that you’re comfortable in. Sure, I’m going to teach you how to pose in super flattering ways, but you’ll love your images so much more if you wear an outfit that you’re comfortable and CONFIDENT in!! Confidence photographs well!! 😉

BONUS TIP!!! :
If you want extra ROMANTIC images, consider wearing something long and FLOWY! I absolutely love photographing fabric that flows in the wind! Also, light & neutral colors allow images to appear more light and airy no matter what the weather is like!

This information is actually coming straight from my new Bridal Guide! I love giving our brides resources to help them feel prepared and ready for their experience with me!

Meet Chelsy

After being a professional photographer for over 5 years, you would think that I would grow weary of weddings, right?! The reality is, I have seen and photographed it all and

the more that I shoot, the more that I fall in love with this job! The joy, the excitement, the feminine details, the tears, the dances with daddy, the portraits that take your breath away…. I love it all. Even after 5 years, I still can’t get over the fact that I have been trusted with preserving over 50 weddings!! I don’t take my job lightly.

From 2016-2018 I stood by my husband, Justin, as he battled an infection after the placement of a new heart valve. He had the valve replaced 3 times, and just recently had his sternum removed after the infection took hold in his bone. Throughout the entire journey, we clung to God and each other. Having someone to stand by your side through thick and thin is one of the best things in life. I am so honored that I get to document couples as they stand before God, their family, and friends, and vow to stand side by side.

Before every wedding day begins I sit in the car and I pray for the couple, their families and for the ability to capture my couple’s celebration with excellence and creativity! Besides raising our daughter, Skyler, and son Grayson photographing weddings is truly one of the most rewarding parts of my life! The friendships and experiences that are created with my Weisz Couples last far beyond the wedding day and I believe that’s how it should be! I am excited for you to keep scrolling to learn more about how being a Weisz Bride isn’t your typical photography experience; it’s so much more!

Check out my recent weddings here!