Portrait Style Guide

Close-up of the lower bodies and feet of a couple standing on asphalt pavement, with the woman wearing beige open-toe heels and a green dress, and the man wearing white sneakers and black pants.

Your portrait session is meant to be relaxed and enjoyable. We love outfits that truly reflect you. Everyday looks that freeze this time in your life, as you are.

Footwear is one of the most important elements to think about. We do a fair amount of walking so please choose shoes you can walk comfortably in for a couple of hours. If you bring a spare pair of shoes and change them every time we move locations, it will affect the flow of the session and make it feel more like a production. I recommend finding a comfortable pair of shoes and base your outfit around that.

Anther thing to consider when choosing your outfits is how to compliment each other without being too ‘matchy’. We lean toward neutral colors and small prints rather than bold, busy patterns. If one wants to wear a print, say a floral dress, or a striped shirt, consider the other wearing a solid color that goes with it.

Style-wise, you want to both match the overall feel of your look. I always think a more casual look photographs best for engagement shoots, because you will be more comfortable and yourself, rather than an outfit that makes you feel stiff and awkward. For men, if you want to do a collared shirt, consider one with texture, like linen, knit or flannel. It will give a softer, more relaxed look to your pictures. All this being said, we want your photographs to reflect the real you, so go with whatever you love the most.

You are more than welcome to do an outfit change halfway through. Sometimes outfits photograph differently than you think they might so it’s nice having variety in the pictures.

Take a look through the slideshow at the bottom of this page for some examples and ideas.

Things we like —

  • neutrals and soft colors

  • subtle patterns

  • textured fabrics - like linen

  • layers

  • fashion sneakers

  • your favorite jeans

  • comfy t-shirts

  • soft dresses

  • bare feet

  • sun hats

  • heels / boots / sandals

Things to avoid —

  • tees with logos

  • flip flops

  • clothes that may unintentionally show bra straps or undergarments

  • athletic sneakers

  • hair ties on your wrist

  • wrinkled clothes

  • Apple Watch

  • things in your pockets

  • baggy clothes

  • All black clothes

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A man and woman holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes against a clear sky at dusk.
A smiling couple embracing outdoors on a grassy field with a cloudy sky in the background.
A smiling couple holding hands and walking outdoors in a park with trees and a picnic table in the background.
A couple standing close together outdoors in a wooded area with autumn leaves on the ground and sunlight filtering through the trees.
A man and woman standing outdoors in a grassy field with trees in the background, smiling at the camera.
A couple standing on a forest trail, smiling and holding hands, during autumn with trees and fallen leaves around.
A man and woman holding hands on a forest trail, surrounded by green trees and sunlight, with the woman dressed in a white dress and heels, and the man in a white shirt and jeans.
A happy couple sitting on a park bench, smiling and enjoying each other's company, with greenery and pink flowers in the background.
A couple holding hands and walking outdoors on a sunny day in a park or plaza surrounded by trees.
A couple embracing outdoors in a forested area with sunlight filtering through the trees, smiling at each other.
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A smiling woman with long brown hair and tattoos, wearing a green shirt and a floral skirt, stands next to a smiling man with glasses and a gray shirt, outdoors in a wooded area with sunlight filtering through the trees.
A smiling woman and man holding hands, looking at each other outdoors on a grassy field on a sunny day.
A couple kissing in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall trees and green foliage.
A man and woman lying on the grass, facing each other, in a park with a wooden fence and trees in the background, sharing an intimate moment.
A young couple holding hands and facing each other on a garden path with trees and shrubs, sunlight coming through the leaves.
A man and woman standing together in front of a small white shed with a tree overhead, surrounded by greenery and brick pathway.
A couple dancing and smiling in a forest with autumn leaves, sunlight shining through the trees.
A young couple walks arm in arm along a garden pathway, smiling and enjoying each other's company outside a modern house surrounded by greenery.
A young couple in a forest, sharing a joyful moment, with the man giving the woman a piggyback ride, both smiling.
A young couple outdoors, the woman on the man's back in a piggyback ride, smiling and laughing, in a grassy field with a fence and hills in the background.
A couple holding hands and smiling outdoors in a forest with tall trees and sunlight filtering through.
Two people holding hands outdoors at sunset, with sunlight shining between them.
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Two women walking hand in hand through a grassy field, smiling at each other during a sunset, with trees in the background.
A couple looking at each other with smiles, standing close against a plain background.
A young couple kissing on a cozy window seat, surrounded by plants and pillows, with snow outside the window.
A couple standing on a rocky shoreline holding hands, near the water.