Engagement Session:
Attire and Makeup Guide
Engagement hair and makeup is an important aspect of your engagement photography. Every couple wants to have amazing engagement photos, which is why location and concepts play such a crucial role. Aside from that, it’s also important for the couple to look their best and still feel comfortable during their engagement shoot to make sure that the photos are beautiful, but still as natural as possible. We have several tips which can help you as you prepare for your engagement session with your photographer.
What to wear for your engagement photography
Choose appropriate colors for your outfits.
It’s important to wear something that makes you feel comfortable, but still look amazing. As a rule of thumb, solid colors are best. Patterns and prints that aren’t too loud can still work. Pastels, cool colors and neutral tones are perfect and can complement plenty of locations and themes. Creating a brief color scheme can help you feel less overwhelmed as you open your wardrobe to determine which outfits you want to wear for your engagement photos.
Engagement photography on Oahu mountain trail
Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Be selective with your clothing choices.
We recommend choosing classic pieces that fit your personal style and make you feel most like you. It’s important to feel comfortable, but not look sloppy and under-dressed. Search your closet for pieces that make you feel and look amazing and fits the concept you want to achieve for your engagement shoot. Also, almost everyone has that one item in their closet that they’re waiting to use for a special occasion and this just might be it.
Dress for the weather and the scenery!
The beautiful thing about having your engagement shoot in Hawaii is not just the beautiful scenery, but this is the perfect time to pull out those cool and pretty summer pieces. You can take out an airy and flowy skirt or dress, and it will look amazing on a tropical backdrop. Bottom line, make sure your outfits are aligned and in tune with your engagement session location and setting.
Beach appropriate engagement photography attire
Select appropriate footwear and shoes
For shoes, a nice clean pair of sandals, fashionable boots, shoes with kitten heels can be comfortable options for you to wear. If you’re doing an engagement shoot on a sandy beach, we find that couples love going barefoot and that it looks amazing on photos as well.
Engagement photography and picnic in the woods
Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Accessorize according to your theme and personal style
Accessories are helpful and can add a bit of flair to your photos. You can bring a variety of accessories that reflect your individual styles to the shoot and incorporate into your outfits. However, it’s important not to overdo the accessories. Select accessories that can enhance your look, not completely hijack it.
It would also be a good idea to bring a small collection of props that fit your personalities to help tell a story. Props can help add a touch of creativity to your engagement photos. Are you both avid readers? Bring your favorite books. Do you both love the outdoors? Bring a picnic basket, or a bicycle. Use props that revolve around activities you love to do together.
Beach Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Keep outfits changes to a minimum
Try to limit your outfits to two or 3 sets, at most. It is great to have the option to dress down and to dress up Just be sure you are communicating with your photographers that you want to have outfit changes so they can plan for it. Having too many sets on hand can cause everyone to be in a rush, using up precious time and daylight to change into different sets of clothing. Remember that your engagement shoot is a time for you and your spouse-to-be to remember who you are as a couple.
Beach Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Engagement Makeup Tips
Your engagement shoot is the perfect time to do a trial with your wedding hair and makeup artist on Oahu. Locating a professional makeup artist specializing in bridal looks is the easiest route, but we also have several tips to help make the process easier if things don’t go according to plan, or if you decide to do your engagement makeup on your own.
Skin, the canvas
Doing your makeup is much easier when your skin is in good shape and well taken care of. On the weeks leading up to your engagement session, make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep, keeping yourself hydrated, wearing sunblock, and regularly doing basic skin care (cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize!). Avoid late nights, as this is a surefire way to get oily skin, which makes for unflattering photos. This is also the time to avoid trying out new products that may cause irritation, redness or peeling. Stick with items your skin is already familiar with. Making sure your skin is in the best state it can be helps ensure that product applies to your skin well and evenly.
Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Use concealer to reduce shadows
The camera can easily emphasize flaws and dark spots. You can use a light shade of concealer to minimize dark undereyes, fine lines, and crevices. After applying concealer, apply foundation all over the face including the lips using upward strokes. You can use bronzer to the sides of the nose to minimize width and a dark shade of blush to enhance your cheekbones.
Engagement photography by HNL Studios
Avoid overly dark eyeliners and eyeshadows
Use a smoky colored or brown eyeliner pencil to apply eyeliner to your lash line above the eyes and the outer corners. Any harsh lines can be lightened or softened by dabbing a light pink blush using a powder brush. Neutral and nude eyeshadow palettes can create a beautiful natural look for your engagement photos, without looking too dressy or over the top.
Use setting powder
You definitely want your makeup to last hours. While simple retouches may be unavoidable, you can reduce this by using a good setting powder to help your base makeup “set” and hold. This prevents your base makeup from rubbing or melting off and can help reduce shine for a long lasting look. Focus on areas of your face that tend to produce excess oil and shine, and apply sparingly to dry areas. You can bring translucent powder to reduce any slight shine that still occurs. Also bring blush, and lipstick for quick retouches as these fade fast.
Keshia is a lifestyle writer and the Studio Manager at HNL Studios offering wedding photography, videography, and photobooth. You can find her at home watching Korean dramas, experimenting with different ways to brew coffee, or playing The Legend of Zelda or Stardew Valley on the Nintendo Switch with her hubby Billy. She is an avid fan of fountain pens and have used them exclusively as her writing tool of choice since 2013. Follow HNL Studios on Instagram at: @HNLStudios
