Engagement Photo Outfit Inspiration for your San Antonio Engagement Session

Engagement, Wedding Resources

A man and woman walk along a path holding hands

Believe it or not, my favorite part of being a San Antonio wedding photographer isn’t actually taking photos. It’s helping couples feel fully seen, supported, and confident in front of the camera. Because then, and only then, do you get photos that capture the heart of who you are and the joy of your relationship! 

However, I know that getting in front of the camera can feel really intimidating. This is why I include engagement sessions in all of my wedding photography packages! Engagement sessions are a chance for you and your partner to get to know me and my style, and practice being photographed in a low-pressure environment. Plus, you get some super cute photos out of it. 

While your engagement session is about much more than what you wear, I know from firsthand experience that having a cute outfit on can make you feel 10x more confident. So in this blog, I want to share some tried-and-true advice for choosing your engagement photo outfits—with inspo photos, of course! 

A woman proposes to her girlfriend by writing "Will you marry me?" on a coffee cup.
A redheaded woman and a man in a cowboy hat stand in a golden field of wheat
A man in a patterned suit proposed to his boyfriend in front of a waterfall

How To Choose Your Engagement Photo Outfits 

My goal here is to make choosing your engagement photo outfits easier, not more overwhelming. So let me start by saying this: there is no right or wrong way to dress for your engagement session. You can wear a ballgown, or you can wear your comfiest pair of denim. 

I spend a lot of time working with you to plan a session that feels exciting, and the outfits are really only a small part of that. It’s more about finding a location that feels significant, or planning around an activity that you love. The outfits become easier when we hone in on who you and your partner are and the things that you enjoy. 

But still, I’ve had many days where opening my closet and trying to choose an outfit felt next to impossible, so here are some suggestions to help you pick something you’ll feel good in! 

A girl in a Texas sweatshirt and a boy in a casual coat sits on the steps of a hunting lodge with their dog
A man and woman sit on a white picnic blanket on green grass

Dress for the Location 

Usually the most fun part of planning your engagement session is choosing where you want to have it! You can have an at-home session, go to a park, your favorite bar, plan a picnic, walk around downtown, go to a record store… Seriously, we can do whatever you want.

Pick a location that you’re naturally comfortable in. If you love the outdoors, let’s go for a hike! If you’re big city people, let’s head downtown. Think about the things that you love to do together. Treat it like a date, and you’ll forget I’m even there. 

Once you know where you want to have your session, choosing your outfit gets a whole lot easier. I recommend picking an outfit that matches the vibe of your location. And the best part is that my engagement sessions are super customizable, so you can pick multiple locations and multiple outfits! Most couples aim for one “day date” type of outfit, and another fancier date night fit. But it’s completely up to you. 

Oh, and if you’re not sure where you want to have your session, I have dozens of engagement photo location suggestions in San Antonio and Austin! 

In a field during sunset, a man picks up a woman and spins her around
A man in a blue shirt with khaki pants leads a woman in a white dress through a field
Bar engagement photos of a man in a suit and a woman in a white mini dress
A man and woman smile as they lean into a kiss at a bar in Texas

Embrace the Season

When are you planning your session? Knowing what the general temperature will be will also help you pick your engagement photo outfits. The whole goal of these photos is to capture what this season of life feels like, so lean into the vibes! 

Spring and pastels are perfect together, while winter lets you get cozy with thick sweaters and velvety textures. Summer sundresses are a personal favorite, while fall brings out those reds and oranges that are just stunning. I had one couple get married near the fourth of July, so they added some patriotic elements to their engagement outfits, too. 

While it can help you narrow down your options to lean into the season, you don’t have to, either. You can wear whatever you want whenever you want. All of these suggestions are just suggestions, and you should wear whatever you like best.

An engaged couple poses at San Antonio Botanical Gardens during an engagement session
A Gay couple kisses in front of a vine-covered wall
A lesbian couple walks through the wintry woods in a tweed jacket and velvet dress

Make it Personal

Too much scrolling on Pinterest might make you think there are only three possible engagement photo outfits. But your engagement session is about you, and you should embrace your own personal style. Lean into what you love, whether that’s bright colors, edgy vibes, or jeans and a flannel. 

I also love it when couples include sentimental or cultural elements to their outfits. Addison and Kathryn each wore an article passed down from their grandmothers! Sirena wore tops with butterfly sleeves which are traditional in her Filipino culture, and Shauna and Chris took a few photos wearing tees from the camp they met at. Wear what makes you happy, and that happiness will show in your photos. 

A lesbian couple embraces on the stairs near The Pearl in San Antonio
A young couple wears staff tee shirts from a camp in front of a wall of vines
An engaged couple embraces on a bridge

Choose Complementary Outfits 

You don’t have to match with your partner, but sometimes wearing complementary outfits can really elevate your engagement photos. Find elements that can play off of each other, like orange ties but with different patterns. A great way to do this is to pull a couple colors from one partner’s outfit and build the other outfit around them. You can complement a more patterned outfit with a more monochromatic one, or go full pattern-on-pattern! 

A man and woman sit on a couch in front of a bookcase. The woman is wearing an embroidered white dress and boots. The man is wearing a casual white button up shirt with jeans,
A lesbian couple holds hands beneath colorful paper flags in Texas
Two men in patterned suits embrace while surrounded by nature

Your Engagement Session, Your Way 

If you haven’t picked up on this yet, I really love engagement sessions. I love the laid-back atmosphere. I love getting to know my couples. And I love taking photos that feel like you. 

Every single engagement session is built around you. They can be short and sweet, or we can take a bit longer to meander around! The one thing you can count on is that it will be fun, relaxing, and made for you. 

So if you don’t want to dress up, you don’t have to. If you’re not really into PDA, you don’t have to kiss! We talk through all of these things long before the session so that you can feel confident and excited about your session.

“I’m originally from San Antonio and wanted to take our engagement photos while visiting from Phoenix. Leah was incredible! She put us at ease (neither of us have had professional photos taken before) with gentle guidance to try different poses. What I loved is that she also captured our silly moments and even encouraged them! I’m so grateful to have these memories. Thank you!”

Amanda & Ben

A headshot of wedding photographer Leah Thomason, a Caucasian woman with curly blonde hair wearing a tee shirt and a silk skirt

My one and only request for you is that you talk to me. It’s my job to help you feel good in your photos, and I’m best at my job when I know how you’re thinking and feeling about it. I believe in open communication, starting from the very beginning! You can explore my custom packages here, and inquire to start building your wedding and engagement experience.  

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