Cannon Beach is a coastal gem located in northwest Oregon. It embodies everything you could want in an engagement session, with gorgeous scenery, an air of tranquility, beautiful weather, and endless options for photos. Opting for a beach location for your engagement photo shoot is ideal for cultivating a personalized look as you embrace a variety of looks for the ultimate experience. The outfits you two select will be one of the highlights of your photos, so planning for the unique styles you want to embody in your shoot is key! For each of my clients, I send over a style guide to help prepare you for your session and assist in deciding on the looks for the shoot. Below are some of my tips and tricks for nailing your engagement shoot looks, just like I told my couple for their Cannon Beach engagement session pictured below!

Why Styling Matters for your engagement session

Believe it or not, your outfit can truly make or break your photos! A HUGE reason why people are drawn to my photos is because of my specific style. Even though it may seem counterintuitive, it is best not to match both of your outfits perfectly. Wearing the exact same color can create one-dimensional photos that lack excitement and honestly can feel flat! By focusing on a specific color pallet, you can be confident that your outfits work well together while adding texture and dimension to the photos.

A good rule of thumb to accomplish this is by choosing a neutral-like palette that can be altered slightly to accommodate each other’s choices. An example of this could be a cream or white palette, coordinated with another light color such as khaki or tan. Then, add in a pop of each other’s palette to tie it all in. This could be tan heels or a light colored shirt or jacket. This way, the looks are cohesive, but you avoid the matchy-matchy feel that leaves much to be desired in the final photos.

Add In Details

A great way to spice up an ensemble without actually changing the entire outfit is to add layering pieces. Adding a jacket with a subtle pattern / texture, or wide brim hat will accessorize your look without being too distracting. Adding these smaller pieces in and then removing them gives you variety and flexibility in your photos.

Embrace Your Unique Style for your session

It can be easy to fall into the pressure of cultivating the most unique and exciting outfit for your engagement shoot. While it is essential to make sure you’re dressing up and feeling your best, it’s equally important to ensure you’re comfortable in whatever you choose to wear. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a fun change of pace, but not at the expense of your comfort. If you’re a couple that doesn’t enjoy dressing up, there is no need to feel any pressure to do so. You want your photos to capture who you truly are as a couple. This means sticking to outfit choices that will have you feeling like the best version of yourself, and the natural photos that follow will showcase precisely how great you both felt.

My Favorite Places to Shop for outfits

If you choose to buy some new pieces to wear for your engagement shoot, here are some of my favorite places to shop for elevated basics for photos! Abercrombie, Reformation, Aritzia, Lulus, Zara.

Need more inspo for your engagement session outfits? Check out this blog post!