via emilia jane

What do you get when you mix beach with a little touch of vintage and a whole lotta love? Really, really FUN engagement sessions like the inspirational images pictured. I am absolutely in love with the throwback swimsuits and classic colors. Scroll down to find the best resources for bathing suits, oversized hats and more! And if you'd like to book your vintage beach engagement session, shoot me an e-mail!

via jose villa

via justin dumitiis

via britt chudley

Below are some of what I think are the best bathing suits for an engagement session. If you wore any of these engagement session bathing suits they would all photograph really well! Each has a unique detail and just enough of that classic vintage bathing suit style! Links below!

1. Shoulder Tie Stripe One Piece//2. Red Halter Bow One Piece//3. Scalloped Two Piece//4. Floral Halter One Piece//5. Garden Party Underwire One Piece//6. Pink Sands Black Bow One Piece//7. Floral Plunge One Piece//8. Pale Blue Crochet One Piece//9. Medallion Lace Black One Piece//10. Floral + Mesh One Piece// 11. Watercolor Floral One Piece//12. Stripe Two Piece

Next up are some of my favorite accessories for a beach or seaside engagement session. A great cover up, pair of shades or sandals are all you need! These sessions are so perfect because they are so simple, yet so chic!

1. Cat Eye Sunglasses//2. White & Gold Cat Eye Glasses//3. St. Tropez Straw Tote//4. Calypso Cover Up//5. Braided Leather Wedge//6. Pink Tote//7. Textured Black Straw Hat//8. Pink Sunglasses//9. Hello Summer Hat//10. Floppy Stripe Hat//11. Espadrille Wedge//12. Ethereal Cover Up

Ready to book your beach session? Whether you want to celebrate your engagement on Lake Michigan or schedule an anniversary session in Malibu, I would love to chat with you about it! E-mail me today to book your beach session!

Stripes are such a fun element to incorporate in your engagement session outfit. If we are heading to the beach or ocean, it is an easy choice. I especially love the carefree and playful vibe we get including striped options. Guys, you have it easy. There are lots of great choices. Here is one of my favorite outfits for guys right now. The wooden sunglasses and hook wrap bracelet are so fun. Add a seersucker pant, casual hoodie and boat shoes and you have a fantastic outfit! 

For the girls, I think a stripe dress is always so classic. Stripes can also be really flattering and add curves in the right places, and hide areas you may feel self conscious about. The first dress below, by Gap, is one of my very favorites right now. I just ordered it for myself and can't wait to wear it this summer! 

Swimsuit sessions? Yes and please. I am pretty obsessed with one piece swimsuits and oversized hats. These sessions can be SO fun and can range from classic and editorial to super fun (donut floatie anyone?) Here are some favorite striped suits...

Next up, ROMPERS. Rompers are sort of my very favorite thing and I get so excited when a client wears one for a session. You can't get much more fun and trendy than that! Here are some of my very favorite striped rompers below...

If these stripes caught your eye and you want to incorporate it into your session just shoot me an e-mail and we can chat details!  

via Jose Villa

I am so excited to launch a new blog series here at Ashley Slater Photography where I can share engagement session style, trends, tips and more! Engagement sessions are always so much fun for me and I absolutely recommend them (and include them!) in all my wedding packages. If you want to read my in-depth reasons you can do that here, but to summarize: I don't want your wedding day to be the first day we work together (no pressure, right?!) and I also love using the engagement session time to see how you photograph and how your personality naturally plays to the camera.

I also really love that an engagement session can speak to your style as a couple. Adventurous? Let's go swimming in Lake Michigan for part of your session. Fun-loving? Let's grab some ice cream and hop around the city. Romantic? Let's put on a tulle skirt, suit and get super dreamy. That brings me to this edition of engagement session style: tulle skirts! You can take one look at my website and you know that classic romance is one of my very favorite things. I love adding that element of timelessness by encouraging my couples to pull out all the stops and really get fancy for part of their sessions. As a wedding film photographer, the way this medium captures movement and color is beyond words. Film almost begs for textures that move, breathing life into photos. Just take a look at some of my favorite tulle inspiration and you'll see what I mean...

See all of Maryal & Chris's Phoenix engagement session here. 

via Jana Williams

As you can see, a tulle skirt can be worn in a variety of ways to exude different moods. I love the black mini with the classic car and how it is just the right amount of edgy. I also love the whimsy of the lavender skirt with the floral element. And sunset on the beach in blush pink? Yes, please. Below are some of my favorite skirts and where to get them... if you have a session coming up with my shoot me an e-mail and we can brainstorm your engagement session vision together! 

Click the arrows to scroll some of my faves!