What to Wear

 

What to Wear….

How to look your best for your pictures

  

Once you’ve set the date for your photography session, if you’re anything like me, you start stressing about your families wardrobe. I’m frequently asked for suggestions on how to pick out the perfect color scheme, style, and how to make the most of your clothing choices. I decided to put together a guide for your convenience; tips I’ve picked up along the way and suggestions from other photographers.

Say No to Neon!

Florescent colors clash in portraits. They tend to cast harsh color on anything nearby; including faces and hair. Try to stick with rich primary colors(mustard yellow or maroon) or something jewel toned (royal blue). While I’m on the topic of color choices, make sure you steer clear of wearing a lot of green if you’re getting your pictures done in grassy/wooded areas. Too much green will give you sickly coloring and you want to stand out from all that greenery.

 

Patterns are good….keep it simple though

Adding a pattern can provide visual appeal to your pictures, but you need to be careful you don’t overdue it. Only one person should wear the pattern while the rest of your group wears more solid color pieces or very subtle & complimentary patterns.

 

Coordinate vs Matching

Simply put, coordinating is best, but matching is….. doable. An easy way to start coordinating is to choose your “center piece”, such as a dress or colorful top, that includes the color palette you want to use. The rest of your groups clothing and accessories can then be pulled from that palette; keeping those outfits simple. Do this with a neutral and a few colorful brights, or a softer palette that has different tonal ranges of the same shade. If you must use matching colors, try to break it up with some color pops in the form of scarfs or chunky jewelry for example.

 

Layers, Layers, & More Layers

I love how layers add dimension and interest. Try using different textures in your layers such as crochet, lace, ruffles, suede, etc. If you have multiple layers, you can get a different look throughout your session by removing and exchanging those layers. Layering can be done by adding vests, cardigans, belts, statement necklaces, scarves, hats, blazers, etc.

 

Be comfortable but not too casual

If you wear something you are not comfortable in, it will be apparent in your pictures. Let your personality shine! If you don’t care for dresses, rock a cute pair of capris or skinny jeans. Not a suit kind of guy? Still keep it dressy with a button down shirt or something business casual. It might go without saying, buuuut I’m saying it; NO graphic, logo, character shirts; NO sneakers; NO accessories that distract from the overall look (ie that dreaded hairband around the wrist or braided ankle bracelet) If it’s not complimentary to your look, remove it; NO obvious trends that will date your pictures (every decade has one! LOL)

 

I hope this was helpful in getting you started. As always, I encourage you to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns about getting ready for your photo session. I want you to have an exciting and fun experience. What I don’t want is for it to feel like a chore or something to mark off your honey-do list! This is a stress-free zone!