What to Wear to a Photo Shoot

Before a shoot, clients often ask me what they should wear.  So I thought I would share a few tips for all of you here on my blog so you can look great the next time you decide to have some photos taken!

Solids over prints.

I’ll always suggest solids first. The right print can look great, but more often I will suggest that a client wear a solid color. Bold prints can look very busy and distract the viewer from the focus of the photo, you.

Color is your friend.

I love a nice bright, rich color that really pops photos. Lighter brights stand out but aren’t too distracting (for example, no neon greens and yellows). Even white looks great and can feel fresh. Remember where you are shooting and what will be your background. You don’t want to match or blend into your background. And if you have a favorite color that you just love, wear it!

Don’t be too matchy matchy.

For group family portraits, you can certainly match if that’s truly what you want, but in my opinion simple color coordination is all that’s needed. You could choose pastels, for example, and everyone can stick to that color palette but not wear the exact same color. Or choose a color combination that you like, just as you would do for a wedding, and have everyone in the family dress any way they want, but using only those color options. The main thing is you want to complement each other, not look identical.

Comfort is key.

If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of walking during your photo session, laying on the ground, getting wet…anything at all, you’ll want to be comfortable in what you’re wearing. If you have a pair of heels that you’re dying to wear for your photos, it might be a good idea to have a pair of flats with you just in case. And as they always say, if you’re comfortable, you’ll feel more confident and it will show in your photos. So, look nice, even dress up if you like, but don’t wear something if it makes you self-conscious or you know you’re going to have to keep adjusting it during your shoot.

On location and in season.

Think about the location and the season. If you’re shooting outside you don’t want to freeze if the temperatures have been dropping. Likewise, in the summer when it’s extremely hot outside, you don’t want to wear a fabric that isn’t breathable.

Be yourself!

The most important piece of advice I can share is to just be yourself. The above are all great tips, but for any portrait session, the focus is YOU and you want your personality to shine through.