So you’ve booked your photoshoot and inevitably you will think next, “What should I wear?”. This is one of the most common questions associated with any portrait session and we go over this in detail for your consultation. But, here are the main suggestions I always provide.
Keep it fitted
I cannot say this enough. Really this is the most important thing. Modern trends have us gravitating to flowy and super comfortable clothes. Which is awesome. I am definitely a fan of this movement. But, it does not photograph well. The tendency can be to hide ourselves behind tons of clothes, believing that hiding our figures will make us look more flattering. This is not the case. We look best in our photographs when we define the shape of our body.
This does not mean our clothes have to be fitted to us like shrink wrap, though. We can still enjoy a flowy skirt or pants, we just need to make sure our waist is defined. I almost always recommend a fitted bodice and sleeves. We want to be able to clearly see an hourglass shape starting to form.
Bring a variety
We often try to put ourselves in a box, especially when it comes to our personality. The idea that because you like one thing you cannot like another. But, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Just because you love jeans and a cozy sweater doesn’t mean you can’t also love that glamorous dress with a sequin bodice and tulle skirt. My sessions start at three wardrobe changes and go up from there. So make sure to let your creativity soar and pick a few different things. Even if you feel like “they don’t go together”. That is totally fine. This is your day and you can dress up or dress down to your heart’s content. We are capturing all of you not just one side.
Make sure you love it
It is crazy how quickly we can convince ourselves to wear something we think we should wear instead of something we love. Either we feel like there is nothing that will look good on us or we have let someone else talk us into something we do really want. If you have not found the outfits you truly love, keep looking. Check out Rent the Runway, head to local boutiques and thrift stores. Get in touch with me. I will often craft tulle skirts, headpieces and shoulder pieces for my clients. Do not settle on anything. Find those pieces that feel like you and that take your breath away.
Leave it simple
We want our outfit to be perfect and this can lead us to overthinking that whole thing. Maybe you feel like you need to pick something super trendy and bold to stand out. If that fits your personality, great! If not, decide on something else. Something that is super trendy or too bold will often be outdated the next year and leave you feeling disappointed about your images. Simple and classic pieces will leave your images with a timeless look and you can feel great about displaying them on your wall for years to come.
Coordinating not matching
If you are being photographed with others, this is the rule to keep in mind. Your family does not all have to wear the same color shirt or pants to have a put together family portrait. The goal is to coordinate colors. That way each member can express their individuality in their clothing, while still fitting in with the group. Not sure how to coordinate colors? Check out color palettes on Pinterest. This is a great start and there are thousands of ideas.
Another good rule of thumb with families is to stay away from patterns. To many patterns that do not coordinate with have your image looking chaotic and confusing. Have everyone pick out their favorite outfit, and lay them all out side by side. Do they all coordinate or are there some that clash? This can be a bit of work, but will absolutely pay off in the end.
Picking an outfit can be a major stressor for many people, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Let your creativity soar, pick out items that you are in love with and keep in mind a few simple guidelines. That’s all and you will have some epic pieces to wear the day of your photoshoot.
