What to Wear to Your Photo Shoot
Hooray, you booked your photo shoot! You landed on a photographer that fits your style, your specialty, your budget…the hard part is done. All that’s left is, planning your wardrobe. Piece of cake!! I know, I know, picking out what to wear for a photo session is NOT easy and many people have no idea where to start. First, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Second, it doesn’t have to be that expensive. And third, sometimes photographers have either a style guide or a client closet to help their clients with this very thing.
Today, I want to share with you a simple set of guidelines of things to think about when planning your wardrobe for your next photo session, whether it be a portrait session or a family session. So sit back and take a deep breath…it’s going to be ok!
What TO Wear
Let’s start with the list of DO’s…
Keep Things Simple: Try to pick clothes with solid colors or small patterns / prints. We don’t want your outfit to be the first thing someone notices in your photo, rather we want to draw attention to your face and your emotion.
Be Flattered: Find clothing to wear that fits and is flattering to your shape, no matter what your shape! Fit is key, every figure can be flattered.
Get Natural: Your clothing, hair and makeup should accentuate your natural beauty, not detract from it with loud makeup colors and forced hairstyles. Think neutral face palettes and face framing hair!
Coordinate: This means that planning will be necessary before the day of. If you’re doing a group shoot, lay your outfits next to each other and see how they work (or don’t work). If you’re going for a certain vibe or color palette, make sure it goes well with your location.
Be You: You want your photos to match who you are. So as a last note of advice, don’t overthink it. In the end you know you best of all so dress in what makes you confident.
What NOT to Wear
Ok, that all sounds easy…what are the list of DON’Ts
Don’t wear logos, loud prints, bright / neon colors, character shirts, or words / phrases…just don’t!
Don’t dress too casually. A photo session isn’t a call to put on a tux and evening gown but it is a special occasion so think Sunday best.
Don’t do incredibly forced or overly styled hair. Unless it’s your signature look stay away from high ponytails or tight ballet buns or anything involving too much styling gel.
Don’t just throw caution to the wind. A photo session requires thoughtful consideration and planning, leaving your outfits to the last minute will make you all kinds of anxious. And in the end, what you thought would look good or good together may not be what you expected. So put some time into planning and you’ll be happy you did.
Don’t try anything new…at least not on the day of. No new clothing styles, no new hairstyles, no new makeup trends. This falls under careful planning but is worth mentioning all on it’s own. If you’re going to try anything new, please try it well ahead of time so you know exactly what you’re doing and how it will look.
Cute kids but logos, and neon colors are a big no-no!
Ask For Help
In the end, if you still have questions or concerns about choosing an outfit that’s right for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your photographer. Text outfit options to them, give them a Facetime call when you’re out shopping or maybe your photographer is willing to go with you. Remember, your photo session is an investment and a moment that you want to look back on and not regret that trendy hairstyle or that team logo on your shirt.
My personal preferences lean towards something with movement for ladies, like a maxi dress or a skirt with loose fabric, hair down and framing the face. That way if a gust of wind were to blow by it would catch the fabric and hair and create such beautiful movement in the photo. For the gentlemen, I like linen or khaki type pants with a button down, either short sleeve or long (with the cuffs rolled up, I love me a rolled up cuff).
I hope you found this helpful! When all is said and done, my main goal as a photographer is to draw attention to you or your family, to draw out emotion or make a connection with you through my lens…your clothing is a subtle compliment to who you are, not the main attraction.
All My Love,
