What to wear to your photoshoot…
March 25, 2024
Why color matters and the “do’s & don’ts” of picking outfits
Color matters! What you wear in your photos truly influences the feel of the final image. Remember, the main reason we take pictures is to capture a moment in time. We should try our best not to distract from that by making smart outfit decisions. Generally speaking, bold and busy patterns, shirts with logos and wording and sometimes even dark colors can really ruin your photos.
The most common question I receive from clients after booking a session is, “What do we wear?!” Of course my number one response is to please dress like yourself! If you try to achieve something out of your comfort zone, you might miss out on easygoing/authentic photos. We don’t want that. Be you! However, I do have lots of thoughts on what looks best in photos and here are some points to consider when planning yours:
-DO go with neutrals. They make for timeless, classic and clean photos. Think pastels and earthy tones like ivory, pale pink, dusty rose, rust etc. Avoid vivid/brilliant colors.
-DON’T let everyone in your group wear dark clothing. One or two members can totally get away with some black, navy blue or dark gray but balance it out by adding light colors throughout.
-DON’T match colors perfectly between each person. Rather, pick colors that compliment each other! For example, don’t put everyone in sky blue. Pick one or two people who will wear sky blue and put the others in navy, ivory, rust or gray. I like to use a master bedroom as an example. Our accent wall behind the bed is a smoke green so I chose an off-white comforter with tiny mustard colored detailing and added beige and tan colored pillows to compliment the green. It works great!
-DON’T wear pure white, neons or large patterns (some patterns like small florals or designs are fine but keep that to maybe one or two people in your group to avoid clashing). Opt for ivory, cream or bone instead of pure white.
-DO pick something comfortable to wear. Your whole body will be photographed in some capacity during the session so consider everything from head to toe.
-Ladies, DO more than normal with your hair and makeup. Don’t try anything new like a bold smoky eye if you’ve never worn eye shadow but adding some color and coverage to your complexion will go a long way! Most importantly, DO add a bit of color to your lips! No, it doesn’t have to be a bright lipstick but a tinted chapstick or gloss will add definition and dimension. Highly recommend this!
-DO iron or steam your clothes to remove wrinkles.
-DON’T wear watches unless they are fashionable. Men, remove wallets and phones from pockets.
This family nailed it! It’s a lovely color scheme especially for fall and each outfit compliments the others.
Another stunning outfit choice here…both are wearing green but different shades that look beautiful side by side.
Look how sweet these sisters are in their muted pastels! In my opinion, these are the best colors for those late summer sessions against green foliage.
Most people say…
If you’re anything like me, sometimes you don’t know where to start with planning outfits! Well, I polled my followers on Instagram and found that most people search Pinterest or Instagram for outfit inspiration. Definitely lots of images to peruse there that will help spark creativity!
If you’re taking photos with a group or even a significant other, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed but start with yourself! Some people with children prefer to plan around their outfits and I completely understand. Kid clothing is so darn cute! But pick maybe one child to build off of to reduce stress. Building around one outfit is easier than multiple at a time.
So many people prefer shopping online nowadays and I have to agree! It’s so convenient and most retailers have easy return policies if something doesn’t work out. Here are the most common online retailers according to my followers! :
Altar’d State
Banana Republic
Loft
Nordstrom
Old Navy
Revolve
Soft Surroudings
Vici
Color pallets I love:
The pallets below are neutrals and earth tones that photograph really well especially in nature! Remember (for professional photos) we want to avoid bold colors like vivid purples, reds, oranges etc.
