Here’s What to Wear to Your Photoshoot
As a photographer, I love getting this question.
Not only because I love clothes. I also love when a client wants to look and feel their best during their session.
With all the talk about color theory and trendy patterns like polka-dots (yes, I believe polka-dots are timeless, but they are certainly having a moment in fashion), it can be tricky to determine what to wear for your upcoming photo session. You want a true representation of how you present yourself while looking great at the same time! Here is how I like to guide my clients when they ask this question — and it’s a great question!
Above all — be who you are!
Prioritize comfort.
Dress for the weather
You don’t want to look back on your photos in a couple of weeks, months, years, etc. and not recognize yourself or your style. There’s also absolutely no need to go shopping for a new outfit before your session. Reach for the vintage dress you love, the sweater you always get compliments on, or the pieces you like to wear over and over again. I had a bride-to-be recently wear cowboy boots with red heart decals to her engagement session. She looked so effortless and unique!
Comfort is key, especially for the little ones. It’s going to be obvious if they’re wearing an itchy sweater during the family session. The hack to this is prioritizing natural fibers: cotton, linen, silk, and avoiding plastic: polyester, nylon, and spandex. Make sure your pieces are also wrinkle-free! A quick iron or leaving the item in a steamy shower does the trick. These natural fabrics also hold up longer through wear and washes compared to fast fashion.
In the same vein as comfort, dress for the weather! If you wear a dress and no jacket for a winter session, it’ll be evident that you’re cold. Live seasonally and embrace different options based on the time of year your session is happening! This could even mean thinking beyond what you see on Pinterest. Maybe a fun pool session in your swimsuit for the summer or breaking out the Dr. Martens and chunky sweater for a cozy fall vibe.
Avoid
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It distracts from you, the subject.
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Brides and brides-to-be, this does not fully apply to you!
Embrace
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Earth tones! Beige, rust, soft blues and greens.
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Navy rather than a true black, cream or ivory rather than pure white.
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I’m serious! Wear that piece you’ve loved for years, but still stands the test of time.
Tip for my brides!
Turns out, there are many different shades of white when it comes to wedding dresses. When I was shopping for mine, I came into contact with colors like “latte,” “rose,” “cream,” etc. As someone whose undertones don’t go well with stark white, I appreciated this!
Here’s an example of wearing white well.
This cream white compliments her features and doesn’t wash her out. The silhouette of the dress also flows, which helps create movement when she twirls in the photo.
It’s okay to break the rules, too!
This is a great example of patterns done right.
The bright colors complement each other and match the slightly editorial vibe of the session.
The goal of this blog is not to make you stressed or add another thing to your plate when preparing for your session. I just know it’s a common question us photographers get! Use this moment as a chance to express yourself through your outfits and represent yourself how you see fit.
And even if it’s the night before the session and you don’t know what to wear, I invite clients to text me with the outfit options. Sometimes, you just need a second set of eyes.
