a question as old as time... "but what will I wear?"
Style guide
Choosing an outfit for any type of photo session can be a stressful and seemingly daunting task. This style guide will hopefully alleviate some of that stress so you can show up looking and feeling your best! This isn’t the end-all be-all of what to wear, but just something that will guide you as you tear apart your closet. If you’re still unsure about what to wear after reading this, feel free to text or email me photos of your outfit choices and I’ll be happy to offer more help! These tips and tricks can be applied to all session types.
Comfy & confident
The most important thing to remember when choosing outfits is to make sure what you're wearing is something you're comfortable and confident in. You may feel like you have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for your session, but that's usually not the case. A simple pair of jeans and your favorite shirt or blouse are still a great option for your photos.
I do a variation of static and movement poses, so you might be walking, jumping or even running in your photos! If you wear something that you're uncomfortable in or something that seriously restricts your movement, you might be miserable the entire time. Wear something that feels good on your body and that you know you look great in!
colors & patterns
Now, let's get to the nitty gritty. Whenever someone asks what they should wear, I always say this: earthy and neutral tones and colors are your best friends! Especially if your session is taking place outdoors, earth tones will really bring everything together in your photos. We want to make sure your beautiful faces stay the center of attention in your photos. If you show up in a neon pink top and bright green pants, your faces may get lost in the loudness of your clothes.
Solid colors are great, but don't be afraid of patterns either. Some patterns to stay away from are large distracting shapes, stripes that are close together (google "moire"), and dark patterns against a light background (high contrast patterns). Patterns that can work are florals, small and tight shapes, and thick stripes. These obviously aren't the only patterns out there that work, but just keep in mind that the more patterns you have the busier your photos look. We want to avoid this!
If one person in your session is already planning on wearing a pattern, try to have solid colors throughout the rest of the outfits.
what about the rest of the family?
Now that you have your outfit picked, what should everyone else wear? If you're in a large group for photos, you don't all have to go buy matching shirt and pants for photos (unless that's your thing). As long as everyone is participating in a similar color scheme, you're all set! A lot of families like to do all white or all black which is another great idea.
The previous section about colors and patterns still applies here. I recommend choosing a style you want to go with for the session (formal, casual, etc.) and choose 2-3 neutral colors for your color palette (khaki, blue, white, etc). Then find an outfit for each member of the family that has at least one piece of clothing with predominantly one color from your palette in the outfit. Lay out the outfits next to each other to see if they work together, and change out anything that you think looks bad.
props
Props are always a yes from me! My suggestion with props is to make sure that they can add an extra element of "you" in the photographs. Props can range from chalkboard signs, a bottle of champagne, pillows and blankets, or even your car. The possibilities are endless. We use props in your photos to just an an extra layer of interest and character to your final photographs.
This couple here got engaged, but they wanted to add their favorite drink into their photos. We ended up getting this cute shot of them cheersing which ended up being one of their favorites in the gallery.
make sure you feel like yourself
With all of these tips and tricks in mind, don’t feel like you have to go out and buy clothes that are
completely different from your typical style preferances. Stick to what you know you’re comfortable with.
We want to make sure you’re comfortable during your session as any discomfort can translate through your photographs.
I hope this helps you in finding some great outfits for your session! Remember that there are exceptions
to all of these “rules” and you don’t have to strictly follow this guide. As long as you’re wearing something
that you feel good in, that’s all I care about! Again, feel free to reach out to me if you’re still struggling
with your choices and need a second or third opinion. I’m always happy to help!
you got this
If you find yourself stressing a little too much over this, just reach out and let me know what options you're working with. I'm happy to help in any part of the process leading up to your session. That's what I'm here for!