What NOT to wear…Correction, What TO wear, Photography Style

So… you’ve booked a photo session with your favorite photographer… maybe that’s even me,  but now you’re stuck? Maybe you’ve had a consultation, you are prepared with a session date, you’ve made your payment, and you’ve chosen your favorite location. But now your problem is that you’re stressing out about all of your options, completely lost in the possibilities? Clothing might not be a top concern for some, but many still neglect to consider what they will wear during the moments they plan to capture, display for a lifetime, or pass on to loved ones. Determining what to wear to a photoshoot doesn’t need to cause you stress, but you should include it as part of your preparation for your session. I’m here to offer some insight on this topic to hopefully alleviate this stress so that the entire process will be as seamless as possible!

Let’s take a deep breath before we begin!

I’ve compiled a list of tips for any and every one to make dressing for a photography session a breeze!!!

1. Be Yourself and Keep it Simple. Pick the clothes that will let you run freely and be blissfully carefree with your family. If you love to wear jeans, don’t look further! They are comfortable AND photogenic, now all you need is a cute top to pair with them. My biggest tip is to be true to who you are! Many of my clients choose to wear a nicer outfit along with a more casual outfit, i.e. jerseys to support their favorite team, baseball hats, etc.
2. Flatter your shape. If wearing a form fitted dress or top makes your cringe, DON’T wear it for your photo session!! Every person needs to focus on choosing pieces that flatter their shape. This will differ for everyone, but is very important.
3. Relaxed and Natural. Relaxed can mean different things for different people. For me, relaxed in photographs means a dressy shirt and cute shorts with flat sandals or a maxi skirt with a nice top in the summer time. In the winter time it’s a cute pair of jeans with heels or boots depending on the temperature. Make sure that you feel like you in the attire that you choose.
4. Don’t Match, Coordinate. Long gone are the days where everyone wears the exact same color shirt and pants, unless you’re the family that takes the khaki and white shirt beach pictures every summer J. Coordinating several outfits starts with choosing a color palette first. I suggest starting with the youngest member of the family and build upon something in their wardrobe while staying in the palette for the rest of the members of your family. Layering also helps with pulling colors together for a cohesive look. Don’t worry if your blues aren’t exact, they don’t need to be!
5. Fit your style to your location. Make sure that you keep your session location in mind whenever you are choosing your outfits. If your session is happening in a city setting, dress up a bit with a pair of cute heels and a fancier dress to match the bustling vibe of the city. If you’ve selected a more natural environment, you can choose something a bit more causal and opt for more casual footwear like flat sandals or boots.
   1. If your session is for your engagement pictures, I suggest dressing up a bit more. It’s a very special occasion, and you want to dress up.
6. If you’re purchasing new outfits, shop at the same store.
7. Add pops of color. Bold colors really pop on camera, and they always help with evoking joy and happiness. Also, accessories such as a scarf, chunky necklace, shoes, or vest can be your pop of color.
8. Use your go-to outfit. Scheduling a photography session does not mean that you have to go out and purchase new outfits for everyone in the family. I advise my clients to look in their closets and pull out the outfit that is their favorite to wear. Everyone has a go-to outfit that they choose when going out with friends, the outfit that fits perfectly and makes them feel fabulous…that’s your choice!
9. Highlight your best asset. Wearing something that highlights your greatest asset while taking pictures will give you extra confidence, and that will show in your images. If you love your legs, maybe it’s a knee length dress/skirt, or a dressy pair of shorts. If you love your arms, maybe it’s a sleeveless top and your poses will show off your arms very well.
10. Mix solids and patterns. Mixing solids and patterns will give your images visual interest. In my case, my husband and I have two children, so I wouldn’t want he and I in mismatched patterns since we will be standing close to each other. Don’t go overboard with patterns, keep them simple and not overwhelming to the eye.
11. Let your hair move. I know this seems like an odd item on my list, but trust me! If the wind is blowing your hair, never fear! Your photographer should make sure that it’s not whipping in your face, and they can incorporate your loved one moving your hair behind your ear for a very romantic shot. Don’t be afraid to let it fly, perfect hair doesn’t exist!

Whenever you’re making the investment, because photography IS an investment, you want your memories to be captured while looking your best, but you ALSO want the photographer to capture all personalities and tastes of your family on camera. I hope that this list has helped give you the tools you need to easily and successfully prepare for your next photography session.

Also, if you have any questions regarding choosing a location, picking out your outfits, or the time of day you’d like to have your session…always ask your photographer for help! That’s what we’re here for, and love to assist our clients with every aspect of their experience.

I hope this helps everyone!!!

Allison