Clothing can be fun, tell a story, and show off individual personality. The selection of proper clothing for your session is a critical factor in the preparation for successful portraits. However, if the clothing is noticeable or overbearing in a portrait, it could easily become a distraction. It could be the difference between a very successful portrait and just another picture. Remember the end goal is to take portraits that you are going to love for the years to come!
Let me give you the details
Dark clothing tends to slenderize the body, and helps to blend bodies with the background. Dark colors however will make your skin appear lighter. This is a benefit for making skin and faces pop, but if you are self-conscience about light skin tones you may want to opt out for lighter colors.
Tone down bright colors. Bright colors attract attention away from the face and may be reflective. (We don’t want bright green reflecting on your face!) Avoid wearing bright reds, pinks, greens etc. When choosing lighter colors, stick to pastels, lighter and dull colors work well, especially with jeans or khaki pants.
Light clothing can look beautifully fresh, but if you are worried about not appearing slender then it is safer to avoid white. White or lighter colored shirts and/or blouses under a darker jacket are a perfect combination! Along with a fresh feel, the light colors give an airy and romantic feel to portraits.
Prints and patterns, while cute are a definite NO GO! (This includes logos) Avoid prints of any kind and noisy patterns. In the case of digital portraits, patterns particularly in clothing (even a small checkered pattern) can cause terrible distortions to appear in the portrait that are not originally there so Keep patterns to a minimum! Opt out for a texture instead of a pattern to add personality and flare to your style. Texture also adds dimension as well as style to a photograph, my favorites are lace, ruffles, crochet, and tweed!
Step by Step
Tops: Its important to pick a top that’s a great fit, not to snug and not to loose. Texture hides flaws easily, lace is one of my favorites. If you are conscience of your arms, strapless is not the best choice. For any guy button ups or a nice sweater are perfect for casual look. For a more formal shoot try adding a suit jacket.
Bottoms: I try to discourage you from wearing shorts. After all we want your faces to shine! The more skin exposed the more the eye will go towards the exposed area instead of the face. Think about your theme or what you want your photo’s to say, if you like the casual look, go for jeans. If the more formal look is your thing try a pair of dress slacks or a dress for the lady.
Dresses: It’s no secret I love dresses! Dresses have a romantic and feminine feel that make me weak in the knees! The less pattern the better. Solid dresses wont distract, and have a timeless look. Very small amount of pattern like a floral can be gorgeous also, just be careful when picking patterns. A tight dress will show off those gorgeous curves, and a long flowy maxi is dreamy in the breeze! When picking a dress use the fingertip rule to make sure it’s not to short!
Jackets & Layering Pieces: For the guy, I highly recommend a suit jacket. The jacket will make the shoulders look broad and fantastic! Keep in mind what time of year we will be photographing. If its cold don’t be afraid to layer up! Make sure your sweaters, under-layers and jackets match. Beanies, scarfs, and gloves can be a cute touch as well! Girls you cant ever go wrong with a cardigan, but remember to avoid crazy patterns.
Shoes: Please don’t wear sneakers! Try a pair of casual dress shoes, clean and tidy street shoes, or a pair boots for a guy. For the girls a pair of flats go with pretty much everything! There will be some walking involved so take note. I am more of a heel gal and love the feminine and sophisticated look they give, but walking around in them for an extended period of time can get painful.
Accessories & Makeup: Don’t forget to accessories! Boys try a watch to add some sophistication. Girls keep it simple, we don’t want to distract from your face. Try a delicate necklace with simple earrings. Don’t forget about your nails either ladies! Avoid chipped polish, a nice nude or pink looks great! When it comes to makeup I suggest you don’t do much more than your normal look or routine. Remember we want you to look like you!
I am here to help you have the best experience you could possibly have! Our goal is to not just create gorgeous images that will hang on your wall, but to have fun! Don’t be afraid to ask me for any suggestions or help when selecting your clothing for pictures. We want to capture your personality and your style in your photo’s to create beautiful images you can cherish!
