You’ve booked your photoshoot – now to decide what to wear! This can be a stressful task if you’ve never done a photoshoot, or just struggle with the sheer amount of outfit options to choose from. With this outfit guide you will have an excellent idea of what clothing will make you look and feel your best.
Your outfit and style choices have a pretty huge impact on what your photos will look like, and these memories you’re making will be shared with family and friends and will last a lifetime. Forget the stress and read below to make choosing your outfit a breeze.
Let’s start with what not to wear. One of the more important pieces of advice I like to give is to stay away from logos or graphics. Brands and trends come and go, and you don’t want to look back at your photos in 15 years and cringe. You’re paying good money for these memories, so I highly recommend staying away from your favourite brand logos, cartoons, characters, etc. Clothing with logos and cartoons visible can take away from the beauty of your photographs, along with other really casual clothing such as hoodies, baseball caps, and torn up jeans.
Wearing clothing that is too casual is a pretty big no-no for me as a photographer. Avoid wearing tank tops where you can see your bra straps, baggy hoodies (can you tell I don’t like hoodies in photos?), track pants and sweatpants, jerseys, or shirts with stains in the armpits. I’m not saying you need to dress up in your finest gown or tuxedo, but you should take this opportunity to dress up a bit and have some fun!
Along with avoiding logos, ads, brands, or characters, you’ll want to stay away from really bright colours and patterns. Bright colours and patterns are really distracting in photos, and stand out in a negative way against the gorgeous backdrop of your photos and, of course, your beautiful faces. They can also be very unflattering and dizzying. Your photographer will be happy to chat about this with you if you’re unsure whether or not a certain colour or pattern will be distracting!
Another tip – avoid completely matching your clothing with your partner or family members. Mixing up the neutrals, fabrics, and non-distracting patterns is the way to go.
The couples’ clothing in the photos above are a perfect example of perfect outfit choices. They are wearing lovely neutral tones as described in this outfit guide, no logos or characters, no dizzying patterns, and their outfits aren’t distracting our eyes. They look gorgeous against the beautiful backdrop of downtown Kelowna.
Keep your outfits simple. The busier the outfit, the more distracting.
Other Outfit Guide Tips:
- Stick with solid, neutral tones and muted colours. Earthy tones are your best friend.
- Keep accessories such as jewelry to a minimum (or forego them altogether).
- Mix up different textiles to keep things interesting – I love a good chunky wool sweater!
- Flatter your figure – avoid wearing clothing that is way too tight or way too baggy. Not only is it unflattering, but it’s distracting in your photos and difficult to move in!
- Wear sleeves if the weather permits it, even 3/4 length. Women tend to be the most self-conscious about the way their arms look.
- Wear a long dress or skirt if you’re up for it! They photograph so beautifully, are flattering, fun to wear and you will feel gorgeous.
- Coordinate your clothing with your partner or family so that everyone is on the same page with colours, textures, and vibe.
Hopefully now you should have a great idea of what to wear to your photoshoot through reading this outfit guide! You may be asking why photographers give these particular tips when it comes to your outfits. These suggestions are made so that when you and others look at your photos, their eyes are drawn to your faces rather than your outfits. Photographers are not trying to micromanage your outfits or have your photos reflect their brand – they offer these outfit suggestions to ensure that you look as fabulous as possible and that your photos look amazing. We want you to feel and look your best, and to have your photos represent you and your loved ones as best as possible.
For more resources, visit my website or Instagram!
