Hey everyone!
So for the last few days I've told you a little bit about myself and I have also talked about one of my recent adventures. Today I figured I would change it up and talk about photoshoots. Specifically what to wear to photoshoots. This is one of the biggest questions that I get asked by clients and I thought it would be a great thing to talk about.
In all the hustle and bustle that comes with photoshoots, especially during graduations and engagement sessions, worrying about what to wear is the last thing that you should be doing. Don't worry! It's not as hard as you think it is to pick out a cute outfit that makes you look FABULOUS! Here are some tips to help you show up to a session prepared.
I know that the thought of picking outfits for a session can be daunting, so I have put together a list of do's and don'ts for you to look at. Hopefully this will make you more comfortable and confident during your photoshoot.
1. PICKING AN OUTFIT.
For normal senior portrait sessions, a photographer will take anywhere from 15 to 30 pictures. Make sure you bring at least two outfits, one that is casual and one that is a little more dressy.
Be yourself! Wear something that "screams" who you are. Your personality should be reflected in your clothes.
Don't wear anything that is white or very light in tone if you have fair skin. Save those white colors for necklaces and shoes.
Bring outfits that are darker. Colors such as dark blue, black, and dark grey look best on camera.
Avoid wearing patterns. Anything that is to busy will draw the focus off of you.
Leave your little red dress at home. Red is not a good color to wear at a photo shoot and neon colors should also be avoided.
Ladies, baggy T-shirts and sweaters are very comfortable, but they do not make you look slim on camera. Try wearing clothing that shows off your figure.
Use what you have. Don't go out and buy new outfits. Use the outfits that you love for your photo shoot, this will help you love your photos even more.
Avoid wearing shirts that might not make sense years from now. Such as graphic tees that date the photo.
Before you decide on an outfit, make sure you like how it looks when you sit, stand, and kneel.
Make sure that those bras and underwear/boxers are not visible in your picture. These are definitely things you need to be picking out as you look for you outfits.
Stay away from spaghetti straps and strapless shirts/dresses. These types of outfits will make your shoulders look wider than they really are.
2. HAIR.
Everyone should feel beautiful (or handsome) at their photo shoot and we all know that some days our hair just doesn't do what we want. On days like this we may want to go all out and try new styles, however, this is not the day to experiment. Stick to what you know works best for you, this will help you feel comfortable when you get your pictures taken. For those of you with bright hair colors, use it as your main highlight. Use your hair color as the central theme of your outfit. This will also let you use less jewelry than those with natural hair tones.
3. MAKE-UP.
Natural is a very important word to remember when doing your make-up. Bright colors on the eyes and cheeks are beautiful, but when you are getting your senior pictures done try to stick with natural tones. Don't go to crazy with foundation and make sure to use make-up that has little to no shine. This shine will reflect the light in the pictures and should be covered as much as possible. Photographers normally don't cover over all blemishes, this is to make sure that the pictures appear natural. So if you don't want it to show in your pictures, cover it up. Nail polish should also have natural colors as well, avoid using bright colored nail polish.
4. SHAVING.
Gentleman, cameras will pickup all stubble and facial hair. Don't expect Photoshop and other forms of editing to take that away. Shave before you come if you don't want it in the pictures.
5. EXTRA PROPS.
If you play a sport or have a favorite hobby, don't be afraid to bring props. If you decide that you want a picture in your uniform, bring everything. This will add to the picture. Photographers LOVE to use your favorite props to show off who you are. Bring your instruments, art supplies, sports gear, etc...
6. ACCESSORIZE!
Don't forget those little touches that make an outfit. Ladies, if you have a solid neutral outfit, you can use jewelry to get in that POP of color you wanted. However, be sure not to go overboard with the accessories. Gentlemen, watches and chain necklaces are always a good option to use as accessories in photos.
7. DON'T FORGET!!
When leaving for your photo shoot make sure you have everything you need. Such as...
Touch up make-up
Brushes to fix hair
Props
Outfit changes
Accessories
Extra shoes
and have fun! This is your time to be in the spotlight! Just be yourself and relax. Pictures always look better when you feel comfortable.
Not only does the hair, makeup, and accessories make an outfit, but the color and style can make a photo. This is especially true when it comes to family sessions or even couple sessions.
Color is Key
Pick three to four colors that go together. Look at the different tones and color families for inspiration. Here are some examples:
Pastels:
Pastel colors are a family of colors that have low to intermediate saturation, and are generally described as light, washed-out, neutral or soothing. The most common pastel colors are light pinks, yellows, blues, greens and lavenders. Each of these colors, sometimes considered "Easter" colors, go very well together.
Earth Tones:
Earth tones refer to the muted colors associated with the earth, including brown, brick red, terracotta, yellow, warm grey, burnt sienna, tan and shades of green such as moss. Just think of any color you would find in nature and that would be an earth tone.
Purple tones:
For this one, you could pick any color and then find all of the shades for that color. The example below is for purple, but you could use any color.
YOU were born to stand out
Make sure that you all have matching tones, not matching clothes or colors. Once you pick your color theme, coordinate with each other. This will allow everyone to look similar, but not identical.
Thanks for the complement
Use complementary colors to help with your decisions. Complementary colors are the colors that are exactly across from each other on the color wheel. For example, yellow is directly across from dark purple. Picking accessories that are complementary to clothing can be a great way to get a pop of color in children’s outfits.
Camouflage
Monochromatic colors are the shades, tones, and tints that are in a single hue. If you know the colors of the location of your choice, use the different hues in that color scale. This allows the focus to rest on the face. For example, if you were having your pictures taken at the beach, with blue water, you would use the different shades of blue (darker to lighter) as your clothing options.
Make it pop:
If you are wanting to wear neutral colors, be sure to wear something with a pop of color. Normally, adding one to two bright colors to a neutral outfit will really make it stand out. Try wearing bright colored jewelry or shoes as your pop of color. This is a great way to coordinate with the rest of the family as well.
Be sure to have fun and get creative! Picking out outfits for a photo shoot can be a difficult job, but now that you know some tip, it will be a breeze!
Regardless of what you wear, remember to always be yourself! I know I stated that at the beginning of this post, but I wanted to emphases it again. If you come to a session in an outfit that causes you to be uncomfortable, it will most likely show in your photos. So too avoid that, be sure to wear something that is comfortable for you. This will not only help you look more confident in pictures, but it will help you feel confident as well.
Thanks for reading! I hope this will help you feel more comfortable at your next photo session.
Tomorrow I will get back to the "lifestyle" or "adventure" posts and then maybe I will do another post about props later during the week.
Bye for now!
Talia
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