What to wear for your shoot?
(outdoor edition)
Selecting your wardrobe for your shoot can be a daunting affair. Where do you even start?
Let’s break it down a little, and take it step by step.
Start with the end in mind
What do you want to do with your photos after your shoot?
Are you going to print them and display them in your lounge for all your friends and family ot see?
You may need to consider what colours will work well with your current decor. For example, if the colours in the room are neutrals with some light blues, then wearing bright colours with bold patterns may not work, unless you want the photograph to be a statement piece on the wall.
Compliment and co-ordinate, but don't "match"
One of the most common comments I receive when I start to talk about wardrobe is “oh, but we can just all wear white t-shirts and blue jeans”. Well, yes, you could. But, including a little more personality into your wardrobe will take your photographs to the next level (and you also won’t look as though you’ve just stepped out an ad from the ’90s).
What I found worked best for my family when my son was younger was to start with his outfit. I found it absolutely impossible to find an outfit for a five-year-old boy that didn’t have some sort of movie character or superhero on it, and I want to see HIS face, not a bright yellow minion! To be fair, now that’s he’s a teenager, things aren’t much better (black is apparently the only colour of choice). Once his outfit was figured out, I would look at the colours and select outfits in a similar or complimentary colour palette.
As a mom, I absolutely love these images of my son - he is having such a blast in the snow. The photographer in me is cringing at the minion beanie and the superman hoodie!
If you are fortunate enough not to have to dress a superhero obessed boy, then I recommend starting with mom’s outfit and working from there.
It’s definitely worth making sure that no matter what outfit you select, it makes you feel confident, as this transaltes through to your photos. When you feel good, you stand up tall, and your general presence translates beautfully onto the images.
If you have a patterned outfit that you would like to use, limit this to one person only. You can create interest and dimension in your photos by playing with different textures and accessories.
Some examples:
You are absolutely not limited to these, but I have created some colour palettes to help you in your quest to find the perfect outfits.
Also consider the location
Bright, bold colours at sunrise on the beach will probably not be the best idea (blues, pinks and peaches work really well in this instance!), but the brighter colours at sunset in Autumn in a forest would look amazing. One of my favourite combinations is a cocktail dress and suit combination in the middle of the city!
Smarter is usually better
When selecting your wardrobe, it’s better to err on the side of smart, rather than casual. Collared shirts, smart shoes, or even high heels can realy make your photos “pop”. Just remember to bring a pair of sandals or flip flops to wear when walking between shots - we don’t want any sore feet or twisted ankles.
Things to avoid
Please stay away from:
- large logos
- large text (I’m looking at you RVCA & Hurley)
- character prints
- particularly bold prints
Also be aware of any tan lines that might distract from your overall look.
If you are at all concerned about your choices, feel free to send me images of what you are thinking and we can discuss options.
