5 Tips for Dressing for a Photoshoot

​So you’ve booked a photo shoot.  Maybe it’s for an engagement or family portraits.  Yay! But the age old question (especially for women) is: what do I wear? These pictures are going to be documented and framed; the colors and patterns need to look picture perfect!  With this post, I hope to calm your fears and stress about photoshoots.  Let’s get to it; here are 5 tips for dressing for a photoshoot.

​1. Have Different Options
Depending on the occasion or photoshoot style, you may want to bring a few different outfit combinations.  Research on the particular location can be greatly beneficial is knowing the type of outfits that will produce the best photos.  For couples, 3 or 4 combinations, depending on how long your session is, would be best to have a strong variety and creativity.  To make the greatest use of time, families are recommended to bring 1 or 2 outfits;  don’t eat up too much time making wardrobe changes.  

​2. Find Complementary Colors
I’m sure we all have old photos our mom organized.  You know, with the matching blue turtlenecks?  Wow.  Let’s leave that in the past, shall we?  Matchy-matchy outfits may have been popular in the past, but it does not make for strong, modern portraits.  Coordinating items or items that highlight the contrast between the outfits helps greatly.  

​3. Avoid Competing Patterns
No one here is telling you to not use fun patterns and prints in photos.  Not every picture requires solid colors.  Be creative to your heart’s desire.  However, beware of using patterns that are competing in color or print style.  Stripes and plaid on Uncle Charlie is not the best look.  Several varying patterns can become distracting and draw attention away from your smiling faces.  

​4. Show Your Style
Simply because it is a photoshoot doesn’t mean that it should take anything away from your personal style. As if!  Although you should be aware of the colors and patterns being photographed, feel free to accessorize and have fun with additional pieces.  Maybe it’s a cute scarf or fun belt; maybe it’s time to bring out that fedora.  Just be you, the camera will capture that.  

​5. Take Advantage of Colors that Work Best for You
Next, my tip for today is to find the colors that work best for YOU!  This can be quite simple: what colors do you wear that people compliment you most when you wear? Which colors make your eyes pop? My only caution with this tip is to be careful of colors like white and red.  If you are fair-skinned or on a cold weather shoot, white can make you lose your beautiful photo in the background.  Also, red is harder for your photographer to edit; be mindful when choosing a red piece from your closet. 

Your photographer probably has some helpful advice on this information as well; feel free to ask them!  And last, but not least, have fun with it!  ​