What to wear for Your portrait session
What Do We Wear?
This is the most common question people ask before a portrait session!
Think about how you can coordinate outfits through color and style. This is different to matching outfits - you still want to show YOUR identity in the photos.
Our studio is a very natural and white space and we have found that soft colors and neutrals photograph the best. If everyone is in the same tonal range then you will all look connected. Long sleeves are always preferable, on both men and women. Simple styles, minimal patterns, and classic accessories photograph best.
Our goal is to focus on your expressions and your connections – without being distracted by your clothing.
Think About Your Home
Think about where your portraits will be displayed and how.
If you are planning a feature piece for your home, think about the colors you like to be surrounded by.
For example – timeless white or neutrals will look great in most homes, but if you have a certain accent color in your décor – you can achieve a real WOW effect by tying this in with your clothing. Ask yourself, would this outfit look nice as a throw pillow on my sofa? If the answer is yes, it’s likely a perfect color for your portrait.
Stick To A Similar Color Palete
Try to stick to a similar colour palette and tonal range. This will not only look great in the end result but it ties your family together nicely, too!
A simple trick is to take one outfit - say Mom’s - and pull different colours out of that outfit and match them to the others. Then, lay all the clothes together on a bed and see how they look together. You'll quickly see that Dad’s bright red shirt is going to clash horribly with that pastel purple skirt you were going to wear!
Hint: agree on one common color theme - shades of blue, for example - and ensure that each family member has something that matches in with that color (not matching outfits though).
Accessories, Layers and Texture
You can also tie outfits together with accessories. A bright yellow scarf, pink headband, blue jewelry, orange heels, etc to match in with each other. (Don't worry guys - that bits just for the girls!)
This is not only a great way to have a pop of color - but also a great way to show your personality as well.
Layers are also great - especially if it means we have more to work with outfit-wise and we can mix it up a bit in photos!
You can also add in some texture such as lace, crochet, cable-knit, ribbons and ruffles.
Do's and Don'ts
Do choose 3/4 or long sleeves, regardless of the season. Showing less body skin will allow the image focus to be on your face(s).
Avoid logos - you don't want your family portrait to be a branded advertisement for Nike or any other brand (unless it’s a branding session specifically for your business).
Avoid big printed patterns or irridescent fabrics on shirts - try to go for plainer options if you can.
Avoid stripes - these can create an optical effect.
Stick to the same style of clothing - casual or formal, jeans or pants, tennis shoes or dress shoes. It can be a bit of crazy photo if you are dressed as though some are off to work, others to a BBQ, and others to a ballgame.
Take the time to choose your outfits carefully and it will make a dramatic difference to the end results.
