The Do's and Don'ts of
Wardrobe Selection
First and foremost, the biggest thing to keep in mind when choosing a wardrobe for your portrait session is to wear something that you'll be comfortable in. If you are comfortable in dressy clothes, go for it. If you're comfortable in more casual attire, go for that instead. Your portraits are meant to showcase you. If you're not comfortable in what you're wearing, it'll show through in your photos. With that said, there are a few do's and don'ts that I recommend taking into consideration as you are planning your wardrobe for your portrait sessions, so you receive portraits that are timeless.
DO:
- Wear clothes that compliment your surroundings. Be aware of the predominant color that will be in the environment around you in your portraits and choose colors that compliment the environment. I've included a color chart for you to reference below. At the very bottom are color relationships. Find the predominant color of your portrait environment and then choose wardrobe colors following the different relationships.
- Choose clothes that are mostly solid colors.
- Make sure your clothes are clean, wrinkle free, and void of any pet hair for your session (I know this seems like common sense, but you have no idea how many people don't do this!)
- Accessorize! Hats, scarves, vests? YES!!!
DON'T:
- T-shirts with graphic designs, large logos, or print are cool but a no-no for portraits. Although I am a fan of graphic tees myself, they really are distracting in photos, meaning they take the attention off of what should be of focus.... YOU!
- Patterns are another feature of clothing that can be distracting. While small patterns and designs are just fine, avoiding large patterns is best.
- Athletic pants or joggers are perfect if you're session is incorporating sports, otherwise, if you're looking for casual pants to wear, denim is the go-to.
- Don't blend into your background! This just reiterates the importance of choosing a color palette for your wardrobe that compliments the environment. If you have an outdoor summer session, definitely DO NOT wear green! Likewise, in winter, leave the white clothing at home.
- Don't forget about your shoes! You don't have to get a brand new pair of kicks for your session, but let's keep the muddy, torn up shoes for a different occasion!
