What to wear, for portraits.
Whether it's a senior session, a personal-brand shoot, or a family portrait, the same rule applies: dress like yourself, just sharper. The clothes should serve you, not the other way around.
Solids over patterns.
Solid colors photograph cleanly and put the focus on your face. Patterns, especially small repeating ones, can flicker on camera and date the photo quickly. If you must wear a pattern, make it big and graphic, or pair it under a solid jacket.
Pick colors that suit your skin.
Cool skin tones (rosy, blue undertones) photograph well in jewel tones, navy, charcoal, emerald. Warm skin tones (golden, peachy) lift in earth tones, terracotta, mustard, cream. When in doubt, mid-saturation neutrals work for everyone.
Bring two or three looks.
Plan for one casual and one elevated. You can change in the car or at the venue. Two looks doubles the editorial range of your gallery without doubling the time. Bring shoes you can walk in for the casual look; you'll thank yourself.
Watch for fit.
Tailored beats expensive. A $30 thrifted shirt that fits will outperform a $300 shirt that doesn't. Avoid anything tight enough to leave elastic marks; bring something to slip into at the location if you've been wearing socks or a watch all day.
Think about timelessness.
You'll want to look at this photograph in ten years. Trends date quickly. Classic silhouettes (a good white tee, a denim jacket, a structured coat, well-cut jeans) outlast whatever Instagram is doing this season. Wear the trend if it's already part of you; don't borrow one for the shoot.
Small details that pay off.
- · Steam your clothes the night before.
- · Skip large logos. They date the image and pull the eye.
- · Black is sharp but eats detail; consider charcoal or deep navy as alternatives.
- · Avoid neon and pure white in mixed natural light unless we've talked about it.
- · Bring a comb, lip balm, and a pin or two. Tiny problems on set are tiny in your kit.