It’s the question every photographer loves to hear: “What do I wear to my photo shoot?” Whether you’ve hired me for a family photo session here in the beautiful Sullivan County Catskills, I’m taking engagement photos for you and your special someone, or you’ve set up a senior portrait photo session, it might surprise you to hear that the answer is going to be pretty much the same!
First thing’s first, I tell every client that they need to wear clothing that will be comfortable! The reason is fairly simple: If you’re not comfortable in your outfit, it’s going to show in your smile!
Most clients are not professional models, and your family photo session, senior portraits, or engagement photos might just be the first time you’ve ever had your photo taken by a professional or maybe it’s one of the few times you’ve been in front of a professional’s camera. That’s stressful enough for the average person, and I want to take all that stress away! We’re going to have fun together. We’re going to chat and laugh, and we’re going to move around (at least a little bit).
Think about the mood you want to be in on the day of your photo shoot, and choose outfits that make you feel that way!
Whether we’re heading out into the woods for photos or sticking close to home, you also want to wear clothing that is:
Weather-appropriate
Appropriate for the terrain (e.g. no high heels if you have chosen a location out in the woods or shoes you worry will be ruined if we’re heading out into a cow field)
Going to allow you to move around
Do you have children who will be photographed? Make sure their outfits are comfortable too, and it’s best to bring a spare for young children who may spit up or get dirty quickly. Don’t worry; you’ll have time to pop them into a new outfit!
So I can just wear any outfit I feel comfortable wearing? Not so fast! There are “best colors” to wear to a photo shoot!
There are some big outfit “don’ts” to avoid when you’re planning to meet up for our photo shoot. It’s always OK to send me a few photos to ask if the outfit will work, but to help you choose, keep the following to a minimum if possible!
Believe it or not, I advise against dressing the entire family up in the same blue jeans and white shirts or plaid button downs. Not only can this end up making your photos look dated when a particular matchy matchy trend dies down, but the matching look doesn’t allow for family members to wear the colors that flatter them most!
Are you a winter? A summer? A spring? Everyone in your family may sync up, and different shades of the same color will make for a beautiful family photo.
But what if everyone in your photo looks best in a totally different color? That’s OK too! In that case, look to different colors that are flattering but complementary. Complementary colors are those that sit directly across one another on a color wheel. For example, as you see in the color wheel below, red and green lie directly across from one another. A rich maroon would work well with an earthy green.
Typically, I ask clients not to wear bright white to a photo shoot and to avoid very pale pastels while they’re at it, although there are exceptions! If you do choose to wear white, avoid pairing it with stark black, and consider layering it with a neutral.
When in doubt, send me an email or text, and we can talk through your outfit options to find the perfect clothing to wear to your photo shoot!