Written by Natalie Michie,
Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer in East Lothian, Scotland
©Natty Images Photography
But what to wear?
Fun fact: In the 1950's the average European woman owned 40 garments. Did you know that today the average woman owns around 120 items of clothing? So there should be something perfect in there for any occasion, right?
Or does it just make it harder to pick the right outfit? If you have no idea what you should wear to your photo session, you're not alone.
Styling and colours can greatly influence the mood of an image, so since picking the right clothes to wear for a shoot is just as important as choosing the location and the time of the day, I'm writing this guide to help you get the best out of your Photoshoot, but please remember, this is a guide only.
Ultimately this is your Photoshoot, and you do what you love best!
Go for timeless!
You can never go wrong with a timeless look, so when you look at your Photos 10 years from now you will love them as much as you do now!
Clothes in natural materials like knitted Cardigans and Jumpers, Cotton, Gauzy materials, Tweed, Lace, embroidery, sheer fabric, Jeans, even plain cotton fitted Tshirts all look great in Photos. Ditsy flower patterns are timeless. Flowy dresses look wonderful, especially outside, when the wind creates a sense of movement in the fabric. Suspenders are adorable on boys.
I suggest to get a bit more dressed up than you usually would since this should be a special occasion, but keep it comfortable!
Consider your Colours
When it comes to colour it really depends where your Photoshoot takes place and what your surroundings are like.
In Spring the new growth is usually very bright green so soft tones work well, like pale blues, pinks, lavender, ecru, cream, grey, soft brown.
Alternatively, primary colours can work well in rainy, cloudy spring weather, like yellow rain coats, colourful umbrellas, red rain boots.
In Summer most colours look great, but consider where you will be. If you are planning a Sunflower Photoshoot for example, you could go for different shades of yellow, orange brown, cream, green, or you could go with yellows complimentary colour Blue.
Have a look at the Colour Wheel. Colours that are next to each other harmonise, and colours opposite complement each other.
In Autumn jewel tones look stunning against the riot of colour on the trees!
Think mustard, plum, deep blue, forest green, gold, navy, amethyst in combination with earth tones like brown, cream, taupe, grey, charcoal. Pastels are just too soft for the strong autumn colours.
In Winter, on the other had, pastels look beautiful!
Also, greys and neutrals, pops of jewel tones, and white, especially in the snow!
Wear warm knits and build on several thin layers, rather than going for a very bulky coat.
When building a wardrobe for your family, pick a couple of main colours you want to go for, then add different shades of those colours and one or two accent colours.
Make sure patterns don't clash. If one person is wearing a patterned outfit it pairs well with a plain outfit on the other person.
Remember to consider your shoes!
Leather shoes or Boots always look stylish and timeless.
Bare feet in Summer or at the beach are adorable!!
A few things to Avoid
Pure White or Black clothing can look amazing, but often creates too much contrast for a harmonious look, so for outdoor Photos a subtle colour palette usually works more beautifully, if you don't want to wear colour soft grays or cream is beautiful.
Please avoid Clothes with logos and graphic t-shirts,
Neon Colours,
High-contrast patterns,
White socks & Gym Shoes,
Large hair bows or clips,
Hair bands on wrists,
Clothing that does not fit properly,
Chipped nail polish and stick on Tattoos,
Clothing that is stiff and restrictive,
Items in pockets,
Collared shirts, especially on children as they obstruct the faces,
Anything that will awkwardly date your image.
I do hope this guide will help, but don't stress, be yourself, and most importantly -
Have Fun!!!
