I don’t know about you, but I know that this is generally the last thing I think about! It’s so exciting to book the session and get everything set up; it only hits you later that, “wait, what am I going to wear??”
Don’t worry, it happens to all of us!
So, here are my tips:
Think about where you will be using the images
Are you going to be hanging them in your home? Then be sure to wear colours that would work well with the décor. Are they for social media use? Then think about the colours that you want to be showing on your feeds.
Everything about this speaks to the beachy vibe, filled with blues, white and greys. Perfect for a French coastal style home.
Matching outfits or complementary outfits?
My opinion? Go for complementary – something that allows each person in the image to stand out in their own way but still works together overall. What I’ve found that can happen with matching outfits is that the subjects start to blend in with each other, rather than each subject being part of the story that we are telling. My only exception to this: white t-shirt’s and blue jeans. I don’t care what anyone says; it’s a classic look at a love it! Dress it up with a scarf or hat, some jewellery, snazzy shoes…. perfection!
Same but different – exactly what I would suggest doing!
Comfort is key…
I’m not talking about onesies or pjs (unless that is the look you’re going for). No, I’m talking about being comfortable in the outfit that you are wearing and feeling good about yourself in it. It’s no use wearing those shoes if you’re going to be limping and feeling uncomfortable through the whole session!
but don’t go overboard!
Neaten up – make sure that you remove that cat/dog hair and shave any pills off that may have started to form on your clothing. (I feel like I’m allowed to say this because I don’t think that I own one item of clothing that isn’t pilling and covered in dog hair!)
Prime example of what I’m referring to: I was super comfortable, but didn’t stop to think about the white fibres from the blanket I was sitting on, the wear on the inside of my leggings and the random hair dangling off the guitar 🙄🙈
Solid colours are so boring!
Not true – I happen to love solid colours. But that’s not important. The most important thing is that your outfit matches your personality! Love prints? Go for it – just be sure to stick to a larger pattern because some small patterns (e.g. houndstooth or fine lines) can look fuzzy on camera. Oh, and make sure that all the prints work well together!
Love prints? Go for it!
Example of how things can go a little overboard – there are about 5 different clashing prints in this image. As well as the logo, which brings me to my next point:
Graphic Tees/Logos
Generally I would caution to stay away from these types of items, unless the shoot is specific to your business or something that you are sponsoring. You want your images to age well, so think about whether you would still be in love with that item on your t-shirt in 5 or 10 years time.
Check yourself out
Especially with those lovely, floating on air summer dresses! Make sure that you stand in the sun and get someone to help you determine whether the dress is see-through or not. Believe me, you would rather know this before the time!
Throw the rules out of the window!
Yes, I know, I’ve just given you a whole long list of what to do and what not to do. At the end of the day though, it’s your photoshoot. And as long as you stay true to your style, you’re going to rock it! I would say that the only non-negotiables that I would put on the list are the “neaten up” and the “check yourself out” items – those really there for everyone’s own good!
Still have questions? Comment below or pop me an email and I’ll be sure to answer it!
Chat soon,
