The most asked question when speaking with clients about a future shoot is: what should I wear?

The short answer: whatever you feel comfortable in! 

Trust me, I know the struggle of picking what clothes to wear, especially for special occasions. I usually change 5-6 times before deciding that I’m going to the first outfit I tried on… but honestly, the most important thing in choosing an outfit for your photo shoot is whatever you feel comfortable in.

Wearing clothes that you look amazing but you don’t feel comfortable in shows. As a photographer, I notice facial expressions and gestures of discomfort and if it’s the clothing that you’re wearing, no matter what pose or prompts I use won’t help as much. If you’re contemplating on wearing your 6 inch heels for your engagement session, DITCH IT! You contemplated for a reason. You probably know that you’ll regret wearing them after I ask you to do the catwalk 3 times over. LOL

But of course, there are clothing choices that can elevate your photos. In this blog post, I am going to go through some suggestions that will make you look the best you can, while keeping your personal style. 

The Type of Shoot

A great place to start is the type of shoot. This influences your outfit choice. A casual photo shoot with your partner is going to be a different look compared to an engagement shoot (unless your vibes are casual, that completely fine too!). If the type of shoot you’re having is formal, I recommend incorporating slacks, suits, dresses, skirts, blouses etc. 

Pro tip: Bringing two outfits are highly recommended! That way, you can bring a casual outfit, and a more formal one so you have the best of both worlds! My sessions are definitely long enough to include an outfit change.

Dress according to the location

The location and your outfit choice correlate in more ways than you think. For one, the weather can affect your comfort level. If the weather is warmer, light flowy clothing is a good choice. It allows for you to stay cool and match the ambient of the location. For cooler weather, layers, such as scarves/hats, and darker colors helps to keep warm and adds texture to the photos. 

Like weather, you want to match the theme of the location. If you’re doing a beach photo shoot, then dress for the beach with bathing suits, beach cover ups, shorts, button ups etc. If you’re doing a photo shoot in the forest preserve, dress with natural colors or outdoorsy attire. Think of the theme your location hosts for your photo shoot!

 

Be inspired!

Completely lost or overwhelmed with what to wear to your shoot? Gather inspiration! Social Media is a great source for researching what people are wearing! Search hashtags that relate your shoot such as #engagementshoot #summershoot! This is a good way to see what colors and styles used for the type of shoot you booked! Of course, use these as starting points and add your own flare to it. 

For family and engagement sessions, I recommend picking clothing that are timeless. You want these photographs to be relevant many years from now. Going with solid colored pieces in the neutral tones are highly recommended.

Be you!

Speaking of adding your own flare, the photo shoot is about you (and bae/family), making sure that your personalities are present in your attire is essential. Wear what you feel comfortable in, whether that be your favorite pair of shoes, a shirt that makes you feel like a star. Think about the mood you want to show people through the photos and let that shine by the outfits you choose!

Add ons!

Feel free to bring accessories like scarves, hats, sunglasses, jackets, belts, etc to add some texture in your photos. However, try to keep it at a minimum. These accessories are a great way to have multiple looks by taking them on and/or off without having a complete outfit change!

Things to avoid

Now here are some suggestions that have a lot to do with getting the best photos possible. Some style choices to avoid include:

• loud patterns

• logos & graphic tees

• bright and/or neon colors.

• Mesh-like designs – causes warping in photos

These small details can be distracting and take the focus off of you and your partner. Wearing lighter colors or neutrals, simple patterns or plain clothing can be less distracting. Yet, these are not rules set in stone and always go with what you feel works best for you.

LET’S RECAP!

1. Choose outfit(s) that make you feel comfortable and confident!

2. What type of shoot is it? Fancy? Casual?

3. Keep the location in mind!

4. Look for inspirations online.

5. BE YOU!

6. Avoid loud patterns, logos & graphic tees, bright neon colors, and mesh-like designs.

If you’re still having problems deciding on what to wear, make sure you contact your photographer for help! Lay out all your options on top of your bed or on the floor and send me a photo of the outfit combinations you have and I can help decide with you 😀