Q. What colors photograph best?
A: Primary solid colors photograph best such as black, royal blue, red, forest green, mustard yellow, burgundy, navy, pink, purple and white
Q. Colors to avoid?
A: Light pastel and neon colors. Avoid t-shirts with busy patterns that will distract from the subject’s face.
A: Primary solid colors photograph best such as black, royal blue, red, forest green, mustard yellow, burgundy, navy, pink, purple and white
Q. Colors to avoid?
A: Light pastel and neon colors. Avoid t-shirts with busy patterns that will distract from the subject’s face.
- When choosing clothing for a portrait shoot, opt for solid colors. Rich jewel tones work especially well. Stay away from bright white (ESPECIALLY if the other person is wearing dark clothing), busy patterns (which draw attention away from your face), bulky clothes (which make you look bigger), and turtlenecks (which make you look shorter and, well, neck-less). Match your clothes to the location - trendier, edgier cloths for an urban, gritty location, or more classic clothing for a park, for example.
- If you are posing with more than one person, make sure your clothing doesn't clash! A shoot will look dynamic when everyone is dressed a similar color and style. Try laying out all the outfits beforehand to make sure they go together well and that no one piece stands out too much.
- Bare feet are always fun. Nothing can ruin a great portrait like a distracting pair of sneakers.
- If we plan to be moving around a lot during your portrait session and you're going to wear killer heels...consider bringing a pair of flip flops or flats to wear while walking; you can change back into the heels for pictures.
- When doing an engagement session, you may be tempted to wear the cute new shirt you just bought, or those amazing heels that you only bring out for special occasions. However, just because you love something doesn’t mean it is ideal for photos.
- Here is a general guideline of what works, and what doesn’t. Remember that any of these rules can be broken – but do so at your own risk!
- Good ideas:
- Both of you wearing outfits in the same color family (blues, earthtones, etc) or with the same accent color
- Solids or simple patterns
- That hot little black dress!
- Fitted clothing (big, baggy shirts can make you look a lot larger than you are)
- Comfortable clothes you can sit, stand, run, and jump around in
- Nice jeans, paired with a dressy top
- Accessories like funky necklaces, jackets, hats, scarves, sunglasses, etc.
- Bringing one very dressy outfit and one very casual outfit
- Bad ideas:
- Bright white shirts (ivory or cream photographs much better)
- Wild patterns or horizontal stripes
- Shirts with writing on them
- Sleeveless shirts
- Polo shirts on girls – for some reason, very few girls can pull this off well. If you really want to wear a polo, make sure it is fitted for a woman’s body, and not cut straight on the sides.
- Shirts with short hemlines – the bottom edge of the shirt should hit at your hips or lower
- Watches or rings, unless they have a lot of sentimental value to you.. We want to emphasize the engagement ring, and lots of other hand jewelry will take away from that. This goes for both guys and girls.
- Short skirts, low necklines, anything even remotely risqué
- Exact matching outfits – it might seem cute now to both wear the exact same outfit, but in a few years, you will laugh at yourself for being so cheesy!
- Things you might want to bring with you:
- Flip flops (if you plan on wearing heels, just to walk around in while we’re not taking photos)
- A posterboard with “Thank You,” your name(s), or your wedding date written on it
- Change of clothes in case one gets dirty or wet or you just want to change things up
- Headbands, bobby pins, or ponytail holders in case of a windy day
- Any props you want to use.. A frisbee, cowboy boots, dogs, anything that you both enjoy together
- Other things to know:
- Girls, be aware of your body type. Know what your flaws are, what your assets are, and dress accordingly. If you’re a curvy girl, wear something properly tailored that really shows off the curves of your body. Look for shirts with long torsos that will make you look longer and leaner. Short hemlines on shirts will make you look bigger. Avoid extremely baggy clothing and super skintight clothing. If you’re petite, dressing in trendy layers will give you a more sophisticated look, but don’t go for anything poofy or with big shoulders/sleeves or it might end up swallowing you in the images. If you’re an athletic girl, avoid the urge to play up your killer arms or rock-hard thighs. Unfortunately, without sophisticated studio lighting, it can be hard to capture muscular definition in photos, and heavily-muscled arms and legs can end up looking more like fat.
- Guys, Remember to match the “tone” of your lady’s outfit. If she is dressy, you should be too! If you plan on tucking your shirt in, make sure the shirt fits you well and is not too baggy, or you might accidentally end up with a muffin-top effect. Also make sure that your belt matches your shoes!
- Be aware of your location, and dress appropriately. If you’re going somewhere very edgy and urban, wear something sophisticated and dressy. If you’re going somewhere artsy and whimsical, go for trendier styles and fun layers. If you’re going somewhere natural like a park, wear something more romantic and light. When in doubt, bring multiple outfits and I will be happy to lend a suggestion!