Style Tips for your Photo Session

So you’ve officially booked your photo session, now what?

Whether it be a couple, self portrait, or family session, I think we can all agree that it’s easy to overthink when deciding what to wear. I will start out by saying above all else, be true to yourself. Wear something you feel great in & something that represents your style and personality. Ultimately, what you feel most confident in is what you are going to look your best in. Whether that be a mini skirt & a flowy top or mom jeans and a t-shirt.

I hope these tips and tricks will help guide you while trying to choose an outfit for your shoot and don’t forget, you can always reach out to your photographer to get their opinion on what they think will look best in photos – they are more than happy to help!

Groups & Couples ⎯

Make sure you are coordinating your outfits rather than identically matching. When it comes to family and group sessions, it’s very helpful to pick a color palette and stick with it; for example, earth tones, jewel tones, or different shades of neutrals, and then do your best to express your own personal style while working within the color palette that you’ve selected. A great way to achieve this is to try and get all of your outfits from the same store, or at least stores with very similar styles – this will ensure that they all go well together. Mixing solids & patterns is a great option as well.

Seniors & Portraits ⎯

I usually tell my seniors, choose one casual outfit and one dressy outfit. Flowy dresses or skirts are both great options as they add movement and look beautiful in photos. At the end of the day, if you absolutely love an outfit and how you feel in it, then make sure to bring it to your session. If you are still torn between a couple of outfits as you are leaving for your photos, just bring them and your photographer can help you choose what will look best in the photos/with the surroundings.

Don’t ⎯

• Wear something that has giant logos all over it. This can be an eyesore and really distracts from you.
• Over accessorize. Accessories are great and can really add a little bit of your own style or a pop of color to your outfit, but it’s easy to overdo it.
• Wear something completely out of character. You want these photos to portray your personality. If a fancy dress and stilettos aren’t something you feel comfortable wearing, there’s absolutely no shame in that. It’s great to dress up and feel fancy; after all, photoshoots are meant to be special, but if it’s something you wouldn’t ever normally wear, then opt for something that’s more “you.”

Do ⎯

• Consider making a Pinterest board. For family or couples sessions, this can help you visualize how outfits will look together.
• Keep your location in mind when choosing an outfit. If you’re going somewhere with a colorful or busy backdrop, it may be best to keep your outfits more on the neutral side.
• Think about practicality. You don’t want to choose something that you’re going to be fidgeting with the entire session, or something that’s extremely hard to move around in. Restricting your range of motion will limit the amount of poses you’ll be able to do. Remember, you want to be comfortable.
• Go for low-contrast outfits. If you are planning on wearing a black top, try to avoid white pants. This tends to look very harsh. Rather, choose a pair of dark jeans/bottoms. Or, if you have a white/light-colored top, try for a lighter pair of bottoms.
• Add some texture or layers into your outfit, especially if you are going with a more neutral/muted color palette. Knits, lace, and corduroy are all great texture options. Adding a corduroy or denim jacket, or even a hat can take your outfit to the next level.

Now, where to shop? Here are some of my top picks for….

Basics

1. Abercrombie & Fitch
2. H&M
3. Madewell
4. Nordstrom
5. Everlane
6. Reformation

Unique pieces

1. Asos
2. Lulus
3. Urban Outfitters
4. thrifted items

Flowy Dresses & Boho Vibes

1. Free People
2. 12th Tribe
3. Sabo Skirt
4. Fortunate One

I hope you found these tips helpful and that choosing an outfit for your next photoshoot is a breeze!