What to {not to} wear for your photo session
If you are going to pay a photographer to capture precious moments of your life, then you want to look your best. Right? Well, a BIG part of that is figuring out what to wear. Below you will find some guidelines I like to suggest to clients when navigating their photo session wardrobe!
Coordinate [don't match]: Now I know everyone remembers the 90's when it was 'the thing' to wear khaki pants and white shirts. (Just admit it, we all did it!) Ladies and gentleman, welcome to 2020! The best (and most attractive) way to pick what to wear for your photo session is to coordinate, not match. The goal is to complement each other by sticking with similar colors and style. Coordinating (rather than matching) prevents everyone from blending together in the photo!
Colors? Patterns? Both? At Amber Lea Gray Photographs, we say both! Colors are everywhere, and are often how we express ourselves. Again, we want to make sure that the colors chosen coordinate with each other. I often tell my clients to pick 1-3 colors, and to stay within that scheme. It is often good to have at least one neutral color, and build from there. The more muted the colors, the better (i.e. Stay away from bright colors that draw a lot of attention. We want you to be the star of the show, not your outfit!) When picking patterns, it is important to also stay within that color scheme. Try to use patterns and textures sparingly, paying close attention to prints that might clash. [side note: avoid clothes with large logos like GAP or OLD NAVY. These graphics can be distracting and take away from the people being photographed.]
Timelessness & Personality: Keep in mind that trends fade quickly. You want to have photos that you can display for decades to come, but at the same time you want to stay true to yourself. We want to capture each person exactly how they are! If you have a favorite pair of boots, don't put yourself in ballet flats. Want to wear your trusty plaid shirt? Wear it! We want these photos to be timeless, but it is just as important to let your personality shine!
Being Comfortable: I think more than anything you want to be comfortable in what you're wearing. If you are not comfortable, it will show in your photos! If you don't feel comfortable in dresses, this is not the time to wear one. Got a new pair of shoes? This is not the time to break them in! Being comfortable also means that you should dress for the season and shoot location. In winter, wear warm clothes! Layering can actually bring a lot of personality and visual interest to photos. If it is summer time, rocking your flip-flops is okay :)
Outfit Changes: If time [and your portrait package] allows it, bring another set of outfits. It will give you a lot more variety in your shots! If you don't want to change clothes completely, bring a jacket, scarf, or hat to switch things up a bit. The more options, the better!
Wait...So, where do I start? Keeping your location and season in mind, work on one person at a time. Often times it helps to start with the mom (or other females), and then work from there. If the mom is wearing a solid, dad might want to rock a print (and vise versa). If you start with one person, then you can coordinate colors around that outfit choice. After everyone has the main part of their clothes selected, you can start to personalize each outfit with accessories! Remember, have fun with it and let your personality shine!