What to wear: 10 style tips to look amazing in your photos

Everyone wants to look good for their photos, but let’s be honest, shall we? Choosing what to wear for your photo shoot can be very stressful. Part of my process includes a pre-session consultation with all of my clients. During this time, we will talk about best clothing and color choices for your session. If you like, I’ll even go through your closet with you to help you pick outfits that will not only look great, but also make you feel amazing during your session! 

Here are a few tips to help guide you –

1. Start with your color palette first. Choose 3 -4 colors that work well together. Think blue tones, earth tones, neutral, pastels, etc. From here everyone can pick clothing that fits their sense of style yet the entire group will coordinate nicely.

2. Don’t match – coordinate. Choosing clothing that works together will do more for your photos than having everyone wear matching colors or clothing. Pick colors from the main family member’s outfit to pick clothing for everyone else. Using layers will help tie all of the colors together as well.

3. Pass on the logos. Keep your outfits simple and clean. Don’t mix big bold patterns. You want to be the focus of your photos, not your clothing. Solids, subtle patterns and muted colors work best.  

4. Consider the colors of your home. If you are going to hang artwork on your walls from your session, you’ll want to consider the décor of your home. If your home is muted and neutral, then bold, bright colorful outfits may not be the best choice.

5. Don’t forget about your shoes. If the location of your shoot doesn’t allow for you to go barefoot or you don’t like being shoeless, be sure to consider what footwear you’ll wear. Leave the old dirty pair of sneakers at home and pick something that blends with your outfit, not distracts from it.

6. Complement your dog’s markings. If you’ve got a black dog, don’t wear black. The same with a white dog, wear another color besides white. You want to complement your dog, but not blend in with your dog. Nor do you want to contrast – wearing white with a black dog, or black with a white dog. If you like a pop of color, red would be a great choice if you have a black or black and white dog! If your pet has brown markings, earth tones, blues and creams are good color choices.

7. Go neutral. If you’re not comfortable with colors or don’t know what color to choose, go with neutrals. Shades of beige, grey and cream look good in any setting. The softness of the colors will bring the attention back to your face. And this look will always be timeless.

8. Be comfortable. Sometimes all you need to do is pick your favorite outfit. If you’re not comfortable in your clothes, you won’t feel comfortable during your session.

9. Accessorize. Jewelry is a nice touch if it complements your outfit, but don’t overdo it so it becomes a distraction. Watches can be left at home, while bracelets look nice paired with a pretty dress or top. I also recommend wearing some makeup – mascara and a tinted lip gloss at a minimum. Just like with clothing, sometimes, simple, subtle is the way to go to create timeless photos.

10. Dress up. There’s nothing that says you can’t wear a gown or fancy dress. In fact, some locations scream for a highly stylized outfit, so dress up and have fun!