Hi and happy hump day! About a month and a half ago I created a style guide for my clients, and I thought, "hey, why not spread the love!". I wanted to create this blog post for couples and even other photographers who may be struggling with what to wear or suggest your couples wear!
Keep in mind, I encourage clients to dress in a way that aligns with my photography style. So if you're interested in hearing my top tips on what to (and NOT to wear), keep scrolling!
You're most likely here because you've booked a session and now are thinking...what's next? I'm going to say this part in all capital letters so you fully understand my intention.
THIS GUIDE IS NOT DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU DRESS IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT FEEL YOU. In fact, it's going to help you put together the look that not only feels the most "you" but helps convey that through your pictures. I want you to feel beautiful, gorgeous, handsome, stunning, [every positive adjective in the dictionary], and there's some secrets to that!
I like to describe my style as "photography that feels like a memory already". That's the whole point - creating images to remember this time of your life. So the last thing you want is to look back and think "why did I wear that?!".
First, let's talk about colors.
My recommendation of colors to stay close to are those that are in the neutral, earth toned, or jewel toned families.
I generally recommend against patterns unless they are small and non-distracting. Flannels can be great but try and make sure the colors are that of the families below and not worn with any other patterns.
The colors below are perfect for still giving you a nice "pop" without being a distraction.
Finally, if you stress about this sort of thing (like I do before getting my picture taken), A Pair and a Spare gives a full chart of what looks good with what.
Ultimately, The focus should be on you. Neutral toned colors are going to compliment you but also - your home. Think about it this way - you're having professional pictures taken. You might even print these to hang in your home. Wearing purple or bright red is going to not only distract from you, but it may not match the rest of the decor in your house!
To summarize what colors you should wear:
neutral, earth toned colors. Pops of earthy color (mustard yellow, burnt orange, hunter green) are great!
Now let's talk about specific clothing items that I recommend for and against.
Dresses and other skirts that give lots of movement with the wind are a major plus. Not only can the extra fabric be flattering, but it gives you something to hold onto and let the wind play with!
Next, keep temperature in mind when picking out outfits. Wearing a long sleeve button down may look great but it also may cause some major sweating and discomfort on a 90 degree day.
When I get hot, my face turns beet red. So for someone like me, the best idea is going to be to wear something breathable and cool. Don't get caught with sweat stains!
Finally - you know your body better than anyone else. Do not, do not, do not wear something that you don't feel like a million bucks in.
What do I even mean by that?
I'll use a really easy illustration. The majority of women don't adore how their arms look in pictures. I could give you some lecture about self love and owning your own skin or I could give you some helpful tips on what to wear and how to pose during the session to accentuate all your best features.
If your arms are a sore spot for you whenever you look at pictures of yourself - try something with short sleeves instead of sleeveless!
If you're always looking at those weird bruises on your legs from playing soccer every weekend or your funny tan lines - wear a long skirt or long pants instead of shorts!
My best advice is dress to your comfort level. Look for clothes that are going to flatter you in all the right ways, not pose a distraction for you during the shoot and after you get your pictures back. I can control a lot of things during our session, but personal insecurities aren't one I can always change (especially if I don't know about them!). My hope in giving you this style guide is that we can avoid any places that might be uncomfortable for you before you even get in front of the camera.
So here are my final recommendations:
I recommend:
short sleeves in the heat, flowy materials, loose tops for ladies, properly fitted shirts for guys!
I don't recommend:
tight, low cut tops for anyone involved!
stiletto heels
athletic shorts, shirts, or shoes
I'm here to serve you.
I want to convey this every step of the way.
It's so important to be that you feel confident and glowing during your session, that I wanted to do everything in my power to help you make an educated decision about what you'll wear during your session.
I don't believe in creating a client wardrobe or telling my clients exactly what to wear. That's not documenting you as you truly are. Rather, I wanted to help give some guidance and feedback on what I've seen work well for others.
I bring a fold-up changing tent to all of my sessions and would be happy to go through any clothing choices you have before the session, if you wish.
So whether you're a client of mine or just stopping by for a read, thanks for being here and taking the time to read over my dos and don'ts of dressing for your session!
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