When booking a photo shoot there are many things to factor in. What photographer to hire, the location you want to shoot at and, of course, what to wear! There are some factors that you should consider when picking out clothes for your photo shoot and I hope my photo shoot outfit guide will help you be confident in your outfit choices!
My number one “rule” for choosing an outfit is that you do not need to match, but coordinate! This is true if it is just you and your partner having a photo shoot or if it is a bigger group with your family or friends. I will go in more detail about colors and textures but start with choosing a color scheme that goes together. You do not need to wear solid white polo shirts and jeans.
COMFORT
No matter what kind of photo shoot you are booking, you want to be comfortable! So don’t think that you need to go to extreme lengths to find the perfect new outfit to wear. Most of the time what is already in your closet is fine and it is already your style.
If you are not a girl who likes to wear dresses, then don’t wear a dress. It will feel odd and the photos won’t look like you. If you are a guy who hates dress-shoes and tucking in your shirt, then don’t do it! Vans and a flannel can look just as nice, especially if you are doing a casual engagement photo shoot.
There can be some walking involved during a photo shoot so make sure you wear appropriate footwear. Bringing a change of shoes is an option, but ideally you will want to wear shoes that go with your outfit, but is also practical to walk around in. Make sure you consider the terrain and amount of walking that will be involved for your session.
The time of year and weather can be important when determining what you are going to wear. If you book a session in the winter, it is likely that you will encounter cold and potentially snow. Using Hot Hands in your pockets and wherever they can tuck in is a great hack for staying warm without needing to wear big layers. On the other hand, booking an engagement session out in the middle of the summer in the desert may not be the greatest idea if you are sensitive to heat or sweat easily. Considering the less extreme times of year can give your more options for outfits.
COLOR
When determining what to wear for your photo shoot think about the colors of the location, colors you like to wear, and even your skin tone. What is going to look good together?
Muted colors are always a great choice compared to bright colors or neon colors. These photos are about you, and if you wear a bright yellow shirt, that is going to take away from the real focus. Instead of yellow maybe go with mustard, instead of red go with maroon, instead of lime green try a forest or olive green. Brows, blacks and neutral can go with just about any background you will be shooting at, so they are pretty safe and timeless.
If your location, for example, is at the red rocks, I would not suggest wearing red or orange. Choose complementary colors for the landscape; i.e., blue and green really go well against a backdrop with red rocks. If you are going to be in a forest that has a lot of green, wearing reds and browns can look really good.
Skin tone and hair color are important to think about too. If you are very pale with light blonde hair, pastel colors could wash you out in photos. If you have darker skin and hair, an outfit that is primarily dark could blend into your tone. Luckily, colors that complement your skin tone are probably what your closet is already full of!
TEXTURE
Textures can be so good in photos. But be careful not to go overboard. A mix of solids and textures (with colors that complement each other) for your photos is a great way to coordinate your outfits.
For example, if one of you likes dresses then maybe a maxi dress with a floral pattern for you, and a lightly patterned button down and solid pants for the other. If you decide to wear a solid maxi dress, no problem, your partner should try to wear a top that has a bolder pattern like a plaid or paisley print so you are not too color blocked. For a couple, one wearing more texture can compliment one wearing more solid colors. Same goes for say a family of four; two people could wear something more textured if the other two are wearing more solids.
An example of too much texture would be something like one person wearing a loud paisley top and the other with a similarly loud floral print top. Too much pattern going on can bring the focus to your outfits rather than you.
ACCESSORIES
If you both are going to be wearing outfits with little or no patterns, accessories can really finish off your outfit. Wearing jewelry, a hat, a tie, or suspenders is a great way to break up solids. Even if you are not wearing solids, accessories can really finish off any outfit. Looking at inspiration for how to accessorize on Pinterest can be helpful.
Keep in mind that accessories can get in the way sometimes. If you have a bracelet or necklace that tend to turn around on their own, it may not be the best choice to have to constantly be adjusting it. If you wear a hat with a brim it can stop you from getting in real close to each other, so make sure that your hair underneath is okay if we want to take the hat off for a few pictures. Hats can also block light from your face, so just keep that in mind too.
There is no correct answer for what you should or should not wear for your photo shoot; please do not think you need to follow along word for word on these tips. Whatever you are comfortable in is best, and just remember to focus on coordinating, not matching and you should look great!
I am always available if you have any questions or concerns about your outfit choice. I hope this guide helped you in deciding what to wear to your photo shoot!
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