The first thing you need to decide on is a color scheme. What colors are "in" during the season you are booking your session? You don't want to wear summer colors for fall portraits! You can also choose a color scheme based on your personal style or the personalities of the people being photographed. Look around your home and at your everyday wardrobe. What colors and styles are you naturally attracted to? I have a very bright and bold style and my home very much reflects that in the decorations I have in every room; even my antiques are refurbished with modern, bold prints and colors! We as a family tend to wear very bright colors and wild patterns on a daily basis so I want us to wear bright and bold colors with fun, wild patterns in our family shoot~our photos should reflect our fun and outgoing personalities!
The next thing to consider is the location of the shoot. What will the setting be? Urban? Natural? Studio? This is the key in choosing your wardrobe; it needs to coincide with where you are shooting, (i.e. don't wear a button up shirt and tie to a location shoot at the beach where the dress should be casual).
If you are shooting in the studio, your photographer will usually coordinate studio set up options with you before hand to give you a better idea on what to wear, but locations are a free-for-all and specifics are usually left up to the client to decide. I always suggest my clients each wear colors/patterns that coordinate, but are not too 'matchy'. I also suggest that they experiment with different patterns; mix and match to see what goes together without clashing, and find patterns that compliment each other without overpowering the person wearing them, (except for the more formal shoots, as this would be too casual, which is why location is important).
Choose a main accessory or focal piece. This is something you coordinate the entire wardrobe around. It can be an article of clothing, an accessory, piece of jewelry...anything that you want to build your outfits from. I usually wear the main piece in our photos because I like to find something eye catching and different which is usually too feminine for Chris to wear! A unique scarf, or belt, or even a hair piece that doesn't take attention away from us are great examples, (I don't think Chris would be for wearing a nice decorative hair accessory!) Once I have my piece selected, I go from there. For me, it's fun to find similar accessories for my two girls to wear as well.
Layers are also important; even for those hot summer shoots! An unbuttoned, plaid shirt over a solid casual tee can act as two different 'looks' during your session. Layers give variety to any photo shoot while extending your wardrobe; they also make changing clothes much easier.
Be careful not to show too much skin; try to avoid tank tops, short skirts, or low necklines. Exposed skin makes you look bigger, and you also will risk drawing attention away from your face. Your photos should reflect who you are as a family, and also as individuals. The focus should be directed to your faces, and expressions; the clothes you're wearing should accent your features, not over power them.
I hope this blog gives you a little more insight into choosing a wardrobe for your upcoming shoot~without the stress and anxiety that comes with it! If you have any questions, or would like for me to help you coordinate your wardrobe for photos, email me at haley@hwgphotogrpahy.com!
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