Photography sessions can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. You want to look your best and make sure that the images turn out beautifully. My hope here is too offer some easy styling tips that allow you to look and feel great, while remaining authentic and true to yourself and style. While I want clients to feel free to where what they want, I am also an artist, so know that wardrobe plays an important role in creating beautiful artwork. Wardrobe can offer photographs elements like texture, layers, line, shape, pattern, color and other visual interest. Here are some easy to follow tips and advice for selecting the perfect wardrobe to elevate the art in your photos:
Textures Look Great in Photos
Textures and layers can add depth and dimension to your images, giving them a more interesting and dynamic feel. Some great textured clothing includes cable knit sweaters, rompers, overalls, tassels, lace-trimmed or embroidered clothing.
Avoid Large Brand Logos and Graphics
Large brand logos and graphics on clothing can be distracting and take away from the overall aesthetic of the image. It’s best to avoid them altogether or at least keep them to a minimum.
Patterns and Designs
While solid colored clothing pieces are typically the go-to for photography sessions, mixing in patterns and designs can add interest to the wardrobe. Just be sure to choose patterns that don’t clash with each other.
Think Layers
This may be specific to my location in San Francisco, but here the weather can be variable between sunny and beautiful to quite chilly, windy, foggy and damp. They both photography beautifully, but you need to feel warm enough. So plan for layers. Great layering items include sweaters, scarves, jackets, vests, shawls, kimonos, beanies, wood wide brimmed hats, and accessories such as bows, earrings, necklaces, suspenders, funky shoes, and cute hats.
Natural and Organic Clothing that allows for movement
If you want to capture your clients in a natural and organic fashion, then clothing that moves and flows works best. Maxi skirts and dresses or materials that allow light to pass through them are an especially beautiful choice. Movement in clothing can add emotion to photos and create a more dynamic and interesting image.
Avoid Small Checks and Pinstripes
Small checks and pinstripes create an optical effect called moiré when viewed digitally. It’s best to avoid them and stick with solid colored clothing pieces or larger patterns.
Coordinate Around a Central Color Palette
When selecting a color palette, it’s best to choose earth-toned, neutral-toned, or bold colors. You can mix and match neutral colors such as gray, black, white, beige, and navy as much as you want. It’s important to avoid being matchy-matchy but do try to coordinate around a central color palette. Pinterest has great examples of color palettes that can help inspire you. Here are some sample color palettes examples and suggestions that I offer to my clients via my pinterest page.
Be True to You and Choose Clothing That Makes You Feel Good
I know many photographers that only want to photograph a certain vibe of clothing. I think how we dress ourselves is one way we express our creativity and I think there are many ways of being stylish. The most important thing when choosing what to wear for your photography session is to choose clothing that makes you feel good and something that you will like when looking back on photos. When you feel good, it radiates and can be seen in the photos. So choose clothing that you feel comfortable in and that makes you feel confident.
Use a Styling Service
If you are looking for more support when preparing for your next photography session and you are my client, you can use the Style + Select a service I include in my sessions that I offer as an booking bonus to my clients. If you are a current client and don’t have your free access code, feel free to email me and I will get you it. If you, like me, appreciate beautifully styled clothes in your photos but aren’t the best at designing said clothing, then Style + Select is a great service to look into. Use code ASHLEYK10 for 10% off your subscription.
Believe me, I book a family photo session every year for my own family so I get it – choosing what to wear for your photography session can be overwhelming! But it doesn’t have to be. Keep these tips and advice in mind, and you’re sure to end up with beautiful images that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. I’d love to hear what your ideal wardrobe is for your family session.
