What to Wear at Your Portrait Session…
Clothing:
Yes, it really is about the clothes. The way you dress reflects who you are, so bring outfits that tell the world about you, because they are your favorite. The odds are, though, that Mom and Dad are going to want some images for themselves, too, so bring something they want to see you in as well. Even with the clothes you choose, be careful to ensure that you are selecting colors that flatter your complexion. Remember, too, that a portrait is about the face, so be careful not to show too much skin elsewhere, as it will distract the viewer. Be sure to try everything on before going to the portrait session, and remember to bring appropriate shoes for every outfit.
Clothing choice is critical to obtain the best results from your portrait session. Most photographers will tell you to wear solid colors, and this is an excellent starting point. However, if you wear very light and very dark clothing together, it will create more contrast than can be reproduced, and will draw attention away from your face(s). Therefore, we suggest that you wear ALL LIGHT, ALL DARK, or ALL MEDIUM colors, paying particular attention to coordination of those colors. For instance, white shirts with cream slacks, slate gray shirt with black slacks, pastel blue shirt with khaki slacks, etcetera. We also strongly suggest that you wear long sleeves. The upper arm almost invariably (unless, of course, you are a professional model, or a contender for Mr. Universe) looks heavy and soft in photographs, and typically this is an unflattering look. We want you to look your best, and believe that you do, too. The shoulder is typically very attractive, so a shoulderless blouse with long sleeves is a very attractive look. Please choose clothing with an eye to the type of portrait you want, i.e. while jeans and a letterman’s jacket will look great in an informal pose, they will look silly in a traditional formal pose. An evening gown or prom dress is fantastic for a formal pose, but if we add in your horse and a few hay bales, you may want riding clothes and your cowboy hat. Yes, we are using hyperbole to make a point, but there are actually people who want these types of things done, until they see the results. We suggest that you bring several changes of clothing, and let us help you decide what will work best when. The most important thing is to be true to who you are, and let us bring that out in your images.
Hair and makeup:
Bring your “product” with you, as you may have to touch up your hair when you change your outfits. This is not the time to try a new hairstyle, though, so please stick with one you know, and that people will recognize as being “you.” Please do not experiment with new makeup. In fact, we would prefer that you bring your makeup and apply it and style your hair under our supervision. The hairstyles and makeup that look good everyday can be overwhelming and/or distracting in pictures. You will also want to freshen up your look occasionally, so again you would need to bring your makeup.
Footwear:
Make sure you bring appropriate shoes for each outfit. You would be amazed at how many people come with shorts and a tank top for a fun outdoor pose, but only brought their high heel patent leather prom shoes for their formals. When this happens, we will suggest barefoot poses, or simply not include feet in any of the casual pictures, but it is generally better not to limit your options.
Props:
Bring props! Really show who you are. Bring a few of your favorite things from sports, music, dance, books, pets, cars, whatever really brings out your “you.”
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