Apr 30, 2014

When a client books a photo shoot, I often get asked what the best attire is. Hopefully this will help some of you when looking for the right clothes to wear before your shoot.

Indoor and Outdoor shoots are very different. This is due to the lighting - artificial lighting v natural light. The backgrounds can also make a difference. I offer a number of different colour background for an indoor shoot, my favourite being a cream glitter effect background. This blends in with almost any colour and although at Christmas it looks magical with reds and golds, perhaps during spring and summertime, more subtle colours are better. Whites, Creams, Beige and neutral tones are ideal for this background. Having each member of the family dress in co-ordinating colours makes a great photograph. However, if you are booking a shoot for someones birthday and would like them to stand out in the photographs, its a great idea to have them dress in something bold and the rest of you stay in neutral tones. It can work in many ways, and before your shoot I will ask questions and go through everything with you, but do try to stick to solid colours. Stay away from logos and too many patterns - this can often date a photograph and be distracting.

Outdoor shoots are a lot more relaxed, and depending on where you have chosen for your shoot, you can try to co-ordinate clothing colours with the scenery. For example if you have your shoot in a woodland area, warm dark colours are ideal. If you are on the beach, white or pale colours work well with the warm golden sand, but not beige, and heels aren't a good idea. Most people opt for a park, in which case most colours are fine as long as you all co-ordinate nicely. Try to stay away from blues and whites if it is a sunny day and also greens so as you don't blend into the background. By co-ordinating colours, I don't necessarily mean matching. This is for both indoor and outdoor shoots.

If for example there are 3 of you on your famly shoot and one of you wears a cream dress and the other wears a brown shirt, then the third person could wear a cream and brown top blending it all together nicely.

Choose a colour scheme before your shoot. CHOOSE EITHER LIGHT TONES OR DARK TONES, don't mix them. Then choose 2 - 3 colours to blend together. For example, light pastel tones which could be pinks, baby blues, creams or yellows. Another set of colours which work nicely for evening or autumn shoots are black, brown and denim. They are dark and often compliment your backdrop. Black and whites together or darks mixed with lights do not work as well. Weather can also be a factor - although most outdoor shoots will be rearranged when it is raining heavily, don't let drizzly rain, puddles or cold weather stop you from having a fun shoot. Dress small children in colourful wellies and warm jackets and hats and bring along an umbrella. These things make unique photographs. In snow, wear bold colours, not white. In bright sunlight, or on a summer mid day shoot, don't wear too much black or white - be colourful. Footwear.. Sometimes this can be forgotten. Try not to wear trainers - this can date a photograph and often make your outfit look less appealing. Heels don't work on the beach, and flip flops don't generally work in woodland. If you are unsure about what to wear on your feet, please ask and I will help you with your decision. A sleeve is always good for photo shoots. Rather than vest tops, find something with a sleeve not too short. Shoulders are often quite noticeable on an image when your face is the most important part. It can also be a good idea to tell me the colour of your decor in the particular room in which you would like to hang your prints. If you have a yellow living room where your pictures will be on the wall, then dressing in yellows and similar tones will add to the colour of your room. Most of all, please don't stress too much about clothing, and don't dress yourself in something that you would never normally wear.

I want you to be yourself and these photographs will turn into memories you can keep forever, so you need to feel relaxed and comfortable with what you wear.