Getting dressed in the morning is difficult enough for some people, let alone stepping in front of a camera to look your best. Deciding what to wear for a photo shoot can be daunting for some and trigger even the most confident people to drag their entire closet out onto their bed.

BE COMFY

First things first. I want you to be comfortable. Being comfortable is everything during a photoshoot! You should look and feel like yourself. Its totally common for people to want to shop for new clothes to wear at a photoshoot , and its perfectly fine if thats what you want. But if you’d feel more comfortable in your favorite pair of jeans and T-shirt over that new red sparkly dress, please go with the jeans! Something that moves with you and fits you in all the right places, and has been tested over and over! This doesn’t mean you can’t spice it up a bit, but if authenticity is what you’re going for, you’re going to have to show up as yourself and capture this specific time of your life.

MATCH YOUR OUTFIT TO LOCATION

    A general rule of thumb for color scheming is to either complement your environment, or contrast it. Go for neutrals, earthy tones, and metallics. That doesn’t mean you cant wear Blue or orange. But instead of electric Blue maybe go for sky blue, or instead of Orange maybe try Apricot. Primary colors are very striking, but can often distract viewers from the subject, which is you! When you’re taking pictures with your family, try to choose one person to wear that featured color, and then the rest of you can complement that color. When you're taking pictures with your partner, try not to match their color exactly, but rather complement them. When you wear the same exact color you often get this blending effect with the viewer’s eye getting lost, unable to distinguish where one person stops and the other begins. you guys become a big blob! But this doesn’t mean you can’t match intentionally. There is very intentional matching, and with the right environment can create stunning images!

COLOR SCHEMING & PATTERNS

 Remember in elementary and middle school when we learned the color wheel? I knew it would come in handy one day! This is a great tool to use when deciding what colors work with each other. It makes it easy to see which colors complement or contrast each other. Analogous colors are basically colors that are right next to each other on a color wheel. This often is very soothing to look at.

Matching your outfit to the Location and the season is key. If you’re wearing a ballroom gown in your kitchen, your viewers mights think you’re going to homecoming or prom. If you’re wearing a sun dress in a snowy field, everyone will have a lot of pity for you. I think “ location, vibe, comfort level” when i’m thinking what to wear. Also, Bring multiple outfits!

 Patterns and prints should be pretty minimal during a photoshoot. Try to avoid large patterns and shapes. Its hard to complement them. think less is more when considering patterns. If you ARE thinking patterns, shoot your photographer a text and they will most likely be able to help you out!

  Accessories! Hats, sunglasses, watches, socks, jackets, etc. These are fun ways to jazz up your outfits and can often times give you something to do with your hands. But, depending on the shoot though sometimes they can be distracting. A big fat watch face during a close up of a couple kissing might distract everyone from the main subject. Shoes are a key part of an outfit. Try to wear shoes that match your outfit. 9 times out of 10 try to leave your heels at least in the car. haha. It makes a photoshoot pretty difficult especially when outside navigating various terrains! I know theres a few pros out there who can wear heels anywhere. I’m speaking to us mere mortals over here. just consider the context, comfortability, and aesthetic your going for and you’ll be fine. Also bring props! Anything that brings out your personality and help tell your story. Think things like instruments, umbrella, bike, keys to your new house, a skateboard, or even a 6 pack of beer. Props can make you feel more comfortable and gives us so many more options for poses that look naturally like you!