Hello and thank you for booking (or considering to book) your photo shoot with me!
It’s important to note that there are certain things that will impact how your shoot will look depending on what you wear and you may a bit anxious about getting it right. Not to worry, I’m here to help.
Firstly, let’s start with the dressing ‘Don’t’s’
- Try to avoid too much black, it can give off a morbid vibe and also lacks contrast. Similarly, avoid too much white as we want you to have contrast and stand out in your photos.
- Steer clear of Overly Bright and Neon colours, they can wash you out and don’t look good on camera.
- Heavy patterns can cause problems for the camera and show as moiré or a glitch. Have you ever looked at a striped pattern and your eyes saw it move or had trouble looking at it, the camera will too. Not all patterns are bad though, especially ones that compliment each other.
- Avoid clothing with Large logos, emblems or graphics as they can date your photos and also be a distraction and you should be the focus.
- Please stay away from Lots of sequins, especially the ones that change colour when you rub your hand over them. Anything shiny will be picked up by the camera flash and show a reflection.
- Always try on new clothes first to make sure they fit, there’s nothing worse than being really excited for your shoot and then putting on your new clothes to find out they don’t fit.
- Large Costumes are a big no no!
So what should I wear?
A big cliché but, wear what is comfortable! You need to feel good at your shoot.
Colour-wise, you can pick a colour palette (Pinterest has them) to give you a good idea of what colours go together. You don’t want too much of the same colour, blue for example can change the colour of the skin. Pastel colours work well but you can also match the season, so reds, oranges and yellows will look better for autumn. Also it’s good to mix and match colours per outfit and not put one person in all one colour.
Tip for choosing outfits
Start by picking a colour theme – warm or cool and then start with one outfit (usually mum) that you can then use to choose everyone else’s outfit.
You can lay out all the outfits (including shoes and accessories) on a bed or even try them on before the shoot to see how they all look together. If one thing in particular catches your eye too much, that item will probably need to be changed as it will also take the focus in your photos.
Accessories
We want the focus to be about you so keeping jewellery and accessories to a minimum would be best.
The Feet
Ideally we want bare feet but plain socks in your chosen colour palette can also be worn. Definitely no trainers, crocs or wellies as these don’t look good in your photos. Beautiful shoes or sandals can also work but please avoid overly high heels.
Hair and Make-up
Always be sure to arrive at your shoot with clean, brushed hair and clean faces and clothes. If you are having your hair styled, try to keep it out of your face as it can cause unwanted shadows in your photos. Be careful how much make you put on, simple will be enough. If you are using lipstick/lipgloss bring it with you to the shoot to do touch ups.
What else should I bring to my Shoot?
Definitely bring a spare set of clothes for children, just in case. Always bring children dressed in what you want them to be photographed in, this saves a lot of time as they are usually excited to get started and we can capture them right away. You can also bring a change of clothes with you for children that don’t want to stay in their ‘photo shoot’ clothes after we’re done.
Also…
For children that have anxiety or worries do everything you can to keep them happy – comfortable clothes, things they are used to and if they have a special toy, bring that with you. The goal of these sessions is to have fun and be yourselves.
If you get stuck, contact me and I’ll help you with your choices.
I’ve also made a Pinterest board with helpful what to wear tips
I’m looking forward to working with you and creating some happy memories.
If you haven’t booked your session with me yet, why not get in touch here 🙂
