What To Wear?

Clothing Tips

One of the best kept secrets of great looking portraits is coordinated clothing between subjects, the background, and the story.

First, before you begin shopping for clothing, consider several options:

Is the portrait to be casual outdoor lifestyle, or traditional formal? Then, consider where the final art pieces will be displayed in your home. If the room is decorated in rich dark jewel tones with dark woods and antiques, then clothing echoing the deeper colors would blend beautifully.

If your family room is casual with neutrals, then throw the family in jeans with solid shirts or t’s in coordinating colors…think about various blues, muted sage greens, or even brights….keep the colors all within the same “harmony” of colors.

Avoid killer bee stripes, no big floral patterns, etc… patterns are very distracting and take away from the faces in our photographs.

BLACK is our friend. WHITE is not! Ladies, black recedes, white tends to make everyone look heavier! Don’t go there if you’re not comfortable with that fact!

Ladies, knees will show when seated so consider skirt length for you and the girls.

Tank tops direct your eyes to upper arms, these are popular with our seniors, bring an additional blouse as an alternative.

SHOES and Socks SHOW! If you don’t want big ole tennies showing in your photos, then go for bare feet when appropriate in casual photos, or go with darker shoes on everyone.

Eyeglasses will show glare. Run by your optician and have them loan you frames without glass, or have non-glare coating on your lenses or if you have contacts, where them. Another alternative is to be photographed without glasses.

Hair and makeup- wear as you normally do- go for a nice matte finish on your makeup, and a positive lip color. Avoid pale frosted lipsticks, or heavy lip gloss. Gentlemen are welcome to shave just prior to the session to deal with five o’clock shadows.

NO makeup of any kind on children…..IT SHOWS, any blemishes can be removed through retouching. Any swelling from bruises etc. WILL show!

Avoid large or lightly colored hair bows, and distracting headbands on little girls. Simple elastic ponytail holders and hair colored barrettes are fine.

Overall, we want you to look your best, whatever that may be. Enjoy this session and your time with each other!!!