One of the most common questions I get asked is the age old question of what to wear, what to wear.
Well, I certainly don’t claim to be a fashionista or savvy dressing fashion icon by any stretch of the imagination… in fact, being a Floridian through and through, flip flops still fall into the category of “dress shoes”.
But, I can at least give you some tips and pointers for how to select clothes that match your style & taste, and result in great pictures!
You’ve probably seen enough beach portraits by now to know there are a few combinations that are pretty much always a safe bet: blue jeans and white shirts, as well as khaki’s with white shirts. But… those aren’t your only options and you don’t need to feel restricted to those two outfits to get great pictures.
In fact, there really are so many options that it’s probably best for me to start with what NOT to wear.
First – despite what Grandma Faye would like for you to believe, the plaid Christmas sweater you got will most likely NOT translate well into pictures, even if it is the greatest thing since slided bread in her book. In fact, with very few exceptions, most noisy stripes, plaids, colors and patterns are just too risky, and are best avoided.
Speaking of colors, some colors are more likely to cause unflattering color casts on many skintones: colors like bright oranges, yellows, reds, and occasionally greens may not look as great on your skin, or worse yet, may make the person standing next to you appear to have a strangely tinted complexion. Always take into consideration your skin tones, as well as the others who will be in the photo with you.
And of course, it should go without saying that slogans, logos, and the like generally aren’t recommended. Sorry, fellas, leave those “She’s with me” tshirts behind. You’ll thank me later.
What does work well, however, are colors on either the very light or very dark spectrum. Both provide nice contrasts to backdrops. Also keep in mind, darker colors tend to be slimming, while lighter colors can have the opposite effect.
Textures can add an interesting depth to pictures, so knit sweaters are definitely ok, just not the plaid ones!
Please do keep in mind, if you’re using me as a photographer, chances are you will NOT be sitting still and saying cheese! You will likely be up, moving around, and maybe even jumping around! You WILL be having fun, so it’s all worthwhile, but make sure you wear comfortable clothes. Pants should be well fitting, because we almost never do pictures from just the waist up.
As for shoes, do be conscious of your shoes. I’m a “feet” person – so I’ll likely get some pictures that include your shoes & feet. Ladies, touch up the nail polish, and guys… let go of your inhibitions because the chances are good that you’ll be setting your tootsies free at some point! In fact, if we’re headed to the beach, you can almost GUARANTEE you will be barefoot at some point!
Speaking of the beach, do keep in mind that despite our 110% humidity (just kidding – 100%), and beautiful beaches, it’s not unusual for sunset to get a little cooler and windier on the beach particularly in the spring and fall. And yes, we do have spring and fall (it just may not be what YOU consider spring or fall). Ladies especially need to pay attention to my warning on wind. Be prepared to pull those lovely locks back if we just can’t escape the wind. Or… embrace your windblown look.
Also, a small reminder that if we’re doing outfit changes, bring matching shoes & jewelry. Jewelry is best when kept simple, and at a minimum, but feel free to wear a sentimental bracelet or necklace. Also be prepared to remove it if we determine it might be best without it.
I may update this from time to time as I come across other tips, so check back!