oh my lanta…what do we wear?

The selection of proper clothing for your portrait is a critical factor in the preparation for a successful portrait. If the clothing is noticeable or overbearing in a portrait, it could easily become a distraction. Clothing that does not attract attention to itself is the ultimate goal. It could be the difference between a very successful portrait and just another picture. I am always here for suggestions or to give you a seal of approval if you are unsure!

Dark clothing tends to slenderize. Darker clothing helps to blend the bodies with the background, so that the faces are the most important part of the photograph. Dark colors definitely tend to slenderize the subject.

Tone down bright colors. Bright colors attract attention away from the face and may be reflective. Avoid wearing red, bright pink, bright green etc. When choosing lighter colors, stick to pastels, but avoid pink tones. Pale yellow and pale blue work well, especially with jeans or khaki pants. These colors work great in nature for example, if you have a sunset photography session booked in.

White and light clothing can look beautifully fresh. White shirts and/or blouses under a dark jacket are perfect.

Prints and patterns are a definite NO. This includes logos. Avoid prints of any kind and patterns. No matter how small the print or the pattern, it will become a distraction. In the case of digital portraits, in particular, small patterns in clothing (even a small herring-bone or checkered pattern) can cause terrible distortions to appear in the portrait that are not originally there.

Don’t over accessorize! Overbearing or heavily noticeable accessories can be a major distraction. Simple and minimal works best.

Wear your hair how you like it, but typically stay away from ponytails. The looser and more flexible the style, the better! It is always a great idea to have your makeup and hair professionally applied for your photography session. It will make a huge difference in how you look and feel. Your hands and nails will most likely be photographed so you’ll want to have them manicured.

The most flattering neckline for anyone is something that comes up close to the neck. A wide-open neckline tends to thicken the neck in a photograph. On the other hand, a neckline that comes up to the base of the neck – a turtleneck or a V-neck top is the most flattering. It tends to slim down the person and frames the face beautifully.

Group / family portrait sessions. Keep your clothing simple and coordinating. It must be carefully selected to blend the bodies together. Avoid loud or busy patterns and large logos. Solid colors are best. First, decide whether the basic tone of the clothing will be warm-toned (browns, etc.) or cool-toned (blues/grays/blacks, etc.) Then, make sure to follow all of the above instructions. Keeping a group in similar colors focuses the attention of the portrait to the faces and individuals that make up the portrait. Dissimilar colors in groups tend to be more distracting. White tops with khakis or jeans can look very nice and casual, but if anyone in your family is super pale, white can make pale skin look paler. Jeans are the timeless choice and they’re great for fun, casual pictures because they are flattering and don’t show wrinkles. Lighter shirts on top give the pictures a more casual and bright look. Pastels are also usually appealing because they enhance natural skin tones. Black or other dark shirts on top give the portraits a more serious and thoughtful feel (not to mention that black is slimming). Everyone should have color-coordinated outfits (Not a uniform necessarily, but there should be a theme). For the children, choose outfits that fit well without a lot of “growing room”. Jeans/khakis and white or black tops are always very nice for a family portrait.

TIP CHEAT SHEET:

Lay out all the clothing onto a bed. Shoes, socks, earrings – everything should be included…shoes, too! Then, take a careful look at the collection. If your eye goes to any one item in particular, you can be certain that the same thing will happen in a photograph. That item should be changed. Clothing should not be too tight or too loose.

CHOOSE YOUR PALETTE FIRST – 2-4 COLORS

COORDINATE – DON’T MATCH

USE THE COLOR WHEEL

CHOOSE NEUTRAL COLORS OR MUTED COLORS

OPT FOR MONOCHROMATIC

SHOP AT THE SAME STORE

FIT YOUR STYLE TO YOUR LOCATION

DRESS UP

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE SHOES

KEEP IT SIMPLE

MINIMIZE PATTERNS

IF in doubt….There is just something about a long flowy dress that photographs so beautifully, and you will have so much fun wearing one! Start with your outfit and build around it.