Portrait Clothing Suggestions & Guidelines
What you wear to your portrait session plays a huge part in the look of the final portrait. While there are many variating styles and preferences here are some rules and guidelines to consider.
The Most Important Rule:
Wear something you look good in
Sounds simple enough, but sometimes it’s tempting to wear something you don’t like in order to coordinate with a group or to meet the other criteria on this list. What will result is you being unhappy with how you look in the images. Above all else you should wear something you love and look amazing in.
Keeping The Focus On You
Ideally when you look at a portrait, your eyes should go to the faces and not the outfits. Here are some tips to help minimize distractions in your clothing choices.
•Avoid words or graphics on your clothes
When we see words, we read them. Having wording on your clothing is incredibly distracting. The only time wording would be appropriate is if the images were going to be used for business promotion. Otherwise steer clear of words, large logos, phrases, or graphics.
•AVoid high contrasting patterns
Patterns in your clothing are great for portraits as they add style and create texture. Make sure any patterns used in your clothing are low in contrast and subtle. Avoid loud or bold patterns as they are distracting.
This rule can be broken when done in a stylized way, when the amount of pattern is well balanced with the whole look/group, and when the background in very simple.
•Wear 3/4, or long sleeves
Bare arms can create a distraction as your arms are typically the same color and tone as your face. Longer sleeves help your face stand out, as well as give the portrait a more polished look. I know it can be daunting to have long sleeves on a hot Arizona day, but I think the sacrifice is well worth the result.
Flattering Your Body
Sometimes clothing that looks great on us in real 3D life is very unflattering in flat 2D portraits. Here are some tips to help you choose a photogenic outfit to flatter your body.
• Wear form fitting clothing
When we wear loose or flowing clothing in the real world people can see the fabric move and sway. When loose clothing is photographed and displayed in 2D then you look as large as your clothing is. The shape of your clothing will dictate the shape your body appears.
Wearing form fitting clothing does NOT mean your clothes should be tight! In fact tight clothing often results in puckers and bulges that are anything but flattering.
It’s best if you simply wear cloths that fit well and that don’t hide or add bulk to your body.
Adding Style & Design
Avoid boring clothes. Add interest and style with these tips.
• accessories
Little details like earrings, necklaces, bracelets/wristbands, watches, belts, shoes, and nail color make a big difference.
• layers
Dress it up with a cardigan, vest, scarf, etc. for a complete look. This adds dimension and interest.
• texture
Style really shines through when you can add texture. Lace, low contrasting patterns, knit fabrics, leathers, furs, or any texture really adds a lot of personality without drawing attention away from the face.
Coordinating Clothing for a Group
The possibilities are never ending when it comes to coordinating outfits, but there are some consistent guidelines that will make a big difference in the final result.
• Tones are more important than color
Tones are how dark or light something is. Having everyone in the photo wearing similar tones is the most important thing to coordinate. When you heed this advice it really takes your portrait to the next level. It doesn’t matter if you choose dark or light tones, just try to keep it similar (not exact) for each person. This includes pants, shoes, etc. If you aren’t sure if the clothes you’re selecting are similar tones simply take a photo of them in black and white. If the clothing turns a similar shade of grey then they’re similar tones.
GREAT EXAMPLE OF SIMILAR TONES: Although the colors are different you can see in the black and white image that the tones of the clothing are very similar.
GREAT EXAMPLE OF SIMILAR TONES: The tones in these clothes are not exact but are similar. They are all a light to medium light tone which provides a little dimension without high contrast.
TOO MANY TONES: When you look at this image you can see that everyone in a light tone stands out. If the tones were just darkened up a little more there would be more balance in the image and their faces would be more prominent.
• match your style to your home
Before you pick your colors or style think about which room you’re going to display your portraits. The images you print from your session will make a big impact on your decor so, choose colors that compliment your home.
If your home has lots of bright and fun colors then repeat those colors in your outfits. If your home is neutral then dress to match. If you want a family portrait in a formal room then consider dressing formally. Letting your decor guide your clothing choices makes choosing colors easier and the end result will look amazing in your home.
• Choose a Color Palette
A simple way to coordinate clothing is to base the colors off of a color palette. Simply do a google image search of a descriptive word along with the phrase “color palette.” Try to choose one with similar tones and then use those colors as a reference when you’re coordinating your outfits.
Examples of search phrases: “fall color palette,” “farmhouse color palette,” “neutral color palette,” “masculine color palette,” “bold color palette,” “rich color palette,” “navy color palette.”
• Pops of color
If you want to add a pop of color (or any element that stands out), have it repeated throughout the outfits in varied ways. This helps the unique color look coordinated in a way that adds style and interest.
REPEATING POPS OF COLOR: The pops of color are repeated in different ways. The orange is in a cardigan, undershirt, and shirt. The pops of green are in a cardigan and layered shirt.