What to Wear
So, it’s time to figure out what to wear for your photos! I know it can seem like a daunting task to some, so hopefully these guidelines can be helpful for you! First of all, please know that you don’t have to have “perfect” outfits for your photos to turn out awesome – the bottom line is that these photos are about your love, not your outfits. This is just meant to be helpful if you’re stressed or worried about picking what to wear. The main goal is for you to look and feel like yourself, because the more comfortable you are in what you wear, the more comfortable you’ll feel (and look) in the photos, which means you’ll be able to just focus on having a blast with each other. I know it can be exciting to think about getting brand new clothes for your shoot, but I actually don’t recommend that (unless you totally love it and are sure you’ll be comfortable in it – don’t let me tell you what to do!). I suggest bringing clothes that you normally wear and feel like yourselves in. You’ll look back on the photos in 20 years and think “Yes, that was us”.
Here are a few guidelines
HOWEVER – having options doesn’t mean bringing everything you own! Going through too many outfits will take time away from your session. Consider bringing about 3 or 4 pairs of bottoms and 4 or 5 tops each. You can also bring dresses, accessories, jackets, etc. Depending on where we are shooting, you might be changing in the back of the car. If we’re close to public restrooms we can totally run inside, but sometimes that’s not an option. So if you’re not cool with changing in the car, let me know so we can focus on picking one outfit that’s easy to change up with just layers and accessories.
I recommend bringing more options than we actually need so we can pick and pull from them as we go. There are so many great reasons to have options! Maybe it’s windier than expected, so we want to pick something more flowy to catch the wind. Maybe we have a last-minute location change and we want to make sure we pick an outfit that compliments the environment. Maybe we decide we want to go for a different mood. No matter the reason, it never hurts to have options. Remember, we want to make sure the focus is on you and not on any distractions, which can sometimes be outfits.
Does it make sense?
Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it. If it’s freezing cold outside, bring lots of layers and warm clothes with wool socks and boots. If it’s going to be hot, bring clothes that can breathe more so you’re not super sweaty. If we're cozying up at home, wear something casual and comfy. If we're going to be hiking around, bring shoes with good grip. Heels are almost always a bad idea for most locations, unless you’re freakishly good at walking in them!
Accessories
I love when people bring hats, sunglasses, scarves, jewelry, etc because it's nice to pair them with different outfit options. Just avoid wearing watches so they don't distract from your faces when I'm getting close up shots!
Colors
I typically recommend sticking with neutrals and earthy tones. Neutral doesn't mean just grays and browns. There are neutrals of every color (mustard yellow, forest green, navy blue, burnt orange, etc.). Just try to stay away from bright, fluorescent, distracting colors, especially pinks, bright oranges, and reds. If you have dark or olive toned skin it might be an exception with the light conditions, but a lot of the time it results in people looking really pink because of the way it reflects. If you're unsure about colors, just bring options and we'll decide together!
Patterns
Try to avoid loud, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better! If the pattern is too loud, it will distract from your faces. I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns together because it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location. Also, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!
Movement
I love having lots of movement in photos, so make sure you wear something that you're able to sit, run, and goof around in! If you're in brand new jeans that are still stiff and tight, you might be uncomfortable and distracted during the shoot. I recommend bringing clothes that are "broken in" so that you'll be as comfortable as possible. I also love when people bring clothing or accessories that can show movement by catching wind. It adds such a cool energy!
Props
Hair + Makeup
If you're wondering if you should get your hair and/or makeup professionally done, my answer is "do whatever will make you feel the best." If you've read this far then you know that I'm all about you being yourself. If you never wear makeup, then you might feel a bit off if you get all done up. I personally rarely wear much makeup, so being myself for photos might mean I wear slightly more makeup than usual, but I probably wouldn't get it professionally done because I would feel too glammed up. I feel the same way about hair! But, if you want your hair and makeup done, then definitely do it. The most important thing is that you feel confident. Also, if you're thinking about getting a spray tan, be sure to get a suuuuper natural airbrushed spray tan, or maybe do a test one beforehand. We don't want you looking like an oompa loompa!
That's all folks!
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to let me know! If you’re still nervous about what to wear, feel free to shoot me a pic or two of what you’re thinking, or we can create a little Pinterest board together! But overall, just wear what you’re comfortable in and feel like you in. A pair of Vans you’ve had since 8th grade? Great. A sweater you wore for basically a month straight? Awesome. You do you, and I promise the photos will turn out amazing.