I know it can feel kind of daunting to pick what to wear for photos. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so your senior can be sure to look fantastic, while still making sure the images are focused on you, not what you’re wearing. To be honest, I am not the most fashionable person. I dress for comfort and function, which gives me more flexibility to run around behind the camera! This guide is what I’ve found to work best from trial and error from past shoots, but just remember they’re only guidelines, not rules!
Ultimately, I want you to look like yourselves. Don’t feel like if you don’t follow these guidelines that your photos are going to be unusable. The most important thing to me is that you feel and look like yourselves, how you normally dress, so you can be as comfortable as possible!
Let's get started!
What to Wear Guide
Here’s a few guidelines to help:
That's the key! Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it. If we are going to be hiking around the mountains, bring shoes with good grip and you won’t twist your ankles in. If we are shooting on a sandy dune, it would look weird if you’re wearing shoes (ps heels are almost always a bad idea in most scenarios, unless you’re exceptionally good at walking in them). Wear clothes that will keep you warm in cold locations and clothes that will keep you cool if its hot. Extra options and layering choices are always a good thing to have, especially in the Tetons. Most of all: Choose an outfit that you feel confident and comfortable in!
1. Keep it simple & keep it comfortable
Movement. IT'S AMAZING! Don’t get me wrong, fitted items can show off your amazing, beautiful body and slim you, but so can flow. Having clothes that allow a bit of movement can vastly expand an image and its potential by creating another element. It is important to note, flow and movement is not the same as baggie!
Another biggie.... patterns! AVOID big, loud, chunky, crazy patterns. Personally, I'm a huge fan of delicate patterns (especially florals). They can be a wonderful touch to make an outfit more dynamic, but smaller patterns tend to be a key. Loud, or chunky patterns can pull your eyes away from the emotion or become confused in the landscape. Flannels are always a yes in my book (probably because I wear one almost every day)! 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 avoid graphics and logos. They can be great, but there’s a time and place for them (such as a sports game or the dance club). They can be distracting and often take away from the timelessness of your images. Lastly, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!
2. Movement & Patterns
When I think “props”, my mind flashes through all of the cringe-worthy Pinterest photos with props that make me resent having my picture taking (flash back to pre-k when I was asked to hold a GIANT blue crayon and say 'cheeeese'). But props don’t have to be cheesy! Have a dog or a cat you want to bring?!? I’m all for it. Make sure to give me a heads up so I can do some pre-planning, and we can make sure the area is friendly to pets. They add an adorable addition and are probably a pretty essential part of your family worth capturing. Props can also be your child's favorite toy, bikes, picnic items, drinks, donuts, pizza, blankets, florals (LOVE), skis, etc. In fact, if it adds an activity that represents you, that’s all the better.
Finally, let’s add another layer to an image. Accessories are great because not only do they do that, but they also add intrigue and give you an extra thing to work with when I’m shooting. Hats, scarves, jackets, jewelry... all that jazz.
3. Props & Accessories
Color is equally huge for me, and I can tell you from experience this can truly make an incredible difference in an image. My number one suggestion is to keep the tones of your clothes earthy. Neutrals, black & white, and tones of color that have an earthy feel both mix well with natural environments and allow you to pop the most in images. For earthy tones, we’re talking browns, mustards, burnt orange and rusty red, navy blue, mossy or sage greens, etc. In general, neons can not only be harsh in edits but reflect light onto skin tone, which is generally not ideal. In general, bright pinks, oranges and reds are a definite on avoiding, unless you have a darker complexion. These realllllllly like to reflect onto skin tones.
Think about the tones of the location too, and try and keep your palette in the same realm. Oh, and don’t think a flash of color here and there can’t be amazing. One of my favorite examples of this is turquoise. In a muted outfit, a flash of turquoise can be AMAZING.
4. When Adding family members - Coordinate colors, don't match
A lot of people ask me whether or not they should get your hair and makeup done by a pro. Whatever feels like you. I'm not a huge make-up wearer, so it would look pretty unrealistic if I went crazy. If you want your hair and makeup done, then definitely do it, because the most important thing is that you feel confident. If you’re getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule your appointments to be done at least two hours before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t late. Also, if you’re whiter than toothpaste like me and want a spray tan, be sure to get a suuuuper natural airbrushed spray tan rather than one from a salon/tanning place.
5. Hair & Makeup
If you have anymore questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! If you’re still struggling with what to wear feel free to send 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. You do you, and I promise the photos will turn out amazing.
Any questions?
Please feel free to email jenna@jennaboshart.com with any questions.
- Jenna Boshart