What to wear to your brand or portrait photoshoot
When it comes to prepping for your photoshoot, picking out an outfit can sometimes be a bit stressful. After all, what you wear is a direct reflection of your brand / professional profile, so it’s important to choose an outfit that makes you look and feel your best. To ease the process of finding the perfect outfit, here’s a few tips I use as guidance when it comes to helping my clients choose what to wear on shoot day.
1. Start with identifying where you’ll be using your images.
Are you planning on using your portrait images in a more traditional corporate setting, like LinkedIn or an online industry profile? Then start by narrowing down your favourite 3-4 professional/business casual outfits that you’ve already got hanging in the wardrobe. Are you an online business owner or creative entrepreneur who’s planning on using your portraits to grow your brand profile? Then start with 3-4 more casual outfits that suit a lifestyle look (like something you might wear to a garden party or out to brunch). One reason I recommend going with outfit options already in your closet is that they’ve been tried and tested. You know how it fits, what type of mood you need to be in to wear it, and how it makes you feel.
I personally like to go with the ‘power’ outfits in my collection when I know I’m going to be in front of the camera. What I mean by the term ‘power’ is that they are the pieces in my wardrobe that I know I’ll always feel comfortable in and look great in no matter what kind of day I’m having. If you’re set on purchasing a new outfit for your shoot, give it a road test and wear it a few times beforehand so you get comfortable and know the best way to wear it for your body type.
2. Choose your colour palette.
Once you’ve narrowed down a selection of outfits from your wardrobe, the next thing to consider is colour. If you’re a business owner and your portraits will be used in some way to market your brand, then go with the outfit option(s) that is similar to or compliments your brand colours. Otherwise, have a think about the backdrop location. Is it mainly filled with neutral colours? Then opt for a pop of bold colour to stand out amongst the scene. Is your backdrop quite busy and colourful? Go with a neutral outfit option which will add a bit of calm and help direct the viewer’s eye. Another way to decide on a colour palette is to go with colours that you just LOVE to wear. I think everyone has their absolute favourite colours to wear. For me that’s yellows and reds, which make me feel alive and fresh every time I wear them. They’re my go to pick-me-up colours.
A few things I would avoid wearing are distracting patterns (which can sometimes photograph with an odd texture and distort on camera) or horizontal stripes (which add extra width to your body shape). If you’re deadset on wearing a bold pattern, layer on a solid cardigan or blazer. Also, make sure your outfits don’t have any large, distracting logos.
3. Accessories and footwear
The great thing about accessories is that we can easily create a different look with a quick layer of a blazer here or the addition of a hat and scarf there. These little statement pieces make all the difference when you wanna switch from business casual to casual lifestyle in a short timeframe and keeps you from having to do a full change of outfits if we’re out in a public space.
When it comes to footwear, a little height is always helpful it you’re a bit on the shorter side (like me) or opt for flats if you’re on the taller side. If in doubt, go with your closet staple aka the shoe you always gravitate to and know you’ll be able to walk and feel comfortable in.
4. When in doubt keep it simple and keep it comfy.
If you’re really struggling to choose between a few different outfit options, I use the above as a tie breaker. Ultimately, you don’t want to spend a heap of time fussing over or fixing your outfit so choose something you can put on and forget about. The goal really is to help yourself feel as comfortable as possible in your outfit choice, which will go a long way in helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera so you can show up authentically in your portraits.