In my experience, I’ve had a lot of clients who have been stumped by what to wear for their engagement or portrait sessions. I mean, there are some people who come straight out of the womb with mad style… I am not necessarily one of them, so I can understand this anxiety. I obsessed for WEEKS over what Jamie and I would wear for our engagement session. (I’m pretty sure I bought at least three different dresses and only ended up wearing one.) I worried about whether or not we coordinated or were TOO matchy-matchy or were choosing clothes that would look trendy and outdated in a matter of months. Which colors looked best on us? Will this pattern photograph well? How will we blend in with the locations we chose? DARN IT, I JUST WANT TO LOOK COOL. Being effortlessly stylish takes so much effort, it’s exhausting. :)
To perhaps ease a little bit of this frustration, I thought that today I would blog some guidelines for choosing outfits for your session. By no means am I some sort of style guru (I’ll leave that to Stacy and Clinton), but I have noticed some patterns in clothing choices that work really well and those that don’t work as well when photographed. Keep in mind that I generally recommend for engagement and non-family portrait sessions that everyone bring 2-3 looks for some variety, with one fairly casual and one on the dressier side. So here are my thoughts:
1. Layers are your friend.
I’m a firm believer in the power of layers. They add so much dimension and interest to a look. Think vests, cardigans, jackets, and accessories like scarves, hats, chunky necklaces, tights, cool boots, etc. Don’t agonize over whether every single piece matches (this is one mistake I made). In fact, I believe that the less matchy an outfit is, the cooler it looks just by default. Here are some pieces that I’m drooling over right now, and that I think would be perfect for a shoot (FYI, my favorite clothing stores are J.Crew, Anthropologie, ModCloth, and Banana Republic, but I know their price points can be a little high… that said, I adore Target and stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s… you can find a lot of similar looks but for a lot less money! I’m all about getting inspired by expensive clothes and then going bargain-hunting. :) :
Banana Republic: Bootcut faded indigo wash jean, $59.50. Anthropologie: Bedecked brooch necklace, $48. Forever 21: Striped 3/4 sleeve shirt, $13.50 Target: Teal cashmere scarf, $24.99. Anthropologie: Mullany dress, $258. J. Crew: Wool majorette jacket, $228. Banana Republic: Charcoal wool vest, $98.50. Forever 21: Retro oxfords, $24.80. J. Crew: Cotton Irwin tartan tie, $59.50.
2. Identical white shirts and jeans or khakis are NOT your friend.
Yes, we all know it. That dreaded pose of a couple standing in front of a tree, wearing white button-up shirts and jeans, with the girl placing her hand very unnaturally and awkwardly on her fiance’s chest as they both smile creepily into the camera. As a general rule of thumb, don’t show up for pictures wearing something that you’d never wear together out in public on a date. Frankly, I don’t know anyone who goes out wearing matching white button-ups and jeans on a Friday night. So let’s just say that’s not natural. And for a portrait of yourself, don’t you want to LOOK like yourself? Thought so. This “uniform” is too safe. Think outside the box. And remember my mantra for a photograph: it’s less about what you looked like and more about who you were and how you felt. I want to capture a real moment in time, not a staged one. Ew.
3. Avoid Hawaiian prints.
Unless you are vacationing in Maui, there is no excuse for a Hawaiian print shirt. This and other loud, bold, extremely colorful prints are just plain obnoxious and distracting. You want the focus to be on you, not your unfortunate taste in patterns. Don’t get me wrong- again, I do love a good mix-and-match set of patterns. Just make sure they’re subdued enough not to draw attention away from your face, or that they’re appropriate for the setting you’re in (for instance, I think a bright, bold, retro floral dress would be really fun if we were shooting in an old ice cream parlor or at the county fair or something).
4. Don’t be afraid of color!
I’m a big fan of color, not gonna lie. My wardrobe is full of it. I know the more fashion-forward thing to do would be to own a collection of 47 little black dresses, but whatevs. Everyone more or less knows what colors work for them (I know you’ve heard at least once in your life that “that blue really brings out the color of your eyes” or “purple looks really good on you!”), so go with that! One thing I’ve found in particular is that jewel tones look really good on a lot of people. They’re rich enough to be slimming and not wash your complexion and brighten up your whole look in general. For me, a redhead with frighteningly pale skin, I know that emerald greens and bright turquoises tend to work best. (Heaven forbid I put on a pale peach or pink shirt… scary.) But I also love mustardy yellows and navy and purple and red. I really don’t think you can go wrong with this color family, no matter your look or the season or the backdrop. And here are some of my faves:
J. Crew: Perfect fit mixed tape cardigan, $49.50. Vans: Authentic core classics, $42. Urban Outfitters: Of vice and virtue hooded henley, $38. ModCloth: Watching the clock heel, $89.99. Forever 21: Basic puff sleeves top, $11.80. J. Crew: Secret wash button-down shirt, $59.50. ModCloth: Red-y and rarin’ to go dress, $69.99. ModCloth: Tights club, $21.99. J. Crew: Hammered silk skirt, $278.
5. Also, don’t be afraid of trends.
I know, I know. It seems sort of odd. Doesn’t everyone want their photos to be timeless? Do they want to look back in twenty years and be horrified at those skinny jeans they wore or the way they styled their hair into a faux-hawk? Welllll…. yes and no, in my opinion. The fact of the matter is, there are very few outfits you could pick out now that won’t look SO 2010 twenty years from now. Unless you’re Jackie Kennedy or Audrey Hepburn, I’m afraid you’re going to be subject to style ridicule by your grandchildren one day. With that in mind, why not fully embrace who you are NOW? Be inspired by what’s on the runways and in your closet, because those looks will better represent the real you, not the timeless you. And unless you’re headed to the White House or something, who really cares if you’re “timeless” anyway? Honestly, I much prefer looking at old photographs and seeing people dressed exactly as you would expect them to be according to the year they were photographed. But maybe that’s just me. :)
6. And finally, most importantly: BE COMFORTABLE.
When it’s all said and done, you can show up in the most trendy, layered, colorful, effortlessly put together outfit, and if you’re uncomfortable, you might as well forget it. Choose things that make you feel confident and good-looking, and that you won’t be afraid to move around in a little. Ladies, we all want to look beautiful and slim… if adding a bunch of layers makes you feel like you look a little heavier than you are, don’t wear ‘em! If you think you look sassy and sexy in all black, dear heavens, rock that little black dress as if you just walked off the set of Sex and the City! And guys- you know you want to look handsome and cool… if bringing along those aviators for some of the shots does it for you, please do! And if you feel silly wearing a tie and a sweater vest, then don’t! Above all else, follow guidelines while keeping in mind what makes you feel like you look your best. And if that means chucking a guideline or two, I’ll totally forgive you. (Well, I may not forgive the Hawaiian shirt. Just sayin’.) We’re going to be doing all sorts of posing and moving and laughing and just getting lost in the moment, so show up prepared and dressed for that. :)
I’ll leave you with a shot from Nathan and Camille’s engagement session, because I think they did a fantastic job with their outfits:
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You are my new idol. :) One day when I grow up I want to be just as good as you. Love everything about your photography Morgan. You are amazingly talented! I will bow down now :)