What To Wear | JBagwell Photography

How to choose the perfect outfit for your photos!

Deciding what to wear for your photos can be challenging. These are the photos that you are going to cherish and hang on your wall for years to come. What to wear can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't need to be. The thing is, some colors look great together and some, well, not so much. Let's talk about some Do's and Don'ts when it comes to selecting what to wear for your photos.

1. DO Keep your background or location in mind

Here in Nevada there are many beautiful desert landscapes that you may choose for your photo session. There are so many earthy and pastel colors to pull from the desert. It hard to pick which ones go together to create a desert color palette. Below are a few examples of color palettes that pop here in the desert landscapes:

The softness of a blush pink, muted grey, and sage are a calm and flattering color scheme. This palette looks amazing with a cactus garden setting.

These warm colors of sage, tan, dusty blue and terracotta are a bit richer and can create a nice pop against desert sandstone and canyons.

White, tan, sage, army green, rose, and plum are a deep and rich color palette. These colors are classic and look good on almost everyone

2. DO Coordinate

Today’s family pictures are more about coordinating than matching. Everyone doesn’t have to wear the exact same color. Nor do you each have to dress in the same style! Each person in your family can dress in a way that fits their own personality. And you can still look pulled together in your family pictures. Start by selecting a color palette of 2-3 coordinating colors. Usually for family photos, begin with Mom. I recommend Mom selecting a color palette that is flattering and makes her feel amazing! Select outfits for the rest of your family based on your color scheme. Pinterest is full of tons of examples that can help you decide on a color palette that will be perfect for you and your family.

3. DON'T Wear logos and graphic tee's

There are a few items of clothing that are best to avoid all together. Graphic tees or clothing with large logos can look great in casual everyday wear. But in pictures, they tend to be distracting. On occasion, clothing with graphics and lettering across the front can be okay, such as a cake smash session where baby is wearing a 1st birthday shirt, but its best to avoid these types of things in family photos.

4. DON'T Wear all white or all black

As mentioned earlier it is best to do coordinating colors than all white. Another reason to avoid white is because it is very easy to wash out a subject. Same can be said with all black. You can easily become camouflaged when wearing black against a darker backdrop, forest, or dark wooden scene. Black can however, be flattering against light colored backdrops or in a big open area. Always make sure that if you choose black clothing for your photos, at least one other person is dressed in a lighter color to compliment the black.

5. DON'T Get busy with patterns

Keep the patterns to a minimum. Your eye should go to the faces in the portrait, not what the subjects are wearing. If you have no choice but to do patterns, try to make sure only one person is wearing the pattern and make sure it’s subtle.

6. DON'T Go matchy matchy

Everyone is an individual in the portrait, their personalities should shine through with the outfits they are wearing. Back in the 90’s the trend was to have everyone in khaki pants and white shirts, it was easy to do and it was unified. It also lacked personality and color.

So, we've gone over how to coordinate outfits for families and how to dress to match your background, but what about maternity photos?

Maternity photos are a truly special session and you want to capture it perfectly. Below are some perfect styles to highlight your bump!

Form fitting dresses are the best to wear for these types of sessions because they really

define your bump. Maxi dresses are also a great choice because not only do they photograph well, but they are comfortable and help create gorgeous movement in the photos.

Add a belt or maternity sash. A great way to accentuate your beautiful belly is with a belt or sash You will want to place it right where the top of your belly starts. A belt looks great with any shirt or dress whether it’s fitted or flowy. It will pull in any loose fabric and will create a waistline that will define your bump.

Wear solid colors. You and your baby bump are the stars of these photos, and should take center stage. Prints and patterns can be overwhelming in photos.

Choose a dress with texture Texture is a great way to add dimension without the clothing being too overwhelming in the photos. Lace is a wonderful option that photographs stunning and is very feminine. Textured clothing will create more interesting and beautiful photos. It is a great alternative to a print or a pattern.

What about matching my outfit to my skin tone?

One of the questions I get frequently during the editing process is, "Can you make me more tanned"? Sure! Photoshop is a wonderful thing, but whether your picture is in black and white or filled with color, you should try to stick with colors that let your beautiful face take center stage instead of competing with it for attention. Plain, subdued colors that work with your coloring put you on display. When choosing the perfect outfit, look for tones that complement or contrast with your skin tone. For example, olive and darker skin tones look great in white or cream while fairer skin tones look best with rich, earthy tones. Embracing colors that look great on you in your photo shoot makes you feel confident in every shot, and we all know nothing is more attractive than confidence!

I hope these tips have been helpful in helping you decide what to wear for your next photography session! Always remember your photographer is here to help with any questions you may have! I can't wait to see you all in front of my lens very soon!