What to Wear for Your Summer Photo Session
May 11, 2020
Does looking at everyone’s Pinterest-perfect photos make you feel unprepared? Maybe trying to coordinate outfits that aren’t too matchy-matchy is giving you a headache. We’ve been there too!
You’ve picked your photographer, you’ve set the date, you’ve spent the money, and now the last part is deciding what to wear. Don’t let this last step be the most stressful! We want you to look and feel your very best during your shoot. If you’re not physically or mentally comfortable with what you’re wearing it will show. Here are a few key pointers to follow when choosing those summer photo ensembles.
- Your outfit choices should match your own style and personality. Your photos will be on display in your home, so they should coordinate with your home and reflect you! There's tons of inspiration out there on the internet. You can check out our Pinterest boards to get started, but keep in mind while browsing that you don't need to perfectly imitate what you see. Use others' photos to get some ideas but stay true to whatever reveals your unique personality.
- You can never go wrong with white... ever. Classic, simple, clean, fresh. If you're struggling to find that 'perfect' color scheme, or you're worried about how certain patterns might look there's always a safe fall-back: white. It will always pair nicely with the natural, usually vibrant colors found during the summer months and has a certain, classic appeal.
- Consider the setting of your photo shoot. If you expect to be surrounded by color, keep your outfit somewhat neutral. Otherwise, think about incorporating a pop of color. If you know, for example, that you're headed out to a field of wildflowers you might want to keep the color scheme pretty basic and let nature do the rest. If you're loving a certain bright hue though, establish those neutral tones and then choose a shirt or some simple accessories and throw it into the palette.
- You actually don’t need to match the other folks in your photo. Choose a palette of just a few colors and place everyone in shades of those colors, instead of exact matches. This is especially important the larger your group gets. If you've scheduled a family photo session, make sure that you're all on the same page beforehand. Agree on a few colors, let everyone choose their own pieces, and the mixture of textures with coordinating color will look great. Again, if you want to incorporate a pop of color, designate a few people to wear it, rather than the entire group.
- Some of the trending colors this year are coral, scarlet, faded denim, and orange-yellow. Every year the Pantone Color Institute publishes their Fashion Trend Color Report for upcoming seasons. Whether you're looking to match your color palette to what you'd see on the runway or you just want a launching point for some trendy inspiration of your own, they're the authority to check out. The color trends of summer 2020 were summed up as "friendly and relatable".
- Dress for the weather! Silk, nylon, and bulky items are a ‘no go’. Instead, pick linen, cotton, or seersucker to make sure you stay cool and relaxed. When it comes to the hierarchy of importance for your photo shoot your comfort is at least a few notches above what outfit you choose. Fact: the best results come from a session where you are comfortable and having fun.
Whatever you choose to wear, simply make sure you love it! Don’t worry about things being perfect, and just have fun getting your photos taken. Your smiles are actually the most important thing to wear to your shoot!
