I'm Getting My Picture Taken, What Should I Wear?
By Linda M. Wilson, www.yourworldourlens.com
“Oh, what should I wear?” That’s the question I’m asked the most.
There’s a lot of anxiety around portraits and professional photos. You want to project the correct image, but might be worried about how you will look. There are some general rules of dress that apply to all types of photos, whether it’s a professional headshot, professional group photo, or a family portrait.
- Wear solid colors - Bold designs, stripes, or plaids can distract from your face.
- Wear colors that enhance your eye color and are good with your complexion. - Make sure you like the color and are comfortable. (No matter how great it looks, if you hate the color you won’t be comfortable and it will show in the photo.) Make sure it doesn’t contrast too much with your skin tone. Darker skin and white are too contrasting, as are very pale skin and black.
- Wear complimentary colors - If there are two or more of you in the photo, plan ahead and don’t wear colors that will clash.
- Wear an outfit appropriate for the purpose of the photo. - If it’s a professional photo, dress as you would when you’re performing the work you do. - If you never wear a suit, don’t wear one for the photo. You want to be recognizable. - If it’s for a casual family photo, wear something casual but nice. For a formal family portrait, wear what you would wear to a formal family function.
Some other hints:
- If children are in the photos, have them change just before the photos are taken. And bring an extra set of clothes, just in case. - White can be a difficult color for outdoor photos. If the sun is very bright, white reflects it back and washes out your coloring.
- Photo-gray or transition lenses can be a problem for an outdoor photo. Even if the sun isn’t shining, the lenses darken some and your eyes won’t show. Wear regular glasses if possible. - If you have pets, or pets will be in the photos, wear colors that won’t easily show the pet hair. And bring a lint brush to tidy up the stray hairs.
- Don’t go out and get a new hairstyle, or shave off your beard and mustache just for the photo. Unless you’re planning on shaving anyway, keep it and get it trimmed.
The most important things for clothing:
- Wear what you’re comfortable in and appropriate for the photo’s purpose.
- Bring extra clothes if there are children or pets, just in case.
- Have fun, smile big, and say CHEEESE!
For more information and to see great photography visit www.yourworldourlens.com
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