Imagine, you’ve finally booked your portrait session with that photographer you’ve been following on Instagram for the past 6 months. You’re all hyped and excited and suddenly you freeze as the most important question pops into your head. “What do I wear?!” So you start feverishly searching the internet and Pinterest for ideas.
Stop! Take a breath and relax. Inhale….Exhale….
Now that you’re calm and collected, let’s break it down! The outfit you choose for your portrait session hinges on the type of look you want. Are you going for a more formal look? Or are you going for a more casual vibe? How do you want to be portrayed in your photos? There is no right or wrong answer. Maybe for this session, you want a more casual, fun vibe. And then the next one will be more formal and chic. If you’re doing a family session, it’s important for your clothing to look cohesive but not matchy, matchy (everyone doesn’t need to have the same exact outfit on)
Let’s break it down by color.
Blues portray confidence, calmness and stability. Think of the sky and the ocean.
Greens portray luck, nature and safety. It helps you to feel grounded or renewed. It also makes you appear approachable.
Yellows portray energy, warmth and brightness. Just look at the sun! (figuratively speaking, don’t go stare at the actual sun) It warms your skin and gives you energy through vitamin D. It’s hard to feel sad when your wearing yellow.
Oranges portray happiness and enthusiasm. It’s a vibrant, attention-grabbing color.
Reds portray passion, love and power. It tends to bring out strong emotions. Reds should be worn when you want to feel bold.
Purples portray royalty, mystery and imagination. Where it when you want to feel unique or special.
Pinks portray romance, kindness and nurturing. No, it’s not a feminine color. In fact, it was considered a stronger color in the early 20th century, and reserved for boys.
Browns portray nature, security and strength. It can bring a sense of security like the solid ground beneath your feet. But don’t go overboard because it can begin to feel drag and depressing.
Blacks portray mystery, boldness, power and elegance.
Whites portray innocence and peacefulness. It can convey uplifting feelings or newness.
Any of these colors can be worn in both a causal or formal capacity. You just have to contemplate what mood you want to present in your portraits. The hue of the color is also important. Pastel or subdued hues give off a more laid back, casual feel while bold vibrant colors tend to feel more formal and proper. It’s not a bad idea to pin a few outfit options in different colors to see which one resonates the most with what you’re feeling. It’s also totally fine to ask your photographer for suggestions. The most important thing is to enjoy your session and have a great time making memories!
