How many times have I thought that! Going out for the evening, job interviews, meeting friends… it is also one of the questions I am asked by my clients very frequently, especially for outdoor photography sessions.
So I thought I would create a little blog with my top tips for clothing choices for outdoor photography sessions, whether they be family sessions, you and your dog sessions or outdoor portrait and couple photography sessions.
UPDATE SUMMER 2021:
Summer is here and if the sun is shining then your photos should be all about care free light clothes, that are comfortable to wear, that won’t make you hot and sticky and colours that harmonise with the beautiful, lush greens of the forests, sunny yellows of the meadows and blue skies over head.
Think floaty dresses and sandles, jeans and cool tops, shirts with rolled up sleeves and cargo shorts.
Summer colours are pastel shades, so think grey, blue, peachy pink, minty green, lemon yellow, khaki green and cream.
Outfits look great with accessories, so feel free to add your own personality with hats, jewellery and sunglasses!
Great shops to find those Summer
looks are:
Asos https://www.asos.com
Matalanhttps://www.matalan.co.uk
TIP ONE – Where Are We Going?
Consider the environment we are going to. Is it a woodland? Meadows? Lakeside? Urban/city? If you are looking for elegant and polished ‘in the city’ imagery then high heels and evening wear may be absolutely perfect! However, it is less than ideal for a muddy woodland trail or splashing in streams with the children! In this instance comfort is key, with sensible clothes and footwear choices, like boots and flat shoes.
TIP TWO – Weather Watch
Watch the weather forecast! What has the weather been like in the days running up to the outdoor photography session? Warm, bright Summer sunshine? Great! Floaty dresses, shorts, shirts, sandals and lighter colours are perfect! Cooler and rainy? Jeans, jumpers, coats with splashes of colour in scarves, hats, gloves and welly boots!
TIP THREE – Look Around
Harmonise with the colours in the environment we are going to and the season. My outdoor sessions run throughout most of the year and each season brings it’s own colour palette.
Is it the fresh greens, pink blossoms, daffodils and bluebells of spring?
The deeper greens and brighter yellows of Summer?
The richness of burnt orange, flaming reds and deep browns of Autumn?
Pintrest is a great source of inspiration for clothes and colour palettes for all seasons.
Keep to a neutral colour palette and then add splashes of colour that harmonise with the season. Add brighter colours such as yellow and green in Spring, soft pastel colours in Summer and berry purples, browns, teals and darker blues in Autumn.
TIP FOUR – General Rules
Avoid pictures, logos, stripes, spots and strong patterns on clothing as this will draw attention away from your faces.
Avoid white and black, opt for lighter pastels instead of white and darker grey or blues for black.
Ensure clothing is clean, ironed and well fitting. You would be surprised by how distracting creased clothes look in an image!
Feel free to accessorise your outfit to add colour and personality with jewellery, scarves and hats.
Do not be tempted to dress everyone in the same outfits or colours, the variety in tones and outfits add interest to the image.
Clothing choices are something I discuss in depth with my clients during my pre consultation to make sure that we achieve the very best images possible.
Feel free to click here to get in touch and lets talk about your photography session!
Fairy Nuff Photography, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Mansfield’s family photographer, offering both studio and outdoor settings.
deb@fairynuffphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/fairynuffphotography
