What Clothes To Wear For
Your Fall Portrait Session
By Dane Hupp
Old South Photography
Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “What was I thinking?” Believe it or not clothing choice is probably the most important aspect of a good portrait, assuming you have a professional photographer who understands the concepts of lighting, posing and scene selection.
Here are some helpful tips to think about when planning your next fall portrait:
Simplicity
Keep the clothing simple. You don’t want your clothing to compete with the scenery . Solid colors are better and allow the viewer to concentrate on the expressions of the people in the photograph and to appreciate the beauty of the scenery. Wearing a busy floral pattern or a plaid pattern can be distracting and rarely enhances an outdoor scene.
Color
When I discuss clothing with someone who is planning a portrait session I always stress the importance of color. Many moms like white, and while this is a safe choice it may not always be the best. Adding color to the scene usually enhances the vibrancy of the finished portrait. Decide where you are going to hang the portrait and coordinate the clothing choices with the colors in your house. Darker colors are also slenderizing and photograph more beautifully. Black is almost always a good choice and my personal favorite whether outdoor or in the studio.
Style
Unless you are as skinny as a runway model, it is a good idea to wear long sleeves for a portrait session. I find very few ladies who like the way their arms photograph and long sleeves can solve the problem. The choice of whether to wear casual or dressy clothing is a personal choice and depends on the personality of the family being photographed. I prefer staying away from dresses and discourage shorts in an outdoor portrait session. Casual clothing that covers your body is more flattering and allows more versatility when it comes to posing.
Remember, clothing is the most important consideration when planning your fall portraits. How often are you going to be able to talk your husband into taking a picture? How much effort did you spend lining up everyone’s schedule so that you could have this special portrait taken? Spend a few minutes talking with your photographer about locations and what clothing would make the best portraits of you and your family. You will be glad you did every time you look above your fireplace.