When planning your session, one of the biggest things that can impact how your photos turn out is what you wear. Your outfits help set the mood, add personality, and can even make your images feel more timeless. The goal isn’t to wear something perfect — it’s to wear something that feels like you, while also photographing beautifully.
Here are a few simple ways to enhance your photos through your outfits.
Layers
Layers add movement, texture, and depth to your photos. Think jackets, flannels, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, or even a button-up worn open. Layers also give you variety throughout the session — you can easily take something off or add it for a slightly different look without needing a full outfit change.
Patterns
Patterns can add a lot of personality to photos when used the right way. Florals, subtle stripes, plaid, or small prints photograph really nicely. If you’re doing a couples or family session, I recommend only one or two people wearing a pattern while the others wear solids so the outfits don’t compete with each other.
Colors
Color plays a big role in the overall feel of your photos. I usually recommend earthy, neutral, or muted tones because they photograph really well in natural settings. Think creams, browns, sage greens, rust, denim, soft blues, or warm neutrals. These tones also tend to feel more timeless and blend beautifully with outdoor locations.
If you’re doing a session together, coordinating colors works better than matching exactly. Choose colors that complement each other rather than everyone wearing the same thing.
What Not to Wear
There are a few things that can be distracting in photos. Try to avoid clothing with large logos, graphics, or text since those can pull attention away from the moment. SUPER bright neon colors can also reflect weird tones onto skin.
At the end of the day, your outfits should feel like you. The best photos happen when you feel comfortable, confident, and able to focus on the moment instead of worrying about what you’re wearing. And if you ever need help planning outfits, I’m always happy to help guide you so everything comes together perfectly. ✨
