Tips to look your best in photos
A common question I am asked is “what should I wear for my portrait session?” It definitely is an important question and one that I happily answer with a few suggestions; however, there are a few other things to keep in mind to ensure you always look your best in photos.
Our eyes naturally gravitate to the lightest part of a photo. In portrait photography, this should be a person’s face. It’s important that the viewer of the photo is drawn to the eyes of the person in the photo, not their clothing. With that being said, avoid wearing white or light colored shirts. Clothes with darker tones (e.g., gray, navy blue, burgundy, etc.) will help draw the viewer to the face and eyes.
To take it a step further, avoid clothes that are distracting and lead the viewer away from the face like those with busy patterns, large print, or sizable logos. Instead, it is recommended to choose somewhat conservative clothes with solid colors. Also, choose similar tones for your top and bottom (both dark or both light). If there is a mismatch, one part of your body will appear larger than the other.
For family portraits, chose clothing with colors in the same color scheme. This means choosing similar color tones that compliment each other. You want to avoid wearing matching clothes (e.g., shirts that are the same shade of blue).
Other general tips to consider:
Darker colored clothes tend to be more slimming than lighter colors.
Baggy or tight-fitting clothes can be distracting.
Avoid trendy clothes that will quickly date your photos.
For women, apply makeup as you normally would. Additional makeup is not necessary. A natural look is always best. Also, consider wearing tops with sleeves at least to the elbows and pants or skirts below the knees. Arms and legs have a much larger surface area than the face, which could draw unwanted attention.
For men, a clean shave several hours before the portrait session is recommended, unless you're going for the rough look.
If you plan on getting a haircut before your portrait session, it is recommended you do so at least a week before. Give yourself a little time to work with your new haircut and let it grow out a little. It will look much better in your portrait.
Keep jewelry minimal. Remember, we want the focus on you, not the jewelry.
Make sure clothes are clean and pressed, if they are not wrinkle free. If possible, I might even suggest changing into the clothes you intend to wear during your portrait session just before we start.
If you wear glasses, it's best you remove them as they may show reflections that are difficult to remove afterwards. Removing them at least 15 minutes before the portrait session will make sure you do not have any unwanted indentations on your nose. If you prefer to wear them during the portrait session, there is a technique we can apply to minimize reflections.
Lack of sleep the night before a portrait session typically leads to sagging eyes. If possible, get a good night’s sleep.