If you're going to have your photograph taken by a
professional photographer, it stands to reason that you want the best possible
outcome. You'll pay extra attention to your grooming - tidy hair, perfect
make-up if you're a woman, shiny shoes. But what should you wear? And does it
matter?
Actually, you'd be surprised by the difference your choice of
clothing can make to the final result!
First considerations
What's the purpose of the photo shoot?
What sort of picture are you hoping to achieve? How do you see yourself? These
are the questions you'll need to discuss with your photographer when you're
deciding what you're going to wear. It's important that both of you are on the
same page, so to speak, and as a professional he or she will be able to give
you good advice on the type of clothing which will enhance your result rather
than detracting from it.
Carefully chosen clothing can be used to
highlight and flatter the wearer and, on a more subtle level, tell the viewer
of the picture something about you. However, it should in the majority of cases
be unobtrusive—nothing's worse than a picture in which you see the clothes
rather than the person, unless of course it's for a fashion shoot.
Professional hints and tips
Naturally, you need to choose clothes that
you feel yourself in and that reflect the image you're trying to create. But
there are some tricks and techniques with clothing that will enhance your
picture—and there are definitely some garments and colours to be avoided.
· Avoid super-bright
colours and colour clashes.
· Limit the number
of colours in your outfit to three at most. This also applies to group
portraits, for the whole group.
· Pick colours that
are slightly subdued and which work together tonally.
· Keep your top and
bottom fairly similar in colour and tone. A bright or light top with dark
bottoms could make you appear top heavy, while a dark top with light bottoms
may have the opposite effect. And either way, you'll appear bisected across the
middle.
· Avoid stripes and
patterns—plain colour blocking will achieve a more harmonious result.
Particularly in a group photo, if one person is wearing patterned clothing and
the rest are wearing plain, that person will stick out like the proverbial sore
thumb.
· Avoid showing too
much flesh—go for long trousers, knee-length or longer skirts and avoid
sleeveless tops. Bare arms, in particular, compete for attention with your
face.
· Avoid footwear and
socks in lighter shades than the rest of your outfit. White socks will be the
first thing anyone notices in the picture if you wear them!
· Don't have a
haircut just a day or two before the shoot—it will probably look too severe.
· Keep accessories
and jewellery to a minimum.
· Remember that pale
colours are the least flattering to a fuller figure. Furthermore, bright red,
orange and yellow can also make a person appear heavier.
Dressing for a group portrait
If you know in advance you're going to be
part of a group portrait, it's worth discussing with the other sitters what you
are all intending to wear. Although everyone wants to be themselves,
co-ordinated dressing can result in a much more professional looking result.
I'm not suggesting that everyone should wear the same outfits—far from it, as
that would look somewhat creepy. However, choose a colour palette that everyone
can follow, such as navy and black or shades of coffee and camel. Sometimes it
can work well if you direct everyone to wear, say, jeans with a black top or
chinos with a pale shirt.
Dressing children for a photograph
Small children have their own favourite
clothes but that doesn't always mean they're suitable for a photograph. Your
son may love his cartoon character T-shirt, while your daughter might insist on
a dizzying mixture of bright patterns and pink accessories. However, if you
want a picture that will look good for years to come, resist their entreaties
and pick the clothes yourself.
The principles for dressing children are
the same—muted colours, avoidance of bright patterns, and keep things simple.
There is not so much choice of dark colours in children's clothes, but light
can work well. Jeans, sneakers and a white t-shirt look great on boys and
girls—or if your daughter favours a more feminine look, a simple sun dress in a
plain colour can be charming.
At the end of the day, most of these tips are common sense.
Skim through a family album when you've finished reading the list and you'll be
able to pick out the outfits that work and the outfits that don't. See what a
difference the clothes can make? Now, go and raid your wardrobe!
(c) Headshot London at http://www.headshotlondon.co.uk/
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