When I went full time however long ago, I was mostly booking couples sessions. One of the questions I was often asked was, “can you help us figure out what to wear?” Because I spend loads of time behind, and in front of, my camera, I really learned what works and what doesn’t work and it can also be based on locations.

Don’t worry, I am here to give you my do’s and “dont’s” on what to wear to capture your adventure and get the most out of your photos and of course, feel good in them. Believe it or not, what you wear can make a big difference! I already have a lot of this in my “What To Wear Guide” that I send to all of my clients that book, but we’ll dive in a little deeper here (and stay tuned for a list of places to shop)!

Keep It Simple Or Go Big

Decide whether you want to go big with drama or if you want to keep it simple. Look at the location, and decide whether you want to let it specs for itself or if it needs more “wow”- or if you simply want to add to the drama of the location.

Coordinate but don’t match. If I had to give you my number one tip,  it would be to keep outfits simple yet fun! If you go big, you don’t necessarily want to go super crazy with patterns that can seem “noisy”. For the most part, we don’t want loud colors or patterns to take away from you. After all, this is all about you.

For a dreamy look, choose pastel or natural/earthy colors, off-whites, and soft prints. Neutral earthy tones that compliment your skin tones are always a safe way to go. What the heck are earthy tones? These are (light or dark) Greens, burnt Oranges, along with some light natural Pink colors, etc.

Logos quickly date a photo, can look tacky and will distract from you and your relationship on camera. They’re great for every day wear but not recommended when documenting your adventure.

Prints & Patterns

Small prints and stripes don’t always photograph well. The camera reads them and creates it’s own weird pattern called “moire” which basically means the pattern meshes together- that isn’t desirable. Staying away from small, tight stripes and prints will save your photos! Pure white is difficult to expose for and can distract from you while also getting lost in the environment. I typically say aim for off-white and coordinate around whoever is wearing white.

Jewelry

We want you to be the focus of your photos. Keeping accessories to a minimum will help to do just that! Too many accessories will take away the spotlight and may be overwhelming to the eye. If you choose to wear an accessory that makes a statement, minimizing your other accessories, as well as keeping your clothing patterns simple, will allow it to stand out without being too much.

So, where to shop?

You do not need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars. And, even better, you can shop sustainably and ethically. Check out World Changer Co. for a list of different places to shop by category- boho, chic, basics, denim, formal, etc.

I also have a Pinterest board you can check out if you need some inspo and a mood board! I update this about every 3 months.

DO YOU

With all of this being said, your adventure is all about YOU! This means if you want to wear a casual dress do it!  If you want a dramatic formal dress that has lots of details do it! The happier you look and feel, the better your photos will be and what we wear can definitely effect our confidence. 

Capturing your true essence is my # 1 goal.  Let your outfit resemble you. It is truly your day and with this, you should feel like yourselves both inside and out. There are so many different ways to put your own personality into your outfits through colors, tones, and style! Wear what makes you feel your best and roll with it effortlessly.