What to Wear Styling Guide
so here’s the rundown!
I know it can feel kind of daunting and stressful to pick what to wear for photos. So to help ease your minds, here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so you guys can be sure to look hot and be all over each other and feel like Beyonce, while still making sure the images are focused on your guys’ love, not what you’re wearing.
These tips are the ones that I have found work best from trial and error from past shoots, they’re only guidelines, not rules! Ultimately, I want you guys to look like yourselves. Don’t feel like if you don’t follow these guidelines that your photos are going to be awful. The most important thing to me is that you guys feel and look like yourselves, how you normally dress, so you can be as comfortable as possible! Some people like to go shopping for new clothes for the shoot and that’s fine! But it’s also okay to bring clothes you normally wear – ones that are already in your closet that you love and feel yourselves in. An old band t shirt and ripped jeans? Perfect. As long as it represented what you guys are like right now, thats all that matters.
Tip 1: Bring Options
I always recommend to bring options! This way I can make sure the outfits compliment the environment so that the focus is on you two, not on any distractions, which yes, can be your outfits.
All you have to do is make sure you bring stuff that you feel like a million bucks in that we can pick and pull from! Most people bring about 2-3 outfits total. Usually 1-2 casual ones and one more dressier option depending on the scenery. But please – don’t bring your whole closet. It will take a lot of time and detract from the time in session together.
Also, just know that depending on where we are shooting, you’ll most likely be changing in the back of the car on the side of the road. If you aren’t down with that, that’s totally fine and you can just bring one outfit! 😉
95% of my couples text me photos of their outfits in advance so we can pick them out together! If texting isn’t your thing, we can always hop on a FaceTime or Skype call as well!
Tip 2: Think About the Location
Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it.
If we are going to be hiking around the mountains, bring shoes with good grip and you won’t twist your ankles in.
If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it wouldn’t look as natural or flattering if you’re wearing shoes (ps heels are almost always a bad idea in most scenarios, unless you’re freakishly good at walking in them haha).
If it’s freezing cold outside, bring lots of layers and warm clothes with wool socks and boots.
If it’s going to be hot, bring clothes that can breathe more so you don’t have sweaty pit stains in the photos. Be as comfortable as you can be!
Tip 3: Think about Movement
Like I said, make sure that the materials you wear will keep you comfortable during the shoot not only for temperatures but also for being able to move around in.
If you’re in brand new jeans that are still stiff and tight, you might be distracted during the shoot trying to make sure everything stays in place. I recommend bringing clothes that are “broken in” so that you’ll be as comfortable as possible.
I also love when people bring clothing or accessories that can show movement by catching wind, because it adds energy to the photos and looks freaking gorgeous! I always recommend long length dresses for the perfect amount of movement, comfort and fun!
Tip 4: Think about Colors
I recommend usually staying with neutrals and earthy tones. Neutrals doesn’t mean just white, grays and browns, there’s neutrals of every color (mustard yellow, olive green, navy blue, dusty pink, tan, maroon, etc.)
Stay away from bright, fluorescent distracting colors, especially bright pinks, oranges and reds. If you have dark or olives tones skin this might be an exception depending on the light conditions, but a lot of the time it will result in skin tones looking really off white or flushed which usually isn’t the most flattering. So stay away from those colors if you can.
If you really want to wear something that is pink or bright orange or red just check in with me first.
Tip 4: Let’s Talk Patterns
Avoid big, loud, chunky, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better!
If the pattern is too loud, it will distract from your faces. Flannels are always a yes in my book (depending on the colors) but I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns together because, you guessed it, it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location.
If you would like to wear a pattern, I recommend only having one piece of what you are wearing to have a pattern because too many going on in the image can become distracting and busy. Not to mention that combining patterns can be difficult but if the patterns are soft and subtle it shouldn’t be an issue.
Big, chunk patterns however – are a no no.
Also, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!
Tip 6: Props
But props don’t have to be cheesy!
Props could be a Domino’s pizza picnic, ice cream, a motorcycle, (if you have a dog and don’t bring it I’ll be pissed), blankets, a truck/car, a campfire, a bouquet, a paddle board, etc. If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!
Tip 7: Hair & Makeup
A lot of people ask me whether or not they should get your hair and makeup done by a pro. My answer is always “whatever will make you feel best, do that.”
I absolutely don’t think it’s necessary whatsoever, because in my personal opinion, I would personally rather look like myself rather than a super glammed up version of myself; but, I do always recommend some concealer, foundation, and a little mascara as the absolute basics as this will allow for a more even skin tone in the lighting. And if you want your hair and makeup done, then definitely do it, because the most important thing is that you feel confident like Beyonce always.
If you’re getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule to be done at least an hour and a half before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t late.
Also, if you’re whiter than toothpaste (no shame!) and want a spray tan, be sure to get a suuuuper natural airbrushed spray tan rather than one from a salon/tanning place. We don’t want you looking like an oompa loompa!
Suggested Retailers
Free People
Urban Outfitters
Madewell
HM
Target
Revolve
Sezane
Christy Dawn
House of CB
American eagle
Abercrombie + Fitch
Zara
Nordstrom
Anthropologie
Aritzia
Cherie Attire
Idah
Oh Polly
And That’s all!
Got more Questions?
If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate to let me know! If you’re still freakin out about what to wear feel free to shoot me a pic or two of what you’re thinking, or we can create a little Pinterest board together! But overall, just wear what you’re comfortable in and feel like you in. A pair of Vans you’ve had since 8th grade? Great. A sweater you wore for basically a month straight? Awesome. A hat that you know your mom hates? Perfect. You do you, and I promise the photos will turn out amazing.
