Tips and Inspiration
What to Wear
Let me preface everything on this page with this: the most important tip is to wear what YOU love and feel comfortable in. Wear something that matches your style and vibe. The best outfit is one that you feel comfortable and confident in.
If you want to dress up, now is the time!
Don’t be afraid to dress up and have some fun with your outfit! No pressure though. You don't have to dress up. But if you want to, go for it! There's no such thing as too extra. You could also get your hair and/or makeup professionally done for the session if you want to. Feel free to bring along accessories such as a hat or jewelry.
Flowy Things
Long, flowy dresses, skirts, or pants look amazing on camera because
they add extra movement to the photos and compliment natural
environments. Dresses and skirts also usually very flattering for most body types. If you're looking for a flowy outfit, I recommend Amazon, Rent the Runway, or Lulus (they are not sponsoring that mention at all. I've gotten a few dresses from them).
Looking and Feeling Your Best
It's part of my job as a photographer to make you look your best and to create an environment where you feel confident. Your outfit can also help in making you feel your best. If there are areas of your body that you are less confident about, consider wearing something that will downplay that area. For example, if you are concerned about your stomach, a dress or top that is tight around the middle may not be the best choice and something looser and more flowy may be more flattering. Another example - if you're concerned with how your arms may look, I recommend picking an outfit that has some kind of sleeve. On camera, sleeves have a slimming effect
on arms. Sleeves can mean a lot of things! There are cap sleeves, three quarter length sleeves, and full sleeves.
In summary - pick an outfit that makes you feel your best!
Shoes
We will be moving around a lot during the session, so I recommend wearing shoes that you can walk easily and comfortably in. Some locations involve rocky, uneven terrain, so be prepared to move around wherever we are going. If we are hiking at all, you can bring a separate pair of shoes to hike in, and then change into the shoes you want to wear for the photos.
Inspiration and Examples
Bra Straps and Such
When picking an outfit, think about how that outfit reacts when you move around. If your bra strap keeps poking out or the sleeves gap in a way that you don't like, consider picking something else or getting something like fashion tape to keep everything in place. I apologize in advance, but I'm not going to be able to Photoshop out bra straps in every photo!
If you want to dress up, now is the time!
Don’t be afraid to dress up and have some fun with your outfit! No pressure though. You don't have to dress up. But if you want to, go for it! There's no such thing as too extra. Feel free to bring along accessories such as hats, belts, jackets, etc.
Pants
Solid-colored slacks or
fitted jeans are usually a really good look for men. Long pants will look more formal, and shorts will look more casual.
Tops
You really can't go wrong with a solid-colored shirt paired with slacks or fitted jeans. Sweaters, blazers or button ups are also encouraged. Patterns can be fun too, but super bright patterns, graphics, or colors can bring attention away from your face. I don't usually recommend pants that are super loose and baggy, nor skin tight (unless that's your preferred style of course!). If you know you tend to sweat, consider wearing an undershirt or pick a color that will be less likely to show sweat.
Shoes
Closed-toed shoes are usually a good pick! Boots, loafers, or nice tennis shoes are usually all good picks. Super bright colored shoes will stand out in photos, and more neutral colored shoes will blend in. Make sure that you wear shoes that you can walk and move comfortably in. If we're hiking, you can bring a separate pair of shoes for the hike and then change shoes when we reach the location.
Details and Accessories
Men can have all kinds of cool accessories. If you like hats, watches, socks, sunglasses, suspenders, jackets or other accessories, wear them!
Inspiration
Color Schemes
When choosing colors for your
outfits, I recommend selecting
natural tones and more muted
shades. By avoiding ultra-bright,
bold colors, it will help
bring all the attention to your
faces and let the eye focus on
the way you feel about each
other. Colors like muted
blues, soft pinks, light or dark
gray, maroon, cream, brown,
and other more natural tones tend to photograph really well.
That softer color palette fits
beautifully into almost all
natural outdoor environments.
As you are coordinating
your outfit with your partner,
keep in mind that your outfits
will look the most cohesive
on camera when the color
palettes coordinate rather than wearing the exact same thing or color.
Patterns
I recommend sticking to 1 pattern between the two of you. Patterns add dimension, but too many can be overwhelming. If you would like to incorporate a pattern, I recommend picking one article of clothing between the two of you to have a pattern. For example, maybe have him wear a plaid flannel for a casual look.
Complimenting the Landscape
Here are some examples of colors that look good well with different landscapes:
- Mountains in the summer: red tones, warm colors, cream, blues
- Chautauqua in the summer: red, pink, maroon, yellow, warm colors in general, cream, blues
- Chautauqua in the winter/fall without snow: blue, black, cool tones, blues, red tones, green tones (not tan)
- Red Rocks: cream, gray, blue, emerald, black, cool tones (not tan or light pink or a similar color as the rocks)
- Forests: maroon, red tones, warm colors, cream, gold, light blue, lighter tones in general (dark tones can get lost and green will blend in more)
- Water: cream, red tones, yellow, warm colors, darker blues
- Snow: red tones, warm colors, rust orange, purple, gold, blues, emerald, dark gray, vibrant colors (not white)
- Sand: saturated warm colors, purple, blues, emerald/greens, dark gray, black (not tan)
Inspiration
Matching Vibes
I recommend sticking to 1 pattern between the two of you. Patterns add dimension, but too many can be overwhelming. If you would like to incorporate a pattern, I recommend picking one article of clothing between the two of you to have a pattern. For example, maybe have him wear a plaid flannel for a casual look.
Here are some ideas:
- Books
- Jackets
- Hats
- Pets
- Playing cards
- Flowers
Inspiration
Two outfits?
If your session includes an outfit change and you want to do two outfits, I usually recommend doing a more casual outfit and then a dressier outfit. If you are doing two outfits, I recommend arriving in the more casual outfit and ending in the outfit you are most excited about. You can also mix up outfits by adding or
subtracting jackets, cardigans, hats, or other
accessories.
You don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too
stressful or you’d rather just stick to one look. One outfit that you love will be so much
better than one outfit you love paired with
another you’re not very excited about.
Make it a Date Night
Make the session into a date night!
You’re already going to
be out and dressed up! Why
not take advantage of it? Take some
time before or after the session
just for the two of you to
relax and have some fun
together. You deserve it!
If You Want to Get Wet or Particularly Dirty
If you plan on getting wet or particularly dirty - think alpine lake swim or snow angel - we will probably save that for the very end of the session. If we get wet or super dirty, I recommend bringing a towel and separate outfit to wear on the drive home.
Final Notes
Most importantly, wear something that you love and represents who you are. Pick an outfit that will make you feel comfortable and confident. It doesn't matter if you and your partner's outfits coordinate perfectly if you are both uncomfortable in those clothes. If you love super bright colors, wear them. If your outfits don't coordinate perfectly, it's ok. You don't have to listen to any of my recommendations. I won't be offended. Wear what YOU want and have fun!
Copyright Abby Shepard Photography
