What to Wear for your Photo/ Video session

Photo and Video Session Outfit Do’s and Don’ts

What to Wear… What to Wear?

Finding the right thing to wear for your family or engagement session can be difficult, especially when coordinating with others.

No need to worry; we will give you all the dos and don’ts for what to wear for your shoot.

Book your Session

Don’ts

Here are the most important Don’ts. As with everything, this is a scale, so sometimes these things are not anabsolute no. But in general, if you avoid these don’ts, your photos and videos will turn out how you want.

1) Avoid skin tone outfits.

Though that tan jumpsuit, dress, or shirt looks great for a night out or a casual dinner, it will translate better in photos or videos. The contrast between your skin tone and the color of the garment will clash to the point where you will either blend into your outfit or look like you aren’t wearing anything at all. Neither is what you want when taking important photos like engagement or family photos. If you want to wear tans or brown colors, pair them with another color that breaks up the skin-toned color from your skin. Try a black shirt with a high collar under the dress to make your face pop, or add a white sweater over the jumpsuit to break up the colors.

2) Keep your surroundings in mind.

Just like you don’t want to match too much with your skin tone, the same goes for your background. Avoid wearing deep green as your primary color if you are in a forest with pine trees. Instead, try a deep red or burgundy to complement your surroundings. If you are in a city setting, avoid wearing blue-grey because it can clash with many modern buildings. Keep your surroundings in mind when planning your outfit, and plan to wear complementary colors to make yourself pop in your photos.

3) Avoid matching too much

If you are taking photos for a family or an engagement session, you will most likely be in the photos with someone else. This means you want to look like you belong together, but not be clones of each other. If you wear the same outfit as everyone else in the picture, you may start clashing and not know where one person ends and the other begins. Instead of completely matching, try wearing complementary colors or the same color with a slight variation in texture or pattern. That way, you look matchy but not like your clones.

4) Keep your location in mind.

When selecting your attire for a photo or video session, it’s crucial to factor in the location. This differs from considering your surroundings, as it’s more about practicality. For instance, if your shoot is at a trailhead, wearing heels as your primary footwear might not be the most practical choice. The key takeaway here is to think practically about what will be comfortable throughout the session. You can always bring heels to change into for the photos, but have something more suitable for moving around the trail between shots.

5) Avoid small patterns.

One of the key ‘don’ts’ to remember is to steer clear of small patterns. Small patterns and cameras don’t always mix well. Wearing small patterns during a photo or video session can create a moiré effect. This effect makes it appear like the pattern is moving on camera, resulting in a distracting final image. To ensure your photos and videos turn out as intended, it’s best to avoid small patterns for your session.

Dos

After all those Don’ts you are probably looking at your closet thinking What Now. But no need to stress, here are the Dos that will elevate your photos and videos to the next level and make the most of your session.

1) Bring and Outfit Change

Your session will likely be around an hour or two, so you don’t have to commit to just one outfit the entire time. If you are torn between two outfits, bring them both and change halfway through the session. That way, you get both outfits in your photos without having to decide between the two. This is especially useful during engagement sessions because you might want different vibes with your photos, and having two separate outfits can accomplish that easily. Make sure everyone in your party changes if one person brings multiple outfits.

2) Dress for the weather.

The weather may cause you to change your outfit. If it’s cold, avoid the short-sleeved sundress and choose something with sleeves. Or, like with keeping your location in mind, you can wear the sundress but make sure you have a jacket for between photos. That way, you can stay warm and wear the outfit you want. It is also important to match your surroundings when it comes to weather as well. You may not want to wear shorts if there is snow on the ground; it will look odd in the end.

3) Wear something comfortable.

No matter what, comfort is number one. If you are deciding on outfits, make sure you feel comfortable and confident in them, and they will translate into your photos and videos. This is especially true for children. If you are doing a family session, avoid something your child hates wearing, or be prepared to see sour faces throughout your final photos.

4) Ask your photographer if they have any suggestions.

In the end, your photographer and videographer are experts, so ask for their suggestions if you get stuck.

No need to stress

No matter what type of photo or video session you have planned, it is important to dress for the occasion and feel comfortable and confident in what you wear. These do’s and don’ts are guidelines, and though they are what we recommend for your session, you ultimately get to decide what makes you feel your best on the day of your shoot. We hope you use this list to its full advantage and make picking out what to wear easier. Your photo and video will turn out amazing, no matter what, and we cannot wait to work with you to make it happen!

Tell us about your venue

Motus Weddings