OVERALL MOOD
The first thing you want to do when thinking about what to wear is imagine where we'll be shooting. What kind of feeling does that location give you? What kind of clothing would you typically wear there? What colors already exist in the space? What vibes are you looking for? Keep in mind I can help during any of these steps, so always feel like you can reach out to me! Writing down some keywords can be really helpful— do you want yours photos to feel adventurous, cozy, urban, natural, romantic, fun, casual, or artsy? These aren’t the only options you have, get creative and have fun thinking about what you want out of your photos!
All of these couples wanted images that felt relaxed & true to their daily life. They chose outfits that they loved and felt comfortable in— while making sure they complimented their partner’s clothing.
COLOR, PATTERN, TEXTURE, & AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS
There are some tried and true rules of what not to wear color-wise— like avoiding bright, neon hues that can reflect onto skin. Sticking with neutral tones is almost always the way to go for photos, but that doesn't mean you need to wear whites, browns, or very earthy tones if you aren't into them! All colors have a neutral version, for example olive & pine are both neutrals of green, mustard is a neutral of yellow, burgundy & rust both act as neutrals of red, navy is a neutral of blue, blush is a neutral of pink, etc. I've been using Pinterest to collect color pallets and outfits I've stumbled upon and enjoyed. Feel free to check it out for color and outfit inspiration inspiration, as well as sending me your own
suggestions!
Textures can either really add to or take away from an image. Natural fabrics like wool, linen, and cotton always photograph well. Some synthetic fabrics look great, while others can seem reflective and unnatural in images. You know those white poly-blend button ups for men? Those reflect various colors from the environment and don't photograph very well— however white linen versions of the same shirt look great in photos! Again— I'm here to help! Send me photos or links to clothing items if you'd like and I can give feedback!
The chunky texture of Hannah’s sweater made a solid top much more visually interesting.
Patterns can be fun, but they can also take the focus away from you— it’s all about balance. I really want my images to focus on your relationship and how you interact with each other. Solid colors are a great option if you are having trouble with patterns— choosing items with interesting textures can add visual interest. Alternatively, you can take some steps to make sure a pattern works in your images! Toning a pattern down with layers (i.e a denim jacket over a striped shirt or a cardigan over a floral top) can make it look amazing and photograph really well. You can also make sure that if one of you wears a pattern then the other person wears something solid to create balance. Smaller patterns often work better than larger ones… but also rules are meant to be broken and ultimately choosing a style that feels like yourself is the way to go!
Shawn’s shirt was a pretty busy plaid, however, since Hallie wore a solid black top under a denim jacket there wasn’t too much going on and their outfits photographed great together.
Jordan & Josh wore white and deep gray, but the thicker knit of Jordan’s tank top added a nice texture and contrasted the smooth texture of Josh’s tee— they also knew we would be shooting with colorful flowers as a backdrop, so they didn’t have to worry about the photos not having enough color.
Mallory & Riley went really casual to capture how they would look on a normal day and it was the perfect fit for exploring around the park together. They did a great job of choosing colors to compliment each other.
KEEP IT AUTHENTIC AND STAY COMFY
Okay - time for some real talk. It is really, really easy for me to remove a pimple in post. However, is very difficult to smooth out skin that has too much foundation build-up because someone tried to hide a blemish. If you get a break-out that morning, leave it be and trust me to take care of it for you! (Do point it out to me and ask me to remove it though— I won’t modify anyone’s skin without consent.) If you're wearing make-up, keep it very similar to your daily routine— you want to look like yourself! Couples sessions are one of my favorites because you get amazing images that are a peek into your real, everyday love. On a wedding day, many people go big with extra make-up, fancy hair, etc. which is awesome, but these couples photos are your chance to look just like your amazing everyday self. It will be really special having that glimpse into real life when you're looking back!
Let's talk about shoes. I know you have some really awesome shoes that you are dying to show off in these photos, but please be thoughtful about your choices! Shoes are where it always seems to go wrong. Getting back to the basics— where will we be shooting? What would you normally wear there? I've seen many a person slipping and sliding up hills or tiptoeing around mud in giant heels or dress shoes when they would have been way more comfortable in boots or flats. If you have shoes you really want to wear but you know they don't make sense for where we are shooting let me know! We can get a full-body shot in a more paved/flat area with your preferred shoes, then you can change into hiking boots or flats when we explore a little bit more.
So now that you have your outfit in mind.... it's time for the test run! Wave your arms around the air, do a weird shimmy, & hop on your partner's back for a piggy back ride. Did you feel uncomfortable or have to adjust your clothing? If you are wearing clothes that need lots of adjusting or don't fit quite right it will show up in photos. I want you all to be free to move and interact with each other during our session, not worried about if your strap is sliding off or if your shorts are riding up. A lot of my favorite photos are those “in-between” shots that happen between poses or as we’re walking from one spot to the next. If you’re adjusting clothing during that time it makes it so those moments are missed.
Last but not least, layers are your friend! (When it’s not the height of summer at least. 😂) If you have items that can but put on and taken off with your outfit it will really extend your range of options with your look! Feel free to bring a light jacket (jean, leather, whatever is your favorite), comfy cardigan, hat, scarf, etc. It's definitely not necessary, so no pressure, but being able to take a light jacket on and off basically gives you two outfits for the whole session.
If you have questions or want feedback always know you can reach out to me. I'm very happy to help and can't wait for your session! You can also check out the outfits from some of my favorite past couple's sessions here for extra inspiration and on Instagram since I post something from all my sessions there!