What to Wear?

• About Clothing, Color, Tone, and Style
• About light colored garments...
• Couples and small groups...
• Clothing For Families...
• Tips On Clothing Style And Accessories

About Clothing, Color, Tone, and Style

The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer's attention to the face or faces in the portrait. Simple long-sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a dark background. Avoid light colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige, tan, peach, pink, white, and yellow. Darker shades are more flattering and slimming.
 

with a dark background when an interpretive "pictorial" study is planned.

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges.

Light and dark tones together create visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other recedes.

Clothing For Families...

In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, draperies and furniture. This kind of coordination also is necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.

The visual statement made by portrait on the left is "Here is a family in which each individual holds a place of equal importance,"

whereas this portrait says "Here is a group of seemingly unrelated individuals."

Clothing that blends harmoniously creates timeless
portraiture because the viewer's eye goes directly
to the faces.

Clothing in medium shades complement portraits
made in outdoor environments.

• Very simple garments always photograph best.
• Turtle necks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither is exaggerated in style. Avoid very wide or particularly deep V-neck garments as well as bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely hide the neck.
• Long sleeves are essential for teens and adults, as bare arms call attention to themselves and will overpower the face.
• Women being photographed in full length should wear long skirts, pants, or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the legs and away from the face.
• If feet are to show in the portrait, make certain shoes and stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
• Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time it is styled.