What to Wear for a Portrait Session
Soft colours, good textures and clothes that feel like you. A simple, practical guide to dressing for photographs you'll love for years.
What you wear matters more than most people expect — not because it needs to be expensive or new, but because clothing changes how you feel, and how you feel changes how you look in a photograph.
This is the guide I send to every client. Use what helps, ignore what doesn't.
Start with how you want to feel
Before you open the wardrobe, think about the feeling of the session. Relaxed and outdoorsy? Soft and romantic? Polished and professional for your brand? Let that guide everything else. A linen shirt and bare feet tell a very different story from a tailored blazer, and both are lovely.
Choose soft, natural colours
Warm neutrals photograph beautifully in golden light: cream, oatmeal, camel, olive, rust, dusty blue, soft terracotta and muted greens. They flatter most skin tones and sit gently in nature.
Colours to use carefully:
- Bright white and pure black can lose detail in strong light. Ivory and charcoal are kinder.
- Neon and very saturated colours reflect onto skin and pull attention from faces.
- Large logos and slogans date quickly and distract from you.
Aim to coordinate, not match. Think of your outfits as a palette, not a uniform.
Think in textures
Texture is where photographs come alive. Knits, linen, cotton, soft denim, flowing fabrics that move in the wind. A dress that catches the breeze or a jumper with a little weight to it adds depth that a flat, plain fabric can't.
For couples and families
Choose one person's outfit first — usually the one with a pattern or the strongest colour — and build the others around it. Keep patterns to one or two people, mix textures freely, and make sure everyone can sit on the grass without worrying.
For little ones, comfort wins every time. A happy child in soft cotton makes a far better photograph than an uncomfortable one in something formal.
Practical things people forget
- Fit. Clothes that fit well photograph better than clothes that are simply "nice".
- Shoes. Many of our locations involve grass, sand or uneven paths. Bring something easy to walk in, even if you swap for the photographs.
- Layers. Highveld evenings cool quickly, especially in winter. A jacket or cardigan can also add variety to your gallery.
- Steam or iron. Creases show more on camera than in the mirror.
- A change of outfit. Most sessions have time for one change if you'd like it.
Still unsure?
Send me photos of a few options when you've booked — I'm always happy to help you choose. And if all else fails, wear the thing you feel most like yourself in. That is always the right answer.
