WHAT TO WEAR TO YOUR DOG-EARED PHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAIT SESSION
Your portraits are going to end up on your wall, in a portrait box or in an album, so it's worth putting some real thought into what you wear. You'll be seeing these for years to come, and you want to love every bit of them!
The best advice I can give you is to wear something that feels like you on a really good day. Think of the outfit you'd reach for when you’re going out for a nice lunch and want to feel put together. Comfortable, but a bit more intentional than your usual weekend wear
Neutrals or colour? Both work!
Soft, natural colours like cream, beige, navy, olive and grey always look lovely against the beaches and forests where I photograph. But if you're someone who lives in colour, please don't go out and buy a beige jumper just for your session! I want you to look at your portraits and see yourself, not someone who got dressed up for the photos.
If colour is your thing, a few tips:
Go for solid colours rather than busy prints
Stick to one or two colours rather than lots at once
Richer shades like rust, mustard, deep green, teal or burgundy look gorgeous. Very bright fluoro colours can reflect onto your skin (and your dog!), so are not usually ideal.
Want to dress up? Go for it!
If you love the idea of wearing a dress or something a bit special, please do! It looks gorgeous out at the beach or in the forest, and I always get excited when clients go for it. It’s completely your call though. Your favourite jeans and a lovely knit look just as good. Wear whatever makes you feel great.
Coordinate, rather than match
If more than one person is in the portraits, choose outfits that go together without being identical. Try to keep everyone in a similar range. For example, a very dark top next to a very light one can look a little unbalanced.
Dress for movement
We'll be walking, sitting, and maybe crouching or kneeling for a few shots, so wear something you can move in easily. If you’re wearing a dress, one with a bit of length ad flow works well. Leather boots or your favourite Converse are perfect for sand and forest tracks.
Don’t forget your feet
Your shoes will be on show in lots of your portraits, so give them some thought too. Leather boots or your favourite Converse are perfect for sand and forest tracks. A smart pair of tall gumboots like Hunters can look great too, but short farm gumboots usually look a little too casual. I would avoid jandals and Crocs too. And if we’re on the beach, feel free to go barefoot!
Pro tip
Bring a small bag for your phone, keys, sunglasses and so on, so they don't make a cameo appearance in your portraits :)
Still not sure what to wear?
Send me an email with a photo of a couple of options and I'll happily help you choose 💜
The things that steal the show
Big logos, brand names, slogans and anything with writing on it will pull your eye straight away from your dog, because we can't help reading them. Busy patterns do the same. I'd also skip hoodies and activewear. They're super comfy (I get it!), but they don't look as good in artwork as your favourite jeans and a nice knit or shirt.
