- Home
- About Us
- SmugMug Tips
- 5 Frustration-Free Ways to Reboot Your Photo Website
- The Making of a Digital Newsletter
- Take Your Photos Further With These Smug Features
- SmugMug for Special Occasions
- Why Upload Your Full-Res Originals?
- Essentials for a Successful Website
- 3 Flavors of Privacy
- Build a Custom Website on SmugMug
- Your Own Photo Home in 4 Easy Steps
- A Photo Organizer Worth Switching For
- Unleash the Power of the Menu Bar
- Special Occassion Print Order Deadlines
- Understanding the Crop Tool
- Picture Perfect Wallet Size Prints
- Guide Your Guests to the Gold
- How to Make a Photo Blog
- Your New SmugMug Site in 5 Minutes... or Less
- The Save Photo Reminder
- Get the Legacy Look in the New SmugMug
- FAQ: Why Switch to the New SmugMug?
- How to Customize Your System Pages
- The No-Hack Custom Page Tutorial
- Encyclopedia of the Watermark
- For Pros
- How to Get Paid for Being the Real You
- 5 Simple Steps to Building Your Brand
- Photography Pricing Cheat Sheet
- Market Your Photography: Share Your Photos
- Create a Great Experience on Your Site
- 8 Tools For Selling Photos Online
- Protect Your Photos from Theft
- Why Events Are Best for Your Business
- Maximize Your Wedding Photography Workflow
- Sports Shooters: How to Win More Sales
- How Can Search Help My Sales?
- The Great Pricing Hoax
- A Winning Portrait Business Model
- 5 Things Your Client Needs to Hear
- The Changing Business of Wedding Photography
- Make More Money with Digital Downloads
- Photo Tips
- 5 Reasons Why We Fell in Love with Lightroom
- Aim to Impress: Go Beyond Paper Prints
- Prep Your Files for Great Prints
- Why Print in a Digital Age?
- 5 Camera Tips Pros Wished They'd Known Sooner
- Get Your Photos Done in Record Time
- Keeping Your Phone Photos Safe, Too
- Get That Shoebox of Photos Online
- Punch Up Your Sport Portraits with Levi Sim
- Travel: How Gary Arndt Does Everything, Everywhere
- Mobile Phone Travel Photography with Michael Bonocore
- Underwater Model Photography
- What Not to Wear (to That Photo Shoot)
- The Art of Making Things Delicious
- 5 Killer Locations for Your Photo Shoots
- Color Calibration for Perfect Prints
- How to Shoot Winning Sports Photos
- Taking Beautiful Macro Photos
- How to Organize a Photowalk
- Get Out of That Photography Rut
- Kickstart Your Lightroom Workflow
- 5 Lies Your Camera Likes to Tell
- What Photos Sell?
- How to Take Delicious Food Photos
- Inspiration
- iSmile Studios, Inc. Maximizing Profits With More than Just Seasons' Greetings
- The Mompreneur: Kelly Lester
- Andi Grant: A Wedding Pro's Love Affair with "Events"
- Wildlife and Travel: Chris McLennan
- Awais Yaqub Photographic
- How to Create Your Own Success
- Sports Photography: Glossy Finish
- SmugMug & Pro Cycling Photographer Graham Watson
- Sports Photography: Kent McCorckle and SmugMug
- Quit Your Job and Run For the Hills: Ron Coscorrosa Speaks Out
- Adventure Photography: Is It Worth the Risk?
- Picture Perfect Pets: Kira Stackhouse
- Spooky Storytelling: History Trekker
- High-Speed Macro: Liquid Drop Art
- Underwater Wildlife: Scubazoo
- Meghan MacAskill Photography
- Matthew Jordan Smith Photography
- Smilebooth
What Not to Wear (to That Photo Shoot)
Looking to get family portraits for the holidays? Or are you a pro photographer with curious clients asking what they should wear to your shoot? Whatever you do, don’t end up on Buzzfeed because of your outfit!
We’ve taken some of the best advice of our in-house pros to share some of their top tips about what you should (and shouldn’t) don the next time you’re getting your picture taken, and included some lovely examples from SmugMug photographers that show just how well a coordinated wardrobe can enhance your final image.
1. Matchy-matchy
Unless you’re going for a specific theme, it’s important to coordinate your outfits without your group all wearing the exact same thing. All plaid or all white can be painfully overpowering in your final image. Give the idea a more modern spin by picking two to three colors that complement each other, or wear different shades of the same color. Spice it up with a favorite accent color, like red, and have everyone wear just a small touch of that. Instant smiles!
Finally, try to avoid having just one person wear a completely different color, especially when that color is very bright or in stark contrast to the rest of the family. This draws the attention just to that person instead of unifying the group. Of course this is fine if that’s the idea you’re going for.
2. Something out of place
It’s important to factor in your shoot location when planning your outfit. You’ll show up very differently when photographed against a plain neutral backdrop than when you’re taking photos in a riotously bright autumn forest!
And let’s not forget about patterns: If you’re wearing plaid or stripes when photographed against a brick wall, you’ll see more lines than a zebra in jail! The result? No one will be able to find your face.
Holiday tip: If you’ve already picked out your holiday card, try planning your outfit around the colors in that design.
3. Loose, baggy clothing
Remember, these photos will be a reminder to your loved ones what you look like when they can’t be with you! Fitted clothes look much more polished and flattering than loose clothes, which can just make you appear boxy. Check the fit of jackets, sweaters or collared shirts, and be sure that the collar won’t obscure your face when you sit down and that the shoulders won’t bunch up.
4. Something you've never worn before
We’re all about shopping, but don’t let the photo shoot be the first time you’re wearing new duds! You’ll want to feel comfortable and confident, and if you’re unsure of how that skirt will act when you’re focused on your poses, it’s best to wait until you don’t have professional photographic proof.
Reach for your favorite outfit, the one that makes you walk taller and feel like you can conquer the world!
5. Just one thing
Unless your photographer tells you otherwise, it’s wise to bring more than one outfit with you the day of the shoot. Most photographers will tell you before you book how many “looks” are included in your price, so follow their advice on what sorts of outfits and how many you’ll need. Think about the types of poses you may do, and your location – You may not want to sit on the ground in a miniskirt or walk across the park in heels. Finally, don’t forget to pack accessories like belts, shoes and hats that can turn a casual outfit into something classy.
Dry on ideas? Pinterest is a fantastic resource with ideas and storyboards showing how to group colors and pick a variety of outfits that you’ll love to show off.
In conclusion…..
Be comfortable, be confident, and use common sense! When in doubt, ask your photographer what works for them and what they’ve got planned for you. Their advice can make all the difference between an uncomfortable photo shoot and a beautiful experience with photos you'll cherish for years.