What to Wear guide

Man oh man. I know it can feel kind of daunting to pick what to wear for photos. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so you guys can be sure to look hot and be all over each other and feel like your best self, while still making sure the images are focused on your guys’ love, not what you’re wearing. I know picking an outfit can be stressful, that's why i've created this, to make it a little more enjoyable. This is just what I’ve found to work best from trial and error from past shoots, they’re only guidelines, not rules! You can show up wearing pajamas for all I care.
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Ultimately, I want you guys to look like yourselves. Don’t feel like if you don’t follow these ideas that your photos are not going to be amazing. The most important thing to me is that you feel and look like yourselves, how you normally dress, so you can be as comfortable as possible! A lot of people try to go shopping for new clothes for the shoot beforehand but I actually recommend not going that route. Bring stuff you normally wear, stuff that’s already in your closet that you love and feel yourselves in. An old band t-shirt and ripped jeans? Perfect. A lot of my couples will go shopping for “nicer” looking clothes which is totally fine, but sometimes they regret not just wearing they feel like themselves in. Who cares if you look back at the photos in 20 years and laugh about what you’re wearing? As long as it represented what you guys are like right now, thats all that matters. Dressing to follow the trend isn't a bad thing. Plus, guys are usually not all that excited about putting on a collared ironed button up with dress shoes if they’re used to wearing flannels and sneakers every day. I promise they’ll be way more happy to be at the shoot if you don’t force an outfit he thinks is stupid. 

Buying a new outfit isn't always a bad thing either. Having an excuse to buy an outfit is always fun! Don't say I said so, but don't be afraid to buy something you feel great it, and then return if after haha. Again, you didn't hear it from me ;) 

Here’s a few guidelines to help if you’re feeling lost about what to wear :

First off, I always recommend to bring options. To get the best results, I’ll pick and pull from the options you bring for you guys to change into for each location we shoot at. This way I can make sure the outfits compliment the environment so that the focus is on you two, not on any distractions, which yes, can be your outfits. All you have to do is make sure you bring stuff that you feel like a million bucks in that we can pick and pull from!
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Don’t bring your whole closet though. It will take too much time for me to go through everything and will take time away from your session. Most people bring about 3 or 4 pairs of bottoms and 4 or 5 tops each, then you can bring dresses, accessories, jackets and whatnot as well. Also, just know that depending on where we are shooting, you’ll most likely be changing in the back of the car on the side of the road. If you aren’t down with that, that’s totally fine and you can just bring one outfit! Just make sure to text me a few photos of the outfit options you have and we can pick it out together beforehand.

Make sure it makes sense.

Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it. If we are going to be taking long walks in the woods, bring shoes with good grip and that you're able to run around in.  If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it would look weird if you’re wearing shoes (ps heels are almost always a bad idea in most scenarios, unless you’re freakishly good at walking in them haha). If it’s freezing cold outside, bring lots of layers and warm clothes with wool socks and boots. If it’s going to be hot, bring clothes that can breathe. Be as comfortable as you can be!

Movement-

Like I said, make sure that the materials you wear will keep you comfortable during the shoot not only for temperatures but also for being able to move around in. If you're in brand new jeans that are still stiff and tight, you might be distracted during the shoot trying to make sure everything stays in place as well as lets you sit and run and move around in. I recommend bringing clothes that are "broken in" so that you'll be as comfortable as possible. I also love when people bring clothing or accessories that can show movement by catching wind, because it adds energy to the photos and looks freaking gorgeous!

colors

I always recommend sticking with earth tones and neutrals. Neutrals doesn't mean grays and browns, there are neutrals of every color. Mustard Yellow, Navy Blue, Forest Green, Burnt Orange, Etc. Stay away from bright, fluorescent distracting colors. These colors sometimes reflect off the skin and distracts away from you two. White can be tricky as well. Think of the backgrounds, if it is going to be neutral and bright, white is okay. If it is going to be darker colors, I don't want the white to overpower the tone of your skin! Here are some photos for you to get an idea. 

Avoid big, loud, chunky, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better! If the pattern is too loud, it will distract from your faces. I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns together because, you guessed it, it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location. Also, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either! Texture is also big. I am down for velvets, lace, ruffles..anything that makes the photo more unique! 

Patterns and texture

I love when people bring hats, sunglasses, scarves, jewelry, etc because it’s nice to pair them with different outfit options. Accessories are always a good thing, especially if your outfits are more on the simple side. 

Props

I know props are so 5 years ago, but props don't have to be cheesy!  Props could be a food truck that you often go to, a motorcycle, animals are always so great to photograph, blankets, a truck/car, a campfire or tent.  If you have props you want to incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!

That's it! 

I want to make this shoot special to you two. I want you to have fun, make memories and get some awesome photos. If you're still freaking out, just email me and i'm happy to help any way I can! If you want to talk through ideas to make it extra unique and special, i'm totally down. Can't wait to be a part of this special time with you!