How to Plan The Best Outfits For Your Brand Photos
You invest in a personal brand photoshoot and suddenly realize you don’t know what to wear! Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. This is probably THE #1 question I get asked during the photo planning meeting with my clients. The great news is that your brand photographer should have lots of tips to help you prepare for your shoot, including some guidance on what outfits look best on camera.
While every person has their own unique and beautiful shape and style, I wanted to share some tips that can apply to anyone:
1. No Baggy Clothing, Fitted Clothes Are The Way to Go.
The camera will show you as wide as your widest garment. Avoid anything that’s too tight that makes you uncomfortable and avoid baggy clothes. For example, an over-sized parachute dress that lacks shape, won’t look great on camera for the majority of people. Wear items that complement your figure!
How to Plan The Best Outfits For Your Brand Photos | Hillary Jeanne Photography | hillaryjeanne.com
2. Layering Clothing Items Is Your Friend
Find ways to layer! An easy way to get variety in your gallery is to throw on different layers - jackets, scarves, a sweater, etc. It’s also great to layer because of seasonality - the photos you take during summer can last you through the winter if you bring that jacket to throw on for a few shots! Accessories are always welcome!
3. Think About Your Ideal Client
What would you wear to a meeting with them? If your brand is formal, you may have a more elevated look. If it’s casual, then you will have more casual pieces. For example, if you are a yoga teacher, you probably won’t wear a full-on suit in any photos, but if you’re an executive coach working with high-end executives, perhaps you would. The goal would be to show up as the best version of yourself, so wear what makes you feel confident! Part of my planning process covers all of this all further 😉
4. Avoid Logos
No brand names or logos. It’s distracting and takes the focus away from the most important part of the photo, you! Some photography blogs say to avoid patterns too, but I disagree - patterns can work! It just depends on the background, which we can make happen.
5. Coordinate Your Outfits for A Strong Brand
Since it’s for branding, you will want to take some time and coordinate your outfits. There should be some consistency between each outfit you choose. I recommend laying them out ahead of time to see if they all work well together to tell the story of your brand. A great way to do this is to have outfits in the same color palette. If you look up “color palette” on Pinterest, there are a lot of ideas here.
If you need extra help that’s a little more personalized, there are so many amazing wardrobe stylists who are experts in this area! Here are a few of my faves: Michelle Blanco, Ashley - AC Styles, Janet - Style By Janet. Another option is some stores will offer complimentary consultations, so that’s always something to look into if you plan on doing some shopping before your photoshoot.
Once you have picked out your outfits, I highly recommend taking photos of yourself from your phone in front of the mirror. This will give you an idea of what each outfit will look like on camera. It’s also great to send the photos to your photographer before photoshoot day to get feedback and plan locations around each look.
Does your brand tilt more toward formal or casual? Let me know below!