How to Dress for a Photo Session | Kamila Zienkiewicz

1. In photos, comfortable clothes work best, and ones in which you feel good.

Nothing restricts movement like uncomfortable attire. This affects the whole effect of the session, so it's important that you simply feel free.

2. It's important that clothes don't have inscriptions, stickers, or large patterns.

Outfits that are relatively uniform look good, kept in similar tones (we try not to introduce more than 3-4 colors). But as you'll see in the photos in a moment, it's not that you can never wear something with a pattern or texture. On the contrary, it adds charm.

3. Also try to match your outfit to the atmosphere of the session location.

If it's going to be the beach, for example, leave your dress shoes and tie at home :) A loose shirt, airy pants, or a skirt, maybe bare feet will work much better? :) If it's an elegant urban session, chic dresses will be just right. If one person wears something patterned - flowers, stripes, dots - let the rest of the session participants be dressed in solid colors, otherwise it will introduce too many clashing patterns.

I'll try to describe what it's all about here based on specific examples.

Here you see the safest, simplest option - white shirts and jeans. No patterns, no inscriptions. It's great if the shirts are linen or made of airy material, so they look natural in photos and are comfortable for you.

Even wrinkling or getting wet, which is inevitable in seaside photos, doesn't look bad.

Also notice how nicely these colors harmonize with the surroundings.

In this photo, it's still safe. Actually two colors, white and beige, and only different shades of them. But all the work is done by the fact that the clothes are made of natural material, so they drape beautifully on the body. Even wrinkling or getting wet, which is inevitable in seaside photos, doesn't look bad. Also notice how nicely these colors harmonize with the surroundings.

Again, a bit of safety. White dress and beiges. Of course, the model could also have white shorts and a shirt, but it might be a bit too bland and too formal. Beige nicely broke the white elegance and added warmth.

Woman in a session in natural surroundings

Speaking of patterns and colors - look here! A lot is happening, right? And yet consistency is maintained, thanks to limiting the number of colors.

Beige, mustard, brick, and gray.

There are dots, but they're in the color of the blouse, and the boys have more subdued colors.

The blanket is in mustard color, but it stands out with texture, so it's not boring!

Such patterns and textures - absolutely yes!

Again a bit of safety. White dress and beiges. Of course, the model could also have white pants and a shirt, but it might be a bit too bland and too formal. Beige nicely broke the white elegance and added warmth.

And again on the topic of patterns - look at this. You might think that such a strong pattern, leopard print, is out. And if the model's shirt also had any pattern, or even color, it would probably be difficult. But the model is all in black, and the blouse complements the leopard pattern to balance the whole. We're working here a bit on the principle of contrast - green background, red accent.

So what's the recipe for coordinated attire in a photo session?

This task certainly becomes more difficult the more people participate in the session.

However, most importantly that:

- it's comfortable for you and doesn't limit your comfort,
- big Disney stickers, cartoon characters are better left for another occasion
- strong colors or accents work if they don't clash with the rest of the participants.

Does all this seem difficult?

Try doing this: Lay all the clothes (of all session participants) on the bed and see if they match each other. Change, combine, so it's not too boring, but not too much of everything either.

I once heard a nice thought, to imagine the place we're going to (in the sense of the session location) and try to complement the landscape with our clothing. As if we were painting a picture and had to complement a beautiful place to fit in.

From practical matters, I also recommend bringing something to change into in case something unexpected happens, especially for sessions with children! You never know when a little one might get dirty or splash - it's good to be prepared. However, don't overdo it - don't bring your whole wardrobe, and many different toys, blankets, etc. Really, what's most important is what's between you, and we'll be capturing your fun. Take a favorite blanket, some cuddly toy if you need it, and something to change into. The fewer things, the easier it is to move around and focus on you ;)