What to wear to your shoot

You do not need a new wardrobe, and you do not need to lose a kilo first. You need a few pieces that feel like you. The camera loves ease far more than it loves a label.

Here is how to choose, one step at a time.

Start with how you want to feel

Decide how you want to feel in your photographs. Powerful? Soft? Quietly confident? Choose clothes that match that feeling. The rest becomes easy.

Think about where your portraits will live

Will your portrait hang in your lounge? Look at the colours in that room. If your walls and furniture are soft neutrals and pale blues, bold brights can feel out of place. (Unless you want a statement piece on the wall. Then go for it.)

For a branding session, think about your brand colours. Your outfits can echo them, so your images sit beautifully on your website and your socials.

Fit matters more than anything

Wear what fits you now, not the size you hope to be. Clothes that pull or pinch make you hold your breath, and it shows. Comfortable is confident.

Colours that photograph beautifully

Soft, muted tones are the most flattering: dusty blues, warm neutrals, gentle greys, creams and soft golds. Very bright or neon colours can cast a colour onto your skin, so keep those for another day.

These palettes are a good place to start. You are not limited to them.

Keep patterns quiet

Solid colours and gentle textures work best. Please leave these at home:

• large logos
• large text on your clothes
• character prints
• very bold, busy prints

They pull the eye away from your face, and they date quickly. Texture is a lovely alternative: lace, a soft knit, velvet or a little sheen.

Bring options, and bring layers

Two or three outfits give us range. Bring one you feel powerful in, and one that feels soft. A jacket or a wrap changes the mood in seconds.

In my studio, I match your outfits to different backdrops. Sometimes I paint a backdrop just for you. So send me your options before your session, and I will plan around them.

Smarter is usually better

When you are not sure, choose smart rather than casual. A tailored jacket, a beautiful dress or a good pair of heels can lift a whole portrait. Bring comfortable shoes for between shots, too.

The small things that make a big difference

• Iron or steam everything the night before.
• Bring seamless underwear in the right colour for each outfit.
• Choose shoes that suit each outfit. They change how you stand.
• Wear jewellery that is you, not jewellery that competes with you.
• Look after your hands and nails. They appear in more photographs than you think.
• Watch out for tan lines.

Hair and make-up

For an At Last session, a professional artist does your hair and make-up in my studio. You decide how glamorous you want to be. Bring a photo of a look you love, if you have one.

What to bring on the day

• Your outfits, on hangers
• Accessories, jewellery and shoes
• Water and a small snack
• Anything meaningful that you would like in your portraits

Nothing else. The nerves, the posing, the confidence: I will guide you through all of it.

Still not sure?

Send me photos of your options, and I will help you choose. My whole job is to make this easy.

Send me your outfit photos on WhatsApp →