What to wear, what to wear?! We know this can cause a lot of angst. Take a breath, don’t panic, and take a look at a few tips to get you started!
If you still feel stuck or unsure, have no fear, the JDP team is here to help! We’ll talk over ideas and options at your pre-consult and continue to provide guidance as you’re shopping or putting outfits together. Girls, you’ll have access to our extensive studio wardrobe and guys, Jennifer has 3 teenage boys and knows what works!
What to Wear Tip #1: Personal
Your choices should be reflective of you and your style. Choose what makes you feel confident and expresses who you are. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of sides to your personality (aka just because you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of person doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll want to wear for the whole portrait time).
What to Wear Tip #2: Simple
Keep it simple…well, maybe not for every outfit (I mean, see above:). But generally speaking, simplicity in color, shape, and pattern allows you to be the focus. For our girls, off the shoulder is simple but timelessly gorgeous.
What to Wear Tip #3: Eyes
Think about wardrobe pieces that complement your eye color. Your eyes will be a focal point for your portraits and the colors you wear can make them stand out even more. A simple test is to hold the shirt or dress about neck height and watch your eyes in the mirror. Do they seem more sparkly or bright? If so, you have a winner!
What to Wear Tip #4: Fit
We love the loose, Boho style and those big, comfy shirts. Unfortunately, loose clothing is hard for anyone to carry off well in portraits. Defining and creating shape in portraits is super important so think about a more fitted shirt or belting that awesome Boho dress.
What to Wear Tip #5: Accessorize
Sometimes, it’s more than just that cute outfit when you’re planning what to wear for your senior portraits. Think about hats, sunglasses, scarves, great shoes, and jewelry to add a pop of color, shimmer or personality to a sleek outfit.
What to Wear Tip #6: Formal
We get it that you probably don’t go formal a whole lot. But, you look pretty killer in those prom gowns or suits and formal looks can make for some really cool, creative portraits. Sometimes we even like to mix it up with your formal wear and your hobbies and sports, so bring those fancy digs!
What to Wear Tip #7: Color
Think back to elementary school art class and consider the color wheel; colors across from each other complement one another in wardrobe. Cyan/red, yellow/blue, and magenta/green make for great combos. Or, think about color harmony, which means keeping all the tones similar; this is one of our faves for beautiful portraits! Finally, the season will also help you choose colors that will work well against the landscape.
What to Wear Tip #8: Hobbies
What do you love to do? Whether it’s hiking, welding, soccer, drawing or your hanging out with your favorite pet, let’s include that in your portraits. What if you don’t have specific hobbies, or sports? Please don’t stress! You are still YOU, unique and awesome, and we’ll capture all that in your portraits.
What to Wear Tip #9: Details
You’ve probably heard the expression “it’s all in the details” and for portraits, it’s definitely true! Little things, like wrinkly clothes, can make a big difference in the overall look and feel. So, iron or steam your clothes before your session and don’t forget to run a lint roller over them, too. No need to feature Fido’s hair!
What to Wear Tip #10: Hair/Nails
Resist the urge to cut bangs the night before your portraits (seriously, put down those scissors)! If you’re thinking of a haircut, schedule that at least a week prior to your session date. The day of your session, you’ll want to be sure your hair is freshly washed and dry and show those nails some love. Remove old nail polish and freshen up, either with a trim or with a new coat of polish. Guys, you’ll want to keep your facial hair neat; freshly shaved and trimmed tends to look best.
Hopefully, this gives you some food for thought as you think about what to wear for senior portraits, but, once again, don’t stress! You, not your clothes, are the real feature of your senior portraits so try not to overthink or put pressure on yourself. And remember, we’re here to help and seriously can’t wait for your session!
