What to wear to a portrait session

The best portrait outfits are the ones you forget you are wearing. You should be able to sit on the floor, lean on a wall and walk through long grass without thinking about it.

Solid colors and real texture

Deep, muted colors photograph beautifully in daylight: black, ink blue, rust, olive, cream. Linen, wool, denim and leather hold light in a way smooth synthetics never do. Avoid small patterns and big logos; they fight your face for attention.

Bring two looks that work together, not two costumes. A jacket on and off is often enough to make a session feel like two.

The one thing to leave at home

New shoes. Nothing makes a person walk stiffly like shoes they have not broken in. Wear what you would wear on a good day, and let the light and the location do the rest.

Wear what you would wear on a good day, and let the light do the rest.