Portrait Photography: What Clothes To Wear

When doing portrait photography, it is often a common concern for people to be worried on what to wear during the session. Though may seem a trivial matter, what clothes you wear during portrait photography can impact significantly as the photos come out. If one wants to have the best looking yet most natural portraits, be sure to advise them of what clothes are proper to be used on the set. 

To avoid having clients who are uncomfortable in the set, be sure to give them tips about what to wear during the shoot. This article therefore is aimed at helping photographers what advise to give their clients in regards with proper clothing on the set. 

Be comfortable.

It is often the biggest challenge for photographer to make their subject relaxed and more at ease when photo sessions begin, so what clothes they wear is one of the key factor in helping them be more natural. Wearing comfortable clothes will ensure they don't make a big fuss when your camera starts clicking; therefore, instruct them to wear the most comfortable yet presentable clothes during the shoot. If they are contented and happy with what they wear, then huge chances that you are capturing them that way. 

Clothes you wear in your portrait tell who you are.

As much as people condemn the idea of judging a person with clothes they wear, it is common reaction for viewer to say something basing on what the subject in the portrait is wearing. The outward appearance talks first, and it is difficult to correct that since all the viewer can see in the portrait is still image. 

So, letting the subject wear their best comfortable clothing will help a lot in coming up with a portrait that communicates their most physical and inner likeness. The subject can opt to wear clothes that show their funny side or wear one that show demonstrates their serious side. 

Plain, Unobtrusive Dark Clothes

Plain or dark clothes can be a good choice for the subject about to be shot for portrait photography. This is not only because dark and plain clothes tend to make the person wearing them look slimmer but they allow the focus to be on the image of the person's face. This is important in a portrait photograph; after all, you would want the viewer to see the face expression and reaction first before the other entire details in the portrait. 

Unobtrusive plain clothes just have good effects on the totality and background of the portrait as they allow the focus to be directed on the subject itself; therefore, easily demonstrating the true character likeness of the person. 

This cannot be easily achieved with clothes that have crazy patterns, wild and bright colors, dots, lines, and overly elaborate designs as they can draw the focus out the primary subject consequently defeating then the true purpose of portrait photography. Of course, you have to consider the complexion of the subject. Nevertheless, you will find plain colors that will suit each kind of complexion. 

Pants, Long Sleeves, and Collars

For men, collars are a great detail that their clothes must have. Collars are amazingly a way to frame the face up which can be flattering when captured in a portrait. Also, long sleeves are much preferred than short sleeves, as pants are than shorts. The less exposure of skin, legs and arms in that case, takes away the distraction which can actually be negative for portrait photography.