Looking Good For Your Photoshoot!

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Written By Maria - Shadowraven Photography

Okay, you’re booked and will be getting pictures done soon! It’s something fun and exciting to look forward to, (I, promise. Please, don’t be scared!), but now you have to figure out what to wear. Maybe you have to dress everyone in your group, (I see you, Mamas!). Don’t sweat it. One of the top questions from my clients is “What should I wear?” Well, I’m glad you asked! I’ve compiled some tips, guidelines, photo examples and even some suggestions for local hair and makeup professionals to help you and your crew look your best. Let’s get started!

*Disclaimer: These are just loose guidelines for those who feel they need help choosing the right look for their shoot. Please, feel free to wear what makes you comfortable and represents your personality!

General Do’s and Don’ts

Please, DO

  • Wear an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident no matter how you sit, walk or stand.

  • Find complimentary colors to wear with the others in your group , but not matching all the same. (These aren’t your typical 1996 K-Mart portrait studio photos…)

  • Pay attention to detail. From the roots of your hair to your toe nail polish. The camera sees all! Be careful with bra straps, semi-sheer fabric, hair ties on your wrists, wallet or phone in your back pocket, (looking at you, dudes).

  • Bring a few things to touch yourself up… comb, hair spray (esp. for the beach!), lip stick/gloss. Wipes, tissues and an emergency back-up outfit is a good idea for little ones.

  • Bring accessories! It’s not a must, but having a hat, scarf, tie, cardigan, jean jacket, bracelets or other things you can easily add or remove can add variety to your shots and may also give you something to hold or touch when you’re not quite sure what to do with your hands.

My assistant and I do our best to pay attention to detail and fix fly-away hairs, falling straps, crooked jewelry and other little wardrobe malfunctions, but sometimes things are missed. I am experienced in Photoshop, so no worries, but certain things can be very time consuming and difficult to fix. So, if we are all on our A-game and try to keep the above tips in mind it will make for an amazing shoot for everyone!

Please, DON’T

  • Don’t wear pin stripes or neon colors. The thinner the stripes, the worse it looks. In person it may look fine, but skinny stripes do something weird in camera. If you don’t want to look like a page out of an optical illusion book I would skip the pin stripes and neon.

  • Don’t wear big logos. Logos and trademarks, especially on a t-shirt, are not the look we’re going for. Unless you have a specific theme to your shoot that works for that look, it’s best to avoid it.

  • Busy patterns! In most cases it’s best to avoid. If there will be more than one person in your group only one person should have a patterned garment (if any) while the others would look best in a solid complimentary color. (More on that later)

  • As mentioned before, don’t wear matching outfits with your group. It’s cute for kids sometimes but when the whole family is wearing the same thing (ie. white shirt and blue jeans), it can look a bit dated and unnatural. (Remember, we’ve moved past the 90s. LOL)

If you need a little help with colors, please see the chart below. You don’t have to all wear the same color to match. Mix it up with complimentary colors! These colors have been proven by science to look pleasing together. (Blacks, whites and neutrals are always an option too!)

complimentary colors color wheel what to wear matching colors



Dressing for Location and Season

Some of the most popular and photogenic places in southeastern NC are, of course, the beaches, downtown Wilmington, area parks and Fort Fisher nature preserve just to name a few. (You can find location suggestions HERE in this blog post.)

Below are some examples from different types of shoots and client ‘looks’ that I think are a great choice. You will see that most of the examples are simple, comfortable and easy to make your own.



Spring and Summer!

Beach and nature locations.

Comfortable. Complimentary colors. No busy, distracting patterns or logos.

Fall and Winter!

Urban, Downtown and Studio Settings

A few hair and make-up artists in our local area!

(Southeastern North Carolina)

These are businesses I have worked with before, some of them several times. I trust their expertise.

I hope this info was helpful for you! Just remember, they’re just guidelines, not rules. Also, remember, to bring your own style and have fun with it!

Hope to see you soon!





Maria - Shadowraven Photography https://shadowravenphotography.com
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