Pick out your outfits before your shoot date. Review the suggestions to help keep clothing choices (and your photos) classic and timeless:

Bring wrinkle free clothes. Wrinkles on your clothes stick out in photos and can look messy! We don’t want that in your best photo of yourself. Use an iron or steamer on your clothes if needed. Bring extra shirts on a hanger.

Be comfortable but polished. When you aren't comfortable, it shows. Also remember not to wear anything too baggy, it can actually make people look bigger than they really are, at the same time you also don’t want to wear anything too tight. Find that just right fit that looks great.

Bring shirt options that you feel the most confident in.

• SOLID COLORS look classic, timeless and photograph best.
  As a rule of thumb, choose colors that compliment your eyes and skin color. Have fun with it and mix colors, textures and add layers.
  PATTERNS can be great too - Just make sure it’s a low contrasting pattern that is flattering on you and isn’t dizzying stripes or a loud plaid that will look distracting in a photo. Solid colors are just a universal safe suggestion. When in doubt, snap a photo of you in the pattern, patterns can look different in a photo than they do in the mirror.

• AVOID a ghost-white shirt or a black shirt if you have very pale skin. Bright White can wash people out and Black absorbs light, making you look more pale than you really are. Is your skin tone warm or cold? If your skin tone is warm, try colors and shades that are warm, and vice versa. Example: Try an Ivory or warm Cream colored top if your skin is pale or very light toned.

• TRY A VIVID COLOR TOP or JEWEL TONE if you want to make a statement (Emerald Green · Ruby Red · Sapphire Blue · Royal Purple · Navy Blue · Citrine Yellow) will help your headshot ‘pop’ and stand out from the rest. Extra points if it matches your eyes and complexion!

• AVOID TRENDS and dress for your body type.

• AVOID LOGOS on clothing UNLESS it is YOUR business logo or a status symbol logo that you want to be related too.

Men:

• Collared shirts and Dress shirts are always a great choice, you can always dress it up or dress it down. Bring an undershirt if necessary.

• If you normally wear a tie, bring two options, all which compliment or can be used with the shirt(s) you are bringing.

• Jackets and blazers with a casual shirt underneath are great for a more relaxed look.

• Flattering colors for men are usually French blue or purple in combination with a dark gray, navy blue or black jacket.

• Bring outfits that fit you the best, that you feel confident in, and dress the part that would attract your ideal client!

Women:

• Wrap dresses or tops that wrap around your waist are a flattering cut for any type of body or shape.

• V-Necks are an excellent choice as they always elongate the neck. But be careful not to overdo it, a deep V-Neck can show too much cleavage. Make sure everything is in proportion.
  U-neck will make your neck look shorter if it’s close to your neck. The further the neckline is from your neck, the longer your neck will appear.
  AVOID Turtle-necks as it tends to shorten your neck. Also, sometimes it might result in a ‘floating head’ look, if the color of your top matches the background.
  Off-shoulder look is very feminine, showing off your neck and shoulders in the most natural way.

• Jackets and blazers are always a good choice for layering.

• Accessories or jewelry can add a little 'pop' to your look.

• Do not forget the correct undergarments!
  If you plan on wearing a white shirt for example, you will need a nude bra, as a black bra would be visible under a white shirt, etc.

Still not sure on what color to wear?
Check out my blog on the meanings of different colors: https://loricardwell.com/indianapolisphotographerblog/2021/7/28/choosing-the-right-color-to-wear-in-photos

The colors we wear can influence how others perceive us, and can even affect our own mood!

Don’t forget about your hands! Make sure your nails are clean and groomed. If you wear nail polish, make sure they are not chipped and stick to a neutral color like a pale pink color that will look clean and classic.

Finally, Remember to Breathe! I promise, I will make this an enjoyable experience for you if you are open to it! These tips are here to help you be prepared and confident on your photoshoot day!

If you have questions about an outfit you can always email or text me a photo of your outfit before the session. I’m only a call/message away!