What to wear to your session
Man oh man. I know it can feel kind of daunting to pick what to wear for photos. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so you guys can be sure to look like your best selves while still making sure the images are focused on your love, not what you’re wearing. Full disclaimer, I don’t know anything about fashion. Most days you can find me wearing a baggy t-shirt & yoga pants, so there’s a hell of a good chance you’ve got better style than I do. This is just what I’ve found to work best from trial and error from past shoots, they’re only guidelines, not rules!
Make sure it makes sense
Think about the conditions and locations we are going to be shooting in and plan around it. If we are going to be hiking through the forest, bring shoes with good grip and you won’t twist your ankles in. If we are shooting on a sandy beach, it would look weird if you’re wearing shoes. If it’s freezing cold outside, bring lots of layers and warm clothes with wool socks and boots. If it’s going to be hot, bring clothes that can breathe more so you don’t have sweaty pit stains. Be as comfortable as you can be!
Movement
Like I said, make sure that the materials you wear will keep you comfortable during the shoot not only temperature-wise but also for being able to move around in. If you're in brand new jeans that are still stiff and tight, you might be distracted during the shoot. I recommend bringing clothes that are "broken in" so that you'll be as comfortable as possible. I also love when people bring clothing or accessories that can show movement by catching wind, because it adds energy to the photos and looks freaking gorgeous! Ladies - I will love you forever if you bring at least one flowy dress!
Colors
I typically recommend sticking with neutrals and earthy tones. Neutrals doesn’t mean just grays and browns, there are neutrals of every color (think mustard yellow, olive green, navy blue, maroon, etc.). Stay away from bright fluorescent, distracting colors. The only specific colors I typically recommend to stay away from are pinks & oranges. If you have dark or olive toned skin, it might be an exception, but a lot of the time it results in people looking really pink and weird in photos. So, just try and stay away from those colors if you can, BUT if you really want to wear something that is pink or orange, just check with me! If you’re still feeling lost, look through my Pinterest for inspo: https://www.pinterest.com/kallijunephotography/engagement-inspiration/
Patterns
Avoid big, loud, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better! If the pattern is too loud, it will distract from your faces. Flannels or florals are always a yes in my book, as long as only one person is wearing the pattern & the other is in something more solid! I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns together because, you guessed it, it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location. Also, be sure to iron your clothes before so there’s not huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!
Props, Accessories & pets
When I say “props”, I know it can sound a little cheesy but they totally don’t have to be! Props could be a dominos pizza picnic, a motorcycle, your pets (if you have a dog and don't bring them, I’ll be a little sad tbh), blankets, a campfire, a bouquet, etc. If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!
Side note - avoid wearing Apple watches. Regular watches are fine but the screen on the Apple watch doesn’t photograph well. Also, if you regularly wear a watch but aren’t planning to for your session, it would be a good idea to get some sun on that area starting a couple weeks before. Ya know, because of tan lines. ;)
Hair + Makeup
A lot of people ask me whether or not they should get their hair and makeup done by a pro. My answer is always “whatever will make you feel best, do that.” If that’s not your thing, don’t worry about it. But if you want to treat yo’self, then definitely do it, because the most important thing is that you feel confident. If you’re getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule to be done at least thirty minutes to an hour before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t late.
That’s it!
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to let me know! If you’re still freakin’ out about what to wear, feel free to shoot me a pic or two of what you’re thinking! But overall, just wear what you’re comfortable in and feel like you in. A pair of Vans you’ve had since 8th grade? Great. A sweater you feel cozy in? Awesome. A pair of overalls that everyone thinks are ridiculous but you love them anyways? Perfect. You do you, and I promise the photos will turn out amazing.