What to Wear: For Your Studio Portrait Session
Picking out what to wear for your Studio Portrait session is easier said than done. With a fashion world slowly but surely beginning to embrace diversity and different body types, multiple styles are becoming more and more available as we drop kick dressing for the body you’ve got and begin to tackle dressing in what makes you confident (#selflove wahooo!!) And yet with all of these positive changes when it comes to booking your studio portrait the question that echoes in a lot of people’s minds is “What will I wear!?” With a variety of trends and styles that are bombarding every social platform media along with the heated debate between millennials and Gen Z over skinny jeans (don’t get us started), there are SO many options when it comes to dressing for your Studio Portrait. BUT never fear - we have your back… and front…. and everywhere in between, when it comes to picking what to wear. Check out our few tips and things to consider and let’s make sure you rock it in your studio portrait session.
Remember that you are in a controlled environment
Unlike a shoot where you are outdoors and need to consider things such as weather and walking long distances to get to beautiful spots, a studio portrait is in a controlled environment - the studio. You do not need to consider the weather or lighting or even temperature when booking a studio portrait session. So that means your options in what you wear becomes wider and broader as you can consider summer dresses in winter and coats and blazers in summer. We also have access to a bunch of accessories including steamers to help those crinkles and long length mirrors so you can check yourself out - everything at the tips of your fingers!
Understand that what you wear will also dictate what your back drop is
Your Studio Portrait sessions are customizable, creative and premium. They were created with YOU in mind so there are customizable elements of each of our packages including the personal selection of your backdrop. Sometimes what will help in the selection of your backdrop is looking at what you are wearing and the type of vibe you want to create. In some ways you could look at it as dressing for yourself and then also dressing your background. Acorn Studio can totally help you when it comes to complimenting colours with what you are wearing. Interested to know how your backdrop can compliment your outfit? Check out a few more of our tips below!
Personality
Make sure what you wear compliments your personality. What someone wears says a lot about a person so think through how the outfit makes you you! If you are loud and outgoing try playing with bright colours or bold patterns or maybe you're a bit more quiet and reserved so then using a monochrome colour scheme or something softer and neutral will work well! As Rachel Zoe says “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”
Bring options
Whether it is multiple outfit options or add on extras such as jackets or cardigans bringing options is a must! Sometimes you don’t know what you are vibing until you get a chance to check yourself out in the studio so having options readily available is a great way to ensure you are getting the shots you need. In our opinion it is better to have brought an option and not need to use it rather than walking away from your shoot wondering “What if I wore something else?”
Consider Hair and Make up
We keep going on about it, but it’s super important to be comfortable in how you look and feel on your shoot and that goes beyond just clothing. The reason we offer Hair and Makeup as an additional add on is that if you feel good this flows through to your photos and we understand that for some people feel best after getting their hair done or adding a bit of lippy and highlighter. Consider booking in hair and make up for your shoot to help that confidence!!
Here Are A Few Extra Things To Consider When Thinking About What To Wear:
Colour on Colour
With our wide variety of different paper backdrops you can choose to have a bit of fun with what you wear and the backdrop you pick including having a play with colour on colour. Maybe matching a pink dress with our “Coral” backdrop or going a bit classy with a brown blazer on the “Cocoa” is a fun, creative and dynamic way to add a bit of pizzazz to your studio portrait. You may also find that by picking a backdrop colour first sparks off inspiration for your outfits or vice versa.
Dark backdrop & rich colours
Maybe you are after something a bit moody and edgy so trying contrasting colours is a good thing to look into when picking your outfit. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but a dark backdrop with a rich pop of colour can really make your portrait stand out. Think of dark morons, deep purples, or rich navy blues. Again you can be inspired by the backdrop or the outfit! The choice is yours.
Play with the bright and colourful
Bring the fun and vibes with your outfit by playing with bold bright colours! Whether you are looking to do a colour on colour match like a purple powersuit on the “Orchid” backdrop or pick a backdrop in a similar colour scheme. A Studio portrait is the perfect time to play with colour in your outfit and really bring the pop in your photos!
Play with Patterns
One of the best things about working it in a Studio Portrait session is that you are not competing in a landscape environment and most of the paper backdrops have no texture or pattern to compete with meaning you can play with texture and pattern in your clothing. Unlike on-location photoshoots where we recommend soft subtle patterns, those rules were made to be broken in the studio where bold is fun and subtle patterns work too!
Movement
Again just because we are in a controlled environment in the studio it doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and experiment with movement. Whether it is how you do your hair or the way your dress flows, movement is still a fun element to incorporate in your Studio Portrait. If you vibe a bit of movement think about a flowing dress or an open shirt that really help to emphasise you in motion. Feel free to bring this as an option with your outfits and let's have a bit of fun!
Loves a blazer
Now we would never force you to wear something you didn’t feel comfortable in however we STRONGLY recommend considering adding a blazer or jacket to your wardrobe options. A blazer or jacket can help to give you structure which for a lot of people is very flattering. It is also a great comfort tool as it can be used in a variety of different ways especially if you are thinking about what you will do with your hands. Even if you don’t usually wear a blazer or a power suit everyday, bringing a long jacket or blazer as an option is a good idea and who knows it might become a staple in your wardrobe after your shoot!
Monochrome Love (Black and White)
Sometimes just keeping it simple is the best way forward and you can’t go past the simplicity of a monochrome colour palette. Whether you are looking for something a bit subtle on a “Studio Grey” backdrop or want something that will vibe against the “Almond” backdrop. Black and white is a safe option if you are just beginning to explore a Studio Portrait.
At the end of the day when it comes to what you wear for your studio portrait it is important to remember to be comfortable! You want to be the best you in front of the camera and a lot of that comes from what you wear. But don’t forget when it comes to a studio shoot, that rules were made to be broken and here at Acorn Studio. We are keen to try any colour or clothes combination. Now, what are you waiting for? Book us in and let’s start creating your new portrait today!