What To Wear for Your Portrait Session: Advice from an Ohio Photographer

The question I get most often from clients and models is "What should I wear in my photos?"

Choosing the "right" outfit is a very important part of the planning process before your portrait session. Clothing can help us feel confident, and choosing clothing that feels good to you is the easiest way to express your individuality.

I know it can seem intimidating. But I promise every single person who books with me that I'll guide you every step of the way, and the styling process is no exception! Everyone who works with me receives my free Styling Guide to help you choose the perfect outfit for your session, including recommendations for color schemes, clothing patterns, and fits to ensure you feel comfortable and confident. I'm gonna take each bit of advice from this guide and break it down in even more detail.

What I Think You SHOULD Wear

Before you even begin picking your outfit, I encourage you to consider two things first.

1) What is the purpose of this session?

2) Where is the session happening?

Your answers to these two questions will definitely narrow down your options and help you choose what to wear. If your portraits are for an in-studio branding session for your business, you'll probably choose a different outfit than someone would for an outdoor engagement session in the middle of winter. Context matters!

I have some more straight-to-the-point advice for you, too:

• Wear comfortable clothes and allow movement, especially while seated.

• I encourage basic patterns as much as possible, such as stripes, plaids, simple florals, etc. Sometimes, busy patterns can be distracting to the eye. If you're not sure about a pattern, ask me!

• Solid colors are recommended, especially neutral and softer tones. Light can reflect off your clothing and cast color onto your skin: the brighter the color, the harsher it will reflect. If your portrait session will have 2 or more people participating, aim for complementary (not matching) color schemes!

• If possible, incorporate different fabric textures into your outfit! Layering is the easiest way to do this, and it adds so much depth and variety to your images.

• You CANNOT forget to pick what shoes you're going to wear! Same as before, consider the location of your session while you're choosing. Platform pumps at the beach in the sand wouldn't be ideal, but cute sandals would. Also consider your comfort. If your feet are killing you after wearing the shoes for 5 minutes, they might not be the best idea for an hour-long portrait session. Most importantly: no matter what shoes you pick, don't put them on as you're leaving the house. Change into them at the session location before we start to keep them clean! Going barefoot is also a perfectly acceptable option, depending on the context of your session.

• Accessorize! Less is more, in most scenarios. We want the focus to be on YOU! Go for simple jewelry, hats, scarves, bags, etc. Accessorizing is an easy way (along with layering) to add depth and variety to your images!

What I Think You Should AVOID

I already mentioned a few things to avoid in the section above, but I want to plainly list them again, along with a few others:

• Avoid overly-tight, restrictive clothing. You'll be doing quite a bit of moving around during your session, and I want you to be your most confident self, no matter what pose we're doing.

• Stay away from busy patterns. As I mentioned above, some patterns can be distracting to the eye and unflattering in photos.

• Don't wear anything with large logos or branding. Casual attire is acceptable for some portrait sessions, but not too casual.

• Baseball caps are pretty much a no-go, every. single. time.

• Avoid neon, bright colors. Like I said above, light can sometimes reflect off clothing and cast color onto your skin: bright/neon colors reflect much harsher than softer tones.

• If you wear glasses, specifically transition lenses (prescription lenses that darken when exposed to sunlight or UV light), I highly recommend wearing a different, non-transition pair or contacts. Our eyes hold so much expression, and I want them to be visible at all times!

Tips for the Week Leading Up to Your Session

One piece of advice that I want to emphasize is this: try on your outfit a few days in advance! One too many times, I've had clients/models procrastinate until the day of their session, realize they hate their outfit, and have to completely pivot with only hours to spare. Trying on your outfit a few days before gives you plenty of time to decide if you're happy with the result!

In the days leading up to your portrait session, drink lots of water, eat well, and avoid the sun if possible (you definitely don't want to be sunburned in your photos). We want you to glow, be hydrated, and feel your best!

How to Prep the Day Before Your Session

The photoshoot process is all about admiring yourself, even before we come face-to-face. Take some time to pamper: clean your fingernails, moisturize your skin, etc. Give yourself lots of special attention and carve out some time the night before for some extra self-care!

I also recommend checking your outfit for wrinkles and ironing/steaming if necessary. Remove any tags from your clothes, too.

Make sure your shoes are clean! Pack up the shoes you're planning to wear and change into them when you arrive. This is a simple way to ensure your entire wardrobe is in tip-top shape from head to toe! It's also a professional courtesy for in-studio sessions to keep the floors as clean as possible.

Along with the shoes you plan to wear, it doesn't hurt to bring a "Touch-Up" bag with any items you may need during your session. Here are a few recommendations from my awesome clients on what to include in your back-up bag, but literally anything you might need is encouraged: a water bottle, lip balm, makeup wipes, a comb, a mirror, extra socks, bobby pins, etc. I'll also ask you at the beginning of your session to empty your pockets and remove any hair ties or smartwatches from your wrists, so you'll need a safe place to keep these items, as well!

Still Feeling Unsure? Just Ask!

Don't stress. If you're still feeling unsure or overwhelmed by the process of styling, don't hesitate to contact me! I really enjoy helping clients & models with the "fine-tuning" before their session. Keep in mind, every session is unique (especially creative portraits). Some of the tips above may not apply to your specific portrait session, and that's okay! These are just general guidelines to reference while you're preparing, not strict rules you must abide by.

And yes, I know, there's a LOT of information to digest here! You can read through and download all of my guides for free HERE. And for your convenience, I also made a free, downloadable Portrait Prep Checklist, in hopes that it'll help you feel more prepared and confident before your session!

As promised to every person who steps in front of my camera, I'll be here to guide you every step of the way. There are no dumb questions. My #1 desire as an Ohio Photographer and business owner is that you feel comfortable, relaxed, confident, and happy during our time together.

My books are open for 2026-2027 and beyond! I can't wait to connect with you & make Art together.

XOXO - Joella Algarin, Ohio Photographer