What to Wear for Your Brand Photos (Without Overthinking It)
So, you’ve planned your shoot - Woohoo!
You’ve got the date in the diary, the products are all ready to go, the weather forecast is looking great (for now!)... But now, omgggg, what on earth are you meant to wear?! This has been a question we’ve asked ourselves a million times, only to be told the classic, “Oh, y’know, jeans and a nice top.
Well, I’m here, as your new favourite silly daft photographer, to give you a comprehensive guide to photoshoot garms.
If you’re new here, or you’ve just booked a shoot with me, hey, welcome! I’m Soph, a freelance photographer in East Sussex, who specialises in natural light photography for small brands and personal businesses. I pride myself on being exceptionally down-to-earth and un-professional in the ways that will make you laugh, so please, never hesitate to be yourself around me.
The most common question I get asked post-booking is: “Soph, wtf shall I wear?” - or something along those lines.
And my answer is always this: Whatever makes you feel like you!
While yes, with brand photography, there’s bits and bobs that I would recommend to help your images feel cohesive and clean (like natural fibres, neutral colours and subtle patterns), the most important factor is that you feel genuinely comfortable. Ugh, what a sit-on-the-fence cop-out, I know! But it’s true.
Picture the scene:
You’ve hired a photographer to shoot a new set of website images. It’s going to be seen by a hearty chunk of the internet. You want to look your very best, and you do look gorgeous… but oh my, you can’t breathe! Why, oh why, did you wear your 18 year old intern's high-rise chinos and super crisp shirt that is a size too small, simply in order to look “more professional”?! It’s not you - it’s too tight and it feels weird. Now all you can see in the photos is the hopes and dreams of perceived professionalism on your face.
How about this instead…
You wear what you would wear to do your job, or meet with a client. It’s not over the top, it’s real.
You’re comfortable, it’s familiar, and it’s true to your work-life.
I’ve shot branding clients in flared jeans, funky shirts, metallic dresses and comfy dungarees: anything that they define as ‘workwear’, because we all have different definitions of professional. If you want to use this shoot as an excuse to treat yourself to some new clothes, I would encourage you to shop for styles, colours and textures that you know that you will like in order to avoid insecurity or disappointment.
However, if even after my pep-talk, you’re still wondering what to wear (don’t worry, I would be too!), below you’ll find my suggestions to help you choose the right outfit:
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Neutral colours, like creams, browns and beiges photograph the best as they are subtle, balanced and impossible to clash with.
Bright colours photograph brilliantly, but can sometimes feel misaligned with your brand. For example, neons or primary colours can feel overbearing for some holistic/organic brands, as opposed to the classic muted browns or greens.
Black and White is obviously classic, and a great go-to if you’re unsure, but I always encourage people to wear colours that feel aligned and inspiring to their unique brand!
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I generally encourage clients to wear minimal patterns, or if they choose to, opt for more subtle patterning. Heavy patterns can feel distracting or overbearing to the eye, unless they are relevant to the brand itself.
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Textures photograph brilliantly when they ‘move’ with the image. Opt for heavy, dense fabrics that bring depth and dimension into the outfit.
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Without sounding like a broken record, wear what feels most comfortable to you. Don’t feel obliged to suddenly start wearing glam rings or jazzy earrings unless that’s absolutely your vibe!
Unless your brand is all about being a maximalist, I would simply recommend that you opt for sweet, subtle accessories that compliment your outfit, hair and makeup, without being too distracting or taking the focus from any props or actions in the images. -
Once again, don’t stress about doing something crazy on shoot-day, you’re not a peacock. Choose a hairstyle that you feel confident with, even with the potential of a breezy day!
With makeup, opt for something hydrating and natural. You want your skin to look glowy and healthy, so try to avoid overdoing it with heavy or matte finishes. Warmer neutrals work great for most skin tones, so opt for brown tones that don’t overpower your eye colour. If bold lipstick is your vibe, go wild! If not, please don’t feel pressured into trying something bright if you wouldn’t normally.
Oh, and for the guys, I always recommend a little moisturiser to make your skin look healthy and bright. If you don’t have any, ask your partner nicely to borrow some ;)
My biggest tip? Don’t overthink it, you’ll look gorgeous!
Love, Soph x