The question everyone has... what should I wear? Short answer... Be you. Don't wear anything you normally wouldn't. This photo session is celebrate YOU. 
Long answer.... (takes deep breath)

1. Solid Colors Are Better

For portrait sessions, I recommend solid colors because they put more focus on you, the subject. Selfishly, solid clothing also makes it easier for me to edit stray hairs or wrinkles in the fabric. When picking colors, be aware that darker colored clothes will make you appear more slender on camera. If you want to POP out and draw attention, wear a vibrant color for one of your primary pieces: a jacket, shirt, or scarf. 

2. Avoid Patterns, Logos, Graphics, And Illustrations

Pretty straightforward here, they can be distracting. Also, cameras do weird things with tight patterns and produce a funky pixelation effect. Plus, you may hate that logo/company 20+ years after your session. Don’t ruin a good picture with a bad symbol.

3. Simple Is Better

A t-shirt with jeans, a dress, slacks, and a jacket; these are all very clean and easy outfits. The more complex your outfit, the more you’ll be fidgeting with it during the session to make sure it looks exactly right. Keep it simple so you can focus on having a good time during your portrait session!

4. Remove Lenses From Your Glasses

If you usually wear glasses, you should wear them for your portraits. The lenses of glasses make taking pictures tricky, though. Clear lenses will occasionally reflect light, which can be distracting and block your face. Transition lenses not only reflect light, but if it’s bright outside, then they’ll effectively act as sunglasses. If you can, I’d recommend removing the lenses and wearing contacts simultaneously for the best images.

5. Stick With What You Already Own And Love

Be comfortable, dress like you would every day, and you’ll feel at ease. There’s a significant emphasis on being comfortable and relaxed when doing a photo session; I’m telling you it makes all the difference. There’s no need to buy something just for the photoshoot. You’ve got everything you need in your closet.

6. Wear Clothes That Give You Confidence

Select clothing that makes you feel unstoppable when you put it on. I know I always feel confident in my blue-checkered button-down shirt so you can bet I wear it whenever I have a big meeting. If you’ve got a pair of jeans, a shirt, or a dress that makes you feel like a rock star, try to make it part of your ensemble. Dressing confidently helps influence your mood during a portrait session. If you feel confident, it’ll show up in your images.

7. Wear Reasonably Fitted Clothes

Loose, baggy clothing may be the comfiest thing ever, but I’d steer away from it for your photos. Clothing that fits your figure is not only more comfortable to pose, but also looks more flattering.

8. Dress Comfortably

• Dress for the weather

  • Don’t torture yourself! If it’s cold out, then wear a jacket and maybe even a sweater. If you’re miserable and uncomfortable, then your face will reflect that in the images. It’s hard to smile happily when your socks are soaking wet. At a minimum, bring the appropriate clothing and wear it when you’re not actively getting your picture taken. If it’s super hot out, try to shoot early in the morning or late afternoon/evening.

• Match your surroundings

  • Unless you live for irony and juxtaposition, a tux and a ballgown do not fit well with a forest. Personally, I freaking love it. If you’re shooting in downtown Atlanta, then dress it up a bit. And if it manages to snow, then don’t be afraid to layer it up with a jacket, vest, or sweater!

    Match your activity

  This goes along with the above tips – if we’re trekking to the top of a mountain, you may want to leave the heels or all-white kicks at home. At the same time, if we’re going to a farm or field, don’t be afraid to pull out the jeans and cowboy boots!

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9. Longer Sleeves Are Better

Long sleeves seem to work better for photos, in my opinion. Too much skin can be distracting from your face. And even if you have thin or toned arms, long sleeves tend to make all arms look better.

10. Avoid Ripped Jeans Or Clothing

Unless your personal style encompasses ripped jeans or you’re doing a model shoot where holey clothing is the look, try to avoid clothing with rips, tears, or holes. Depending on your pose, these can look unflattering.

11. Mind Your Underwear

Something to keep in mind is the color and fit of your undergarments. If you’re wearing a white shirt, ladies, don’t wear a hot pink bra underneath it. Double-check your outfits with your selected undergarments of choice to make sure nothing is visible. The safe option is to go with nude-toned garments. Guys, make sure your boxers don’t bunch up underneath your pants. It could look odd or suggestive.

12. Mind The Neckline

When selecting a shirt or top, be aware of how it fits. Most of the time, you’ll want to avoid that plunging neckline that shows off any cleavage. I’d also make sure not to wear a loose turtleneck or a shirt with a collar that’s too loose or too tight.

13. Bring Multiple, Diverse Outfits

You should always have multiple outfits ready for your session. Your photographer may notice something that makes one piece better than another or an outfit that’s a better fit for a specific location. Try to do variations in lengths, textures, and colors. I also recommend bringing outfits that are a mix of casual, formal, and in-between. It’s wise to have multiple outfits just in case you spill something or brush up against some dirt or paint. Back-ups are handy.

14. Minimize Jewelry

Jewelry can be a big distraction from you, the subject. I typically recommend not wearing any jewelry, but if you do, try to wear pieces that are small and minimalist.

15. Take Stuff Out Of Your Pockets

Guys are the worst offenders here. Take your phone out of your pocket and put it into a separate bag. Phones create weird bulges in pants pockets and are not flattering at all. Keep the focus on your face!

What to Wear for Women’s Portraits

16. Layers Are Great

Layers like jackets, scarves, vests, and sweaters are great additions to an outfit because they add texture and dimension. They’re subtle pieces that can add touches of your personality and style to your portraits

17. No Spaghetti Straps Or Strapless Tops

Strapless or tube tops may look flattering in person, but they tend to make your shoulders look wide in photos. Keep this in mind depending on how you feel about your shoulders. Also, avoid wearing spaghetti strap tops because they make hiding bra straps impossible. Sleeveless works great but keep some material up there.

18. Avoid Shorts

Same deal as sleeves. Something about exposed elbows and knees makes them tricky to pose well. This rule isn’t rigid, but something to consider.

19. Avoid Pure Black Or White

These colors are excellent; I just suggest adding a bit of texture to them.

20. Bring Hair Ties Or Hair Clips In Case Of Wind

There are few things more annoying on a photoshoot than the wind blowing hair all over the place and ruining all the hard work your makeup artist put in. Hair clips, bobby pins, and a hair tie (as a last resort) will make pictures in the wind more manageable and keep you looking put together

21. If Wearing A Dress, Have Leggings Handy

This isn’t necessary, but leggings can keep you comfortable in cold or windy weather while wearing a dress. As a bonus, they can add a fun flash of color too!

22. If Wearing Heels, Bring A Set Of Comfy Shoes Too

If you plan on wearing heels for your images, I suggest changing into them when you get on location After 45 minutes of standing on your feet, you’ll be grateful for a pair of sneakers, especially if you’re walking between locations. Change back into your comfy shoes until it’s time to shoot again.

What to Wear for Men’s Portraits

23. Plain, Heavy Cotton Shirt Or Polo Works Great

I’m a big fan of guys wearing business casual for their portrait sessions. If you’re after a more relaxed look, a plain shirt or a polo will work great. Make sure your shirts are a heavier material to avoid wrinkling and seeing any skin underneath.

24. Jeans Or Casual Trousers Look Best

Jeans are pretty universal and go with almost anything. They’re an excellent base for most outfits. They can look super casual or semi-formal. A casual trouser like beige jeans or even a pair of slacks is perfect if you want to dress up a bit.

25. Avoid White Button-Down Shirts

White button-down shirts are a staple for most business settings, but they’re boring for portrait sessions. They also look super uptight. Button-down shirts are great to wear for portrait sessions, but go with something not white!

What to Wear for Family Portraits & Groups

26. Match Formality Of Partners

For couples, families, and groups, try to dress up as much as the others. If one of you is in a suit, it’ll look weird if the other is in jeans and a t-shirt. I prefer a semi-formal or business-casual style at a minimum for group portraits.

27. Use A Similar Color Palette

Try to have everyone in the group wear similar color tones, such as all neutrals or all-natural tones. This will make everyone in the group look cohesive and like they belong together. If one person wears something different, like a highlighter orange shirt when everyone else is wearing muted blues, then all the attention will go to that individual. Try to be cohesive. Oh, and leave the matching white shirts and jeans at home, please.