Center of the Style Guide
When choosing outfits, there are a few important things to remember that will help enhance the quality of your images. The first thing to do is pick one person to center the styles around; it can be anyone in the group. Let’s say mom has a dress she would like to wear, so that will become the center piece of the style guide. Once you have an idea of the direction you are headed towards, finalizing a wardrobe will be a breeze. Busy and mixed patterns are an area to stay away from whenever possible. Solid color outfits tend to bring out the best quality in the received images
Comfort and flexibility
Comfort and flexibility are crucial when it comes to a session’s successful outcome. Clothing imperfections are hard to edit, so when planning an outfit make sure you feel comfortable in it sitting, standing, walking, and from several different angles. Satin tends to stick to one’s body in an unflattering way and some oversized sweaters can give the illusion of a larger body type. These are some examples of things that people have asked to be fixed in post-production. Unfortunately, it is not always simple to fix these flaws in a wardrobe. Children should be dressed comfortably with shoes they are able to walk in.
Location and Type
The style of your wardrobe should reflect the location and session type. For example, if you are doing an outdoor engagement session, the couple should have complimentary colors on, clean hands and fingernails for ring shots, and the ability to move around freely in their outfits. Personally, I allow my couples to change clothes during their session, so I encourage couples to bring a laid-back outfit as well as a dressier option. If your location includes a lot of walking, hills, or water it is important to dress appropriately, bring extra clothes, and wear the right type of shoes.
