The Barefoot photographer
The science of what to wear
Choosing the right outfit for a photo shoot is a an art form itself.
Let me share my formula for doing this.
Picking the right outfit requires an understanding of how your brain processes color. The Bauhaus school understood the power of color in the 1920's, developing color theories for evoking particular moods and emotions.
This is where my friend the color wheel comes into play.
It helps us understand the relationship of colors and the
moods they make us feel.
Picking colors that make us feel good and compliment our shoot location helps us create magic.
The 4 main tips when picking your outfit are:
1. Avoid busy patterns especially small vertical lines and avoid big logos.
2. Families should have a uniform dress code but not identical
3. The style of clothes should be for comfort and make the effort to wear something nice. If you're going to spend hundreds of dollars on a photoshoot and you are probably going to get a photo or two printed that will hang in your house for years to come. You can do a shoot in the most scenic place on earth but if you show up in a pair of board shorts and a crappy t-shirt your photos will become average by default. Think neat casual/semi formal.
4. The color you select are very important
How to pick your colors!!
There are two main color relationships you need to consider. Complementary colors and Analogous colors.
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel and the Analogous colors are next to each other. A general rule in photography to create harmony is to either select a pair of complementary colors or no more than 3 Analogous colors.
So consider your location........For example, if your shoot is at the beach you already have a strong blue presence with the water. So you can base your outfits on a complementary choice of Yellow and the different yellow tones and hues or a Analogous color selection with two more additional colors either side of the blue in the water.
Complementary
Analogous clockwise
Analogous counter clockwise
Choosing color this way creates harmony, pairing colors that are visually pleasing and provide a sense of visual order. But we also need to consider how color makes us feel, when selecting these colors because every person responds differently depending on their life experiences and preferences.
Feel free to ask any questions or direction when choosing your outfit!
I am more than happy to help you dress to create the perfect family portrait.
The Barefoot Photographer
