What to Wear to a Photoshoot: Client Guide Template

The simplest guide to give clients says: wear clothes that fit, that you feel good in and that sit well with the people next to you. Choose solid or soft colours, avoid large logos and busy patterns, and plan outfits a week ahead. Below is a guide you can copy and send, followed by notes for families, couples and corporate sessions.

Principles

Clients often over-think clothing or leave it too late. Give them a few principles that work in any session.

• Comfort first. If someone is tugging at a collar all day, it will show.
• Fit matters. Clothes that are too tight or too loose pull and bunch. Fit beats fashion.
• Think about the setting. A beach, a forest, a studio and an office all suit different looks.
• Coordinate, do not match. Choose colours that sit well together without being identical.
• Keep it timeless. Trends date quickly, and clients keep these photos for decades.
• Be ready to move. Sitting, walking and bending should all be possible.

Pass on the idea that the outfit should reflect the person. Someone who lives in jeans will look odd in a three-piece suit.

Colours and patterns

Colour is where most questions come up.

• Soft, muted or earthy tones are easy on the eye and flatter most skin tones.
• Jewel tones, such as deep green, burgundy and navy, work well, especially in autumn and winter light.
• Pastels suit bright, airy settings.
• Neon colours can reflect onto skin, so avoid them.
• Large logos, slogans and cartoon prints draw attention away from faces.
• Small, fine patterns can create a flickering effect on camera, so choose bigger, softer prints or solids.
• Check the background. A green outfit in a green park will disappear.

A simple method is to pick two main colours and one accent. For instance, cream and navy, with a dusty rose accent.

Families

Families have the hardest job because everyone has different tastes.

1. Start with one outfit and build around it. Usually it is the one that is hardest to match, such as a patterned dress.
2. Choose a palette of two to four colours and give each person a different shade.
3. Mix textures: knits, denim, linen, cotton.
4. Keep children comfortable, with shoes they can run in.
5. Avoid cartoon characters and light-up shoes unless the child insists.
6. Bring a spare top for babies and young children.

Remind parents that a happy child in a slightly mismatched shirt is better than a miserable one in a perfect outfit.

Couples

Couples should look like they belong together.

• Choose complementary colours, not identical ones.
• One person can wear a pattern while the other wears a solid.
• Dresses and long skirts photograph beautifully when walking or in wind.
• Neutral tones make an easy base, and a bright piece adds interest.
• For engagement and pre-wedding shoots, plan two outfits if time allows: one casual and one dressier. See our post on preparing couples for an engagement shoot for the full picture.

For Indian pre-wedding shoots, traditional outfits such as sarees, lehengas and sherwanis look striking in strong colours, and the same advice applies: check how the colours work with the location, and plan how to carry and change outfits.

Corporate

Business portraits are about looking like yourself on a good day.

• Choose a jacket or smart top in a solid colour that suits the brand and the person.
• Avoid very fine stripes and checks.
• Keep jewellery and accessories simple.
• Wear what you would wear to a client meeting.
• Bring one spare option, such as a second shirt or jacket.
• Check collars, buttons and creases before arriving.

Ask the company for guidance if there is a brand colour or uniform.

The guide to send

Adapt this to your own voice.

What to wear to your session Wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. Here are a few ideas. Colours: Pick soft or solid colours that go well together. Avoid neon, large logos and tight stripes. Coordinate, do not match: Think of a palette of two to four colours and let each person wear a different shade. Fit and comfort: Clothes should fit well and let you move. Extras: Bring a spare layer, comfortable shoes and anything you want in the photos. Ironing: Please iron or steam clothes the day before. If you are unsure, send me a photo of your options and I will help you choose.

Offering to look at a photo of two or three outfits is a kind touch that clients appreciate.

When to send it

Send the guide with the booking confirmation, and mention it again in your day-before reminder. A good first email also sets the tone, and our post on subject lines for inquiry emails can help there.

How ClickBook helps

ClickBook holds the proposal, contract and invoices behind one private link, and you can keep your prep guides with the job so they go out at the same point each time. Take a look at a demo. The guide itself works the same as a PDF or email if you prefer.

Outfit advice is one step in a larger welcome routine. To see the rest, read about client onboarding.

Frequently asked questions

What colours photograph best?

Soft, solid colours that suit the person and the setting. Avoid neon, large logos and tight patterns, and choose colours that sit well together rather than matching exactly.

Should a family wear matching outfits?

Coordinating is better than matching. Choose a palette of two to four colours and let each person wear a different shade, so the group looks connected without looking like a uniform.

Can I wear black or white?

Yes, both work. Black can lose detail in dark settings, and white can look harsh in strong sun, so consider the location and light.

How far ahead should clients plan outfits?

A week gives enough time to buy, borrow or alter clothes. Send the guide as soon as the session is booked.