What to Wear for Your BLACK AND WHITE Portrait
Your Wardrobe Should Fit and Flatter
- Nothing flatters more than clothing that fits properly.
- Please try everything on in advance.
- If you aren’t sure, it isn’t the right size.
The Clothing You Choose is Important!
- Cocktail to formal clothing – dark colors are slimming, stand the test of time, and ensure we photograph you at your very best.
- Styles come and go and for many, this becomes the most elegant portrait they will possess in a lifetime.
- In a portrait, your face and eyes should draw the attention, not your clothing.
- Because not everything that feels right photographs well, following our recommendations is essential to your successful session.
Let Your Family Shine
- Arrive well rested and well fed; you can’t hide a bad mood, or fake a good one. Details count.
- If you see it, so will the camera.
- This is where you have control over how you will be remembered in 20, 40, or 100 years.
- Dressing your best as a family means you won’t look back on a missed opportunity and experience the regret of wishing your family had dressed up more.
Remember the focus of this art piece…a beautiful portrait that showcases the relationship and personalities of each person in the portrait. To maintain the integrity of the artwork, only families who are properly attired can be photographed.
Be Stylish and Dress Up
This artwork will be treasured for a lifetime and beyond – we hope your great grandkids will cherish it!
Styling your clothing means you will look your best. This is your family’s “night on the town” where everybody looks and feels their best.
Since these are very special portraits that are designed to be heirloom pieces, we request you come in formal attire or at least clothing that is classic and less likely to go out of style. Choose timeless clothing with character, personality, and style.
Likely, you will have dozens or more pictures in a casual setting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something just a little different. If you dress too casually, it’s just going to clash with our goal, very similar to walking into a 5 star restaurant in shorts; it will just feel out of place.
For most clients, their natural makeup and hair styles work best, and it’s not necessary to see a makeup artist prior to your session.
Essentials for Everybody
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Arrive with well styled hair.
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We recommend that you don’t cut your hair less than a week before the session.
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Hair should not block the eyes.
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Bangs should be short enough to allow both eyes to be seen.
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Eyeglasses should have a non-reflective coating.
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Clothing texture adds dimension and interest.
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Barefoot is often best for kids under ten, but shoes count for everyone else.
Essentials for Ladies
• Dresses photograph exceptionally well and flatter most women.
• We recommend formal gowns or dresses that fall below the knee.
• Manicures and pedicures matter.
• Your makeup should reflect you at your best.
• If you color your hair, be sure to get a touchup before your portrait session.
• Tasteful jewelry enhances your look.
• Little girls look adorable in black or grey party dresses – please, no light colors.
Essentials for Gentlemen
• Coats and jackets are required for men.
• A dark black or grey dress shirt looks great under a jacket, especially with dark slacks.
• Layering adds depth and dimension. If you choose not to wear a tie, a dark jacket with an open neck shirt is a great choice.
• Men and little boys always look best in dark suits or tuxedos.
Choose clothing carefully considering the tones!
For a timeless look, we recommend that everyone have on a different shades – bonus points for textured fabrics!
This family chose a theme of lace and damask, our personal favorite, in shades of black and grey. Don’t they look fabulous?!
Black on black always looks classic and timeless. Dark colors tend to make you look slimmer.
Short sleeves are fine, but we suggest that long or quarter-length sleeves are more flattering.
Our background and lighting are tailored to render your portrait as a timeless work of art. We suggest midtone to dark, muted clothing to ensure that your family’s faces and features are the center of attention.
We recommend clothing from mid to dark be in tone.
Our Vision Board
CLICK HERE to check out our original Vision for these portraits on our Vision Board
Not sure what to wear?
BE SURE to see how different palettes of color translate to black and white JUST CLICK HERE to see color before photos and black and white after portraits.
What Not to Do
• Clothing with bright white elements are a distraction in a black and white portrait.
• Avoid busy patterns, stripes, and clothing with words, logos or pictures.
• Polo/golf style shirts and casual cotton pants should be left at home.
• Don’t forget to apply common sense to your outfits.
• Everybody should NOT wear the same thing.
• You can’t fix clothing that doesn’t fit by rolling up the sleeves.
