What to Wear to Your Couples Photo Shoot

Choosing what to wear to a photo shoot can be hard, but don't stress it; I'm here to help. I created this style guide to help you decide what to wear to couples photo shoot with Becks Photography.

Be Comfortable and Confident in Your Photo Shoot Outfit

The most important advice I can give you is to wear something you're comfortable and confident in. Confidence looks great on everyone. Secondly, dress up! It's not every day that you have your photos taken. Girls, wear a nice flowy dress, guys wear a linen shirt or a polo!

Why You Should Skip Matching Outfits

When it comes to styling a couple, coordinating is ALWAYS better than matching. You want your outfits to complement each other, not to match. Meaning, it's best if you are not in the same exactly outfits/colors, and rather different shades of the same color or colors that compliment each other.

Wearing Patterns and Textures

When it comes to patterns, it's best to stay away from them. More often than not, patterns are "busy" and take away from the subject, your love story. Textures however are very nice! A textured sweater or dress will add nice depth to your photos. Patterns tend to steal your attention away from the subject where texture enhance the photo! Layering is also a great way to add texture to your outfits!

Choosing the Right Clothing Colors for Your Photo Shoot

Let's talk about colors. Trust me on this one, neutrals and earth tones are the best colors you can choose. They are timeless and classic. You can never go wrong wearing beige or cream, they photograph so well and your photos will be cherished throughout the years. If you'd like to wear colors, I highly recommend pastels and muted tones only. Bold, bright, and neon colors do not photograph well, I highly suggest avoiding them. Believe it or not, pure white does not photograph well either. Pure whites tend to give off a blue/magenta tone when photographed, creams however photograph beautifully.

CHOOSING THE BEST COLORS FOR YOUR SKIN TONE

It's important to choose a color that looks best with your skin tone! If you have very fair skin, it's best to wear something a little darker. If you have very dark skin, it's best to wear something lighter. Creating contrast between your skin and your clothes creates a beautiful visual that help highlight you! Believe it or not, ask ChatGTP, if you ask "what colors look best on someone with ____ insert your skin tone, hair and eye color," it will suggest colors that look great on you and colors to avoid! Try this for both of you!

Get the Perfect Pictures by Dressing for the Seasons

Each season brings something new to the lens, whether that’s the stark winter backdrop or the vibrant shades of summer. To ensure you’re standing out in your outfits, I recommend wearing colors that contrast with the scenery so you can be the focus instead of blending into your surroundings.

Color Tips for couples Outfits in Each Season:

Winter: Beige, cream, dusty blue, maroon, muted green, dusty pink, and mauve

Spring: Beige, cream and pastels (green, yellow, pink or blue)

Summer: Beige, cream, muted greens, dusty blue, mauve, dusty pink and pastel yellows

Fall: Beige, cream, brown, burnt orange, dusty maroon, pastel yellow, and muted greens

In-Home: Muted colors that are complimentary to your home or neutrals are best

Christmas Tree Farm Minis: cream, beige, brown, dark red, muted or evergreen

Spring Studio Minis: neutrals, muted earth tones and pastels

Wearing Colors for Your Winter Pictures

In the winter months, you can wear more colors since there’s a lack of natural colors for outdoor locations. If it's a chilly day, consider wearing a cute scarf or a fun hat to accessorize. In the colder months you should always wear a warm base layer under your cute outfit and add layers with a nice jacket!

Spring Photo Outfit Options

In spring, it's important to consider the colors around you. Most locations are either still very colorless or are just starting to get some greens. Pastel colors look nice when paired with a beige or a cream. Layering with a chunky cream sweater or a shacket looks wonderful in the spring.

Solid Pastels for Summer Shoots

In the summery months of May to early September, the landscape is booming with colors. It's important that your outfit doesn't take away from this. If you want to include prints, small floral prints and buffalo plaid can look nice if done correctly but solid pastels, creams, and neutrals are my favorite!

Warm Colors and Cozy Neutrals for Fall Pictures

From late September to early November, Michigan turns a beautiful yellow, orange, and red. Soft browns, tan, cream, and beige look great in the fall. Colors found in nature, like muted greens, dusty maroon, and burnt orange, and pastel yellow also look very nice for your autumn photo shoot. If you'd like to include a pattern, buffalo plaid and flannels can look nice if the print isn't too "busy." In the colder months you should always wear a warm base layer under your cute outfit and add layers with a nice jacket!

COMPLIMENTARY COLORS FOR AN IN-HOME SESSION

If you have booked an in-home session it is best not to match the tones in your home but to choose muted colors that compliment your decor. You do NOT want to choose the same tones as your walls or couch but you could wear a darker or lighter tone of the same color. If your home is very neutral, it's best not to wear neutrals. If you home is very colorful, it's best to wear neutrals. For example, my home is mainly tans, blacks, and grays with a slight splash of sage green. It would be best for us to avoid neutrals or we would blend in with our home, instead we would wear different tones of sage green. Another example-if your home has colorful 70's decor, wear neutral colors with fun textures. Remember, solid colors in muted tones are best, try to avoid patterns and incorporate textures.

TIMELESS OUTFITS FOR CHRISTMAS TREE FARM PHOTOS

For my November minis at Addison Oaks Tree Farm I highly suggest wearing something festive BUT also timeless. Please leave the Christmas sweaters at home and instead get dressed up in your best "Christmas at Grandmas or Sunday best" outfit. Shades of cream, beige, brown, dark red, and evergreen will look best with the background at Addison Oaks. Try to incorporate different textures and skip patterns altogether. Think warm and cozy chunky sweaters with jeans or khakis for the guys and warm textured dresses for the ladies. These photos will not include any "Christmas props" just the natural background at the Christmas Tree Farm. In the colder months you should always wear a warm base layer under your cute outfit and add layers with a nice jacket!

COLORS TO ALWAYS AVOID:

I good rule when choose colors for your photoshoot is to always avoid neon colors. They are very distracting, pulling the viewer away from your precious family and straight to your bold outfits. They will also cast colors onto your skin tones making your skin look neon as well.

COLORS TO BE CAUTIOUS CHOOSING:

Some colors look great in person but just don't photograph the best. Very dark colors like navy and black turn into a black hole on the camera. You will loose any depth or texture that your outfit has and it will look like you are just wearing a big dark blob. I have had many clients in the past choose to wear a chunky black sweater or a knitting navy dress and the textures in their outfits are completely lost in camera, this is something you'll want to avoid. Pure white can also be controversial. White may look good in person but in camera, it always casts a blue hue. It's best to choose a cream/off white instead of a purple white. If you do decide to go with a pure white, I will lower the blue contrast in your photos to compensate this, meaning that all of the blues will be less saturated. Again, not the end of the world but something to consider! Lastly, bright red. Red isn't normally considered a "neon color" but if it's bright enough, it will cast a red hue onto your skin, making your skin look red! Again- not the end of the world but something to consider.

THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS

First things first, please make sure that you are wearing the correct undergarmets for your outfits. I suggest nude colors and strapless if necessary. I cannot edit out straps and lines so please plan accordingly. On to the fun stuff, let's talk about your hair and make-up! Again, the best advice I can give you is to be you, and be comfortable. Now I'm not talking about laying on your couch after a long day comfortable, I'm talking about so confident that you're radiating, comfortable! Think about what how you'd do your hair and make up to attend a wedding, go to Christmas dinner. You want to look your best but it's not the day to try a new hairstyle or make up trend. Some tips for hair and make up...

natural colored and looking make up looks best
typically women look best with their hair down
less is more
don't forget to paint your nails or remove your chipped nail polish

Please keep in mind that in you choose a nature setting, you will be in nature. There may be bugs, dirt, animals, goose poop, etc. We will also be taking photos standing on grass and gravel, which will make it difficult to walk in heals.

last minute tips and tricks

If you wear glasses, there may be a glare, especially if they are not the anti-glare glass
Iron or steam your clothes
Remember to brush your teeth
Put on the nice jewelry. Remove your everyday Apple Watch and rubber ring and put on your nice watch and gold wedding ring
Remove everything from your pockets
Do not wear a hair tie on your wrist before your session

In short...