When it comes to planning a portrait session, styling the outfits is by far one of my favorite steps! I thought I would share a few of my favorite women’s boutiques to shop at for ‘Style Guide-Friendly’ Outfits. This part actually plays such a big role in how your photos will turn out and so it’s exciting to see it all take shape!
I have found, over the years, that the best way to approach planning for a session (whether it’s for engagement photos, or family photos), is to begin with the bride’s or the mom’s outfit. Once you know what she is wearing, it is so simple to add in and coordinate all the other outfits.
All the outfits really do build off of her’s. So, with that being said, the mom or bride’s outfit really has such a major effect on how the photos turn out.
So, assuming that you are the bride or mom, if you are wanting photos that are very light, airy, and dreamy, then you’ll want to be sure that you are very intentional with choosing your outfits and styling them well!
In this blog, I will be sharing the key elements to look for in an outfit while shopping, as well as a few of my former clients’ favorite places to shop for ‘Style Guide-Friendly’ Outfits!
What to Look for While Shopping
After years of being a photographer, I’ve found that there are a few specific elements to look for in your outfit that are very flattering and photogenetic. I give all my clients access to the BGP Style Guide while we are planning their session, which walks them through how to style everyone in the photo in much more detail… but I’ll share a few of the biggest things to keep in mind while shopping now.
Keep an eye open for these elements while shopping:
- Neutral Colors: Blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues, and light minty teals, creams, grays and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look in your images. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!
- Long, Flowy Skirts/Dresses: Dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric and the ability to blow and move in the wind will always photograph beautifully! You would be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.
- Shoes: Keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toed heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe.
- Accessorizing: Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. Fresh florals in a bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well, if you are planning a couple’s session!
Boutiques to Shop at for ‘Style Guide-Friendly’ Outfits
Here is a list of places my clients have shopped at before their session and LOVED! And most of their clothing is ‘Style Guide-Friendly’, if you will. Happy Shopping!
Planning for Your Next Session? This may help!
Hopefully, this blog helped to simplify this part of the process for you. I hope it gave you a few ideas of where to shop & what to look for for ‘Style Guide-Friendly’ Outfits …
My goal with BGP is to give brides, seniors, and moms a high-end photography experience that is enjoyable and stress-free so that they can have beautiful photos that they love and that leave a lasting legacy without ever feeling overwhelmed.
I’m here to take all the somewhat daunting parts of planning a session and make it as easy for you as possible. And to make sure that you don’t miss a thing, I’ve created this pre-session checklist for you!
If you’re looking for more blogs all about how to style your upcoming session, check out these:
Looking for More Style Inspiration? Check out this Pinterest Board for Couples Style Inspiration or this one for Family Style Inspiration.
