What to Wear For a Portrait Photoshoot

When it comes to choosing what to wear for a portrait photoshoot, it’s important to consider the intention of the photo. Different types of portrait sessions will require different types of clothing. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right outfit for your portrait session.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Headshots

For headshots, it’s important to choose clothing that is professional and polished. A suit or a button-up shirt and a blazer can be a great option for men. For women, a sleeved blouse or shirt paired with a blazer is timeless. Avoid wearing clothing with busy patterns or bright colors, as they can be distracting in a headshot and draw attention away from your face.

Publicity Photos

For publicity photos, it’s important to choose clothing that is consistent with your brand or image. If you’re an artist or a musician, for example, you might choose clothing that is more creative and expressive. If you’re a business professional, you might choose clothing that is more traditional and conservative.

Dating Profile Photos

For dating profile photos, you have more freedom to choose clothing that is more casual and expressive. Deep plunge necklines, halter tops, spaghetti straps, and off-the-shoulder styles can be great choices for women.

For men, a collared shirt with no tie, a sweater or a turtleneck with a blazer and dark denim bottoms or chinos are all polished looks and easy to pull off.

What to Wear for a Men’s Portrait Photoshoot

When it comes to what to wear for a portrait photoshoot for men, there are a few key elements to keep in mind to ensure that you look and feel your best.

First and foremost, men should aim to wear a collared shirt and a jacket with nice shoes at least. A suit is always a good option for a professional look. Blue, gray, charcoal and navy suits look good on just about everyone and go with most backgrounds. These colors are considered classic and timeless, and can help to create a sense of professionalism and seriousness.

It’s also important to pay attention to the fit of your clothing. Make sure that your clothing is not too tight or too loose. This can make a big difference in how you look in the final photos. Wearing well-fitted clothing will make you look more polished and put-together.

When it comes to fabrics, it’s best to choose clothing made from 100% natural materials. Natural materials like cotton, linen, and wool photograph better than synthetic materials like rayon. Natural materials tend to drape better, fall more naturally, and have a more organic texture which makes them more flattering in photos. They also tend to be more breathable and comfortable to wear, which can help you to feel more relaxed and confident during the photoshoot.

Best Suit Brands For Men’s Portraits

When choosing a suit, quality is an important factor to consider as it can affect the overall look and feel of the suit, as well as its durability. Here are some brands that are known for producing high-quality suits for men that will photograph well:

Brioni: This Italian luxury brand is known for their hand-tailored suits made from high-quality materials. Brioni suits are known for their impeccable fit and attention to detail.
Canali: Another Italian luxury brand, Canali is known for their high-quality suits made from premium wool and other natural fibers. They are known for their classic, timeless designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Zegna Couture: This Italian luxury brand is known for their high-quality suits made from premium wool and other natural fibers. They are known for their modern and sophisticated designs, and are a popular choice among business professionals.
Kiton: This Italian luxury brand is known for their hand-made suits made from high-quality materials. They are known for their impeccable fit, attention to detail, and timeless designs.
Tom Ford: Tom Ford is an American luxury brand known for their high-quality suits made from premium wool and other natural fibers. They are known for their modern, sophisticated designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Ralph Lauren Purple Label: Ralph Lauren is an American luxury brand known for their high-quality suits made from premium wool and other natural fibers. They offer a range of styles and designs, from classic to modern, and are popular among men of all ages. Make sure to only choose their purple label options as their budget lines won’t photograph as well.

These are some of the best quality suits for men, but there are many other brands out there that offer high-quality suits as well. Ultimately, it depends on your personal style, budget and needs.

Best Shirt Brands for Men’s Portraits

Choosing a high-quality shirt made from premium fabrics is an easy way to improve your portraits. Quality brands will be made from much better fabrics and the attention to detail will show in your final portraits. Here are some of the best luxury shirt brands for men:

Charvet: This French luxury brand is known for their hand-made shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen. They are known for their impeccable tailoring, attention to detail, and timeless designs.
Turnbull & Asser: Another British luxury brand, Turnbull & Asser is known for their high-quality shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton and linen. They are known for their classic designs, excellent craftsmanship, and comfort.
Thomas Pink: This British luxury brand is known for their high-quality shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton and linen. They are known for their modern designs, excellent craftsmanship, and comfort.
Brioni: This Italian luxury brand is known for their high-quality shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton and linen. They are known for their impeccable tailoring, attention to detail, and timeless designs.
Kiton: This Italian luxury brand is known for their hand-made shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen. They are known for their impeccable tailoring, attention to detail, and timeless designs.
Ermenegildo Zegna: This Italian luxury brand is known for their high-quality shirts made from premium fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen. They are known for their modern designs, excellent craftsmanship and comfort.

Men’s Shoe Recommendations For Portraits

When it comes to choosing shoes for a men’s portrait photoshoot, black and brown shoes are always a safe bet. They match well with a variety of outfits and backgrounds, and can help to create a cohesive and polished look.

When choosing black shoes, it’s best to coordinate them with navy, charcoal gray, or black pants for a more formal look. Brown shoes pair well with blue pants, but can also be worn with gray, charcoal, or navy pants for a more casual look depending on your personal style.

In addition to color, it is also important to choose shoes made of leather or shell cordovan for best results as they photograph well and give a polished look. Cap toe oxfords are considered the most formal shoe for men, perfect for business portraits or headshots. Wing tips and plain toe shoes are more casual options.

It’s also important to consider the condition of your shoes. Make sure they are clean and polished for your photoshoot. Scuffed or dirty shoes can be distracting in photos and will lower the quality of your final photos.

Best Shoe Brands For Men’s Portraits

When deciding on shoes to wear to your portrait photoshoot, the quality is an important factor to consider as it will affect the overall look of your portrait. Here are some brands that are known for producing high-quality men’s dress shoes:

John Lobb: This British luxury brand is known for their hand-made shoes made from premium leathers. They are known for their impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail, and timeless designs.
Church’s: Another British luxury brand, Church’s is known for their high-quality shoes made from premium leathers. They are known for their classic designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Allen Edmonds: This American luxury brand is known for their high-quality shoes made from premium leathers. They are known for their timeless designs, excellent craftsmanship and comfort.
Crockett & Jones: This British luxury brand is known for their Goodyear welted shoes made from premium leathers. They are known for their timeless designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Ferragamo: Salvatore Ferragamo is an Italian luxury brand known for their high-quality leather shoes. They are a popular choice among men looking for formal shoes.

These are some of the best quality men’s dress shoes brands, but there are many other brands out there that offer high-quality dress shoes as well. Ultimately, it depends on your personal style, budget, and needs.

What to Wear For a Woman’s Portrait Photoshoot

When it comes to the question of what to wear for a female portrait, choosing the right outfit is essential in order to achieve the desired aesthetic and look your best in the final photos.

When choosing what to wear for a portrait photoshoot that needs to be professional, it’s important to choose clothing with conservative necklines. Styles like collared button-ups, turtle necks, shallow v-necks, and jewel necklines are all good choices. These styles are classic and timeless, and can help to create a sense of professionalism and seriousness. They also tend to be more flattering for women as they help to elongate the neckline and draw attention to the face. A bespoke or made to measure jacket or blazer paired with a button-down collared shirt can be a great option for a professional and polished look.

On the other hand, if you’re taking portraits for a dating profile, you have more freedom to choose clothing with more revealing necklines. Styles like deep plunge necklines, halter tops, spaghetti straps, and off-the-shoulder styles are all good choices. These styles can help to create a sense of playfulness and confidence, and are suitable for showing a bit more skin and can be a great way to showcase your femininity.

With regard to fabrics, it’s best to choose clothing made from 100% natural materials. Natural materials like cotton, linen, and silk photograph better than synthetic materials like nylon and rayon. Natural materials tend to drape better, fall more naturally, and have a more organic texture which makes them more flattering in photos. They also tend to be more breathable and comfortable to wear, which can help you to feel more relaxed and confident during the photoshoot.

Renting Vs Buying Dressy Casual Clothes For Your Photoshoot

When choosing what to wear for a portrait photoshoot, renting luxury clothes for women can be a great option for those who want to wear designer brands and luxury clothing but don’t want to invest in buying them. Some of the pros of renting luxury clothes for your photoshoot include:

Affordability: Renting luxury clothes is often more affordable than buying them, especially if you only need to wear the clothes for your photoshoot.
Variety: Renting luxury clothes allows you to try different styles, designers, and trends without committing to buying them.
Convenience: Renting luxury clothes eliminates the need to store or take care of them after your photoshoot. You simply return the clothes and you don’t have to worry about dry-cleaning, storage, etc.

However, there are also some cons to consider when renting luxury clothes for your photoshoot, such as:

Limited time to wear: You only have a limited time to wear the clothes, which can be an issue if you need to reschedule your photoshoot.
Limited selection: The selection of clothes available to rent may be limited, depending on the service or location you choose.
Damage and wear: Rented clothes can be exposed to wear and tear by previous renters, which can affect the condition of the clothes when you receive them. This isn’t usually an issue but it’s a possibility, therefor you should consider getting additional back up options just in case.
Not being able to customize: With renting you can’t tailor the clothes to make them fit you perfectly.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to rent or buy luxury clothes depends on your personal preferences, budget, and how familiar you are with luxury brands.

Renting can be a great option for those who want to wear designer brands and luxury clothing but don’t want to invest in buying it, while buying gives you the freedom to wear it long term and have it tailored to your body.

Best Places to Rent Women’s Dressy Casual Clothes

Rent the Runway: is a popular service that allows women to rent luxury clothes and designer brands for special occasions or events at a fraction of the retail price.
Le Tote: This service offers a monthly subscription where you can rent a variety of clothing and accessories, including designer brands.
Gwynnie Bee: This service specializes in plus-size clothing and offers a monthly subscription where you can rent a variety of clothing, including designer brands.
Armoire: This service offers a monthly subscription where you can rent a variety of clothing and accessories, including designer brands.
Style Lend: This service allows you to rent designer clothing and accessories, including both luxury and contemporary brands.

Best Suit & Button Up Shirt Makers For Women’s Professional Portraits

When choosing a suit for a female portrait, the quality of the suit is an important factor to consider as it will ultimately play a signifiagant role in the quality of your photo. When deciding what to wear for a portrait photoshoot it’s almost always best to get bespoke garments made for your body.

Most tailors that offer bespoke services for men will also accommodate tailoring for women also. Here are some brands that are known for producing high-quality made-to-measure or bespoke suits:

Savile Row: Savile Row is a street in London, England, known for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men. However, many tailors in Savile Row also offer bespoke tailoring for women, ensuring a perfect fit and a unique design.
The Rake: The Rake is a British luxury brand that offers bespoke and made-to-measure suits for women. They use high-quality fabrics and offer a wide range of styles, from classic to modern.
Henry Poole & Co: This British luxury brand offers bespoke and made-to-measure suits for women, using high-quality fabrics and traditional craftsmanship. They are known for their classic designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Huntsman: This British luxury brand offers bespoke and made-to-measure suits for women, using high-quality fabrics and traditional craftsmanship. They are known for their classic designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Gieves & Hawkes: This British luxury brand offers bespoke and made-to-measure suits for women, using high-quality fabrics and traditional craftsmanship. They are known for their classic designs and excellent craftsmanship.
Bindle & Keep: This New York based brand is known for their bespoke tailoring for women, they use high-quality fabrics and offer a wide range of styles, from classic to modern. They have a team of experienced tailors that will ensure a perfect fit and unique design for their customers.
Suitkits: This online brand offers made-to-measure suits for women, using high-quality fabrics and traditional craftsmanship. They use a proprietary algorithm to ensure a perfect fit, and offer a wide range of styles, from classic to modern.
Sumissura: This online brand offers made-to-measure suits for women, using high-quality fabrics and traditional craftsmanship. They have a large selection of fabrics and styles to choose from and a team of experienced tailors that will ensure a perfect fit and unique design for their customers.

These are some of the best brands to consider for made-to-measure or bespoke suits for women, but there are many other tailors outthere that offer high-quality suits as well. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your personal style, budget, and needs for your portrait.

Women’s Shoe Recommendations For Portraits

When selecting shoes for a woman’s outfit, there are a few key elements to keep in mind to ensure that you look and feel your best.

First and foremost, it’s important to avoid casual shoes such as sneakers, sandals, or flip-flops. These types of shoes can make you appear less polished and professional in the final photos. Instead, opt for dress shoes made from natural materials like leather. Leather shoes are a great choice because they are durable, stylish, and photograph well.

If you’re going for a professional look, heels are a great option. They can help to elongate your legs and create a sense of elegance and sophistication. Classic pumps or strappy heels are both great choices for dating profile photos. Avoid shoes that are too high or too chunky in any circumstance as they can be distracting in photos and make you appear unbalanced.

For a more relaxed and casual look, flats or low heels can be a great option. Ballet flats, loafers, or oxfords all look great and are comfortable to walk on.

Black and brown shoes are always a good choice. They match well with many different outfits and backgrounds, and can make your overall look appear more polished. When choosing black shoes, it’s best to coordinate them with navy, charcoal gray, or black pants.

Brown shoes pair better with blue pants then black shoes will. That said, brown shoes can also be worn equally well with gray, charcoal, or navy pants depending on the look you’re going for.

Remember to also think about the condition of your shoes when deciding what to wear for a portrait photoshoot. Make sure the shoes you wear are clean and polished. Scuffed or dirty shoes can be distracting in photos and will diminish the overall quality of your final portraits.

Best Shoe Brands for Women’s Portraits

When choosing women’s dress shoes, quality is an important factor to consider as it affects the overall look of your portrait. Here are some brands that are known for producing high-quality women’s dress shoes:

Manolo Blahnik: This luxury brand is known for their elegant and timeless designs, Manolo Blahnik offers a wide range of dress shoes for women, including pumps, stilettos, and slingbacks.
Jimmy Choo: Jimmy Choo is another luxury brand that offers a variety of dress shoes for women, including pumps, sandals, and flats. Their shoes are made of high-quality materials and are known for their comfort and durability.
Prada: This luxury brand is known for their high-quality materials and craftsmanship, and offers a wide range of dress shoes for women, including pumps, loafers, and boots.
Gucci: This luxury brand offers a wide range of dress shoes for women, including pumps, loafers, and boots. Gucci shoes are known for their quality materials and craftsmanship, and are a popular choice among fashion-conscious women.
Salvatore Ferragamo: Salvatore Ferragamo is an Italian luxury brand known for their high-quality leather shoes, including pumps, loafers, and boots. They are a popular choice among women looking for dress shoes.

These are some of the best quality dress shoes for women, but there are many other brands out there that offer high-quality dress shoes as well. Ultimately, it depends on your personal style, budget, and needs.

Tips About Jewelry & Accessories – What to Wear for a Portrait Photoshoot

When choosing what to wear for a portrait photoshoot, choosing the right jewelry and accessories is an important aspect to consider. Keep in mind that less is often more. Too many accessories can be distracting and take away from the focus on you in the final photos.

Instead, it’s best to choose a few statement pieces that complement your outfit and add a touch of elegance. This will ensure that your jewelry and accessories complement, rather than detract from, your overall look in the portrait photoshoot.

When it comes to choosing jewelry and accessories for a portrait photoshoot, it’s important to consider how they will complement your overall look. One important tip to keep in mind is to make sure that all of the metals used in your outfit should be the same throughout. Wearing a mix of different metals can create a conflicting and disjointed look in the final photos.

For example, if you’re wearing a gold watch, it’s best to also wear gold earrings and a gold necklace to create a cohesive look. If you’re wearing silver earrings, a silver necklace and a silver watch will create a harmonious look. This will ensure that your jewelry and accessories complement, rather than detract from, your overall look.

Choose Jewelry That Matches Your Skin Tone – What to wear for a portrait photoshoot

When it comes to choosing jewelry for a portrait photoshoot, it’s important to consider how it will complement your skin tone. People with warm skin tones generally look best in jewelry with warm tones like gold, while those with cool skin tones generally look best in white gold or silver.

For those with warm skin tones, gold jewelry can bring out the natural warmth and glow of your skin. Yellow gold, rose gold, and gold-plated jewelry are all great options. They can help to create a cohesive and polished look that complements your skin tone.

For those with cool skin tones, white gold and silver jewelry can help to balance out the coolness of your skin and create a more harmonious look. These metals can help to create a polished and professional look that complements your skin tone.

How to Use Jewelry to Tie Your Outfit Together

One way to choose statement pieces is to select items that match or complement the colors in your outfit. For example, if you’re wearing a blue dress, you might choose a pair of blue earrings or a necklace with a blue stone. This can help to tie your outfit together and create a cohesive look.

Another way to choose statement pieces is to select items that match the overall aesthetic of the photoshoot. For example, if you’re going for a classic, timeless look, you might choose a simple pearl necklace or diamond stud earrings. If you’re going for a more modern, edgy look, you might choose a bold, geometric necklace or chunky bracelets.

When choosing statement pieces, it’s also important to consider the size and scale of the items. Large, chunky pieces can be overwhelming and take away from the focus on you in the final photos. Instead, choose smaller, daintier pieces that add a touch of elegance without being too distracting.

How to Determine if you Have Warm or Cool Undertones

Determining whether you have warm or cool undertones in your skin is an important step in choosing the best jewelry and clothing for a portrait photoshoot. Here are a few ways to determine your skin tone:

Look at the veins in your wrist. If your veins appear blue, you likely have cool undertones. If they appear green, you likely have warm undertones.
Consider the colors that look best on you. If you look best in warm colors like orange, yellow, and gold, you likely have warm undertones. If cool colors like blue, purple, and silver look best on you, you likely have cool undertones.
Think about how you tan. If you tan easily and turn golden brown, you likely have warm undertones. If you burn easily and turn pink or red, you likely have cool undertones.
Check your skin in natural light. In natural light, the skin appears more naturally, and you can see the undertones better. Look at your skin and see if it has a yellow, peach, golden, or olive undertone, which are signs of warm undertones. If it has a pink, red, blue or purple undertone, it’s a sign of cool undertones.

It’s also worth noting that some people may have neutral undertones, which means they have a balanced mix of cool and warm undertones, or have a neutral undertone, which is neither cool nor warm.

Tips If You Wear Glasses – What to Wear for a Portrait Photoshoot

When choosing the glasses to wear for your photoshoot, it’s important to take steps to ensure that your lenses don’t create any unwanted glare in the final photos. One way to do this is by bringing a pair of glasses without the lenses to the photoshoot. This is the best way to avoid glare in the final photos, as the absence of lenses eliminates any potential reflections.

Another option is to wear anti-glare glasses. These glasses have special coatings on the lenses that can help to reduce glare. If you’re planning on getting new glasses before a portrait photoshoot, consider getting a pair with anti-glare lenses. This can help to reduce glare in the final photos and ensure that your eyes are clearly visible.

It’s also a good idea to bring a few different pairs of glasses to the photoshoot. This way, you can try on different styles and see which one looks the best on camera. This can be especially useful if you’re not sure which pair of glasses will work best for the final photos.

When choosing frames, it’s important to consider the overall aesthetic of the photoshoot. If you’re going for a classic, timeless look, you might want to choose a frame that is simple and elegant. Avoid bold patterns or bright colors, and stick to neutral tones like black, brown, and gunmetal. If you’re going for a more modern, edgy look, you might want to choose a frame that is more bold and daring. Experiment with different textures, patterns, and colors to create a unique and eye-catching look.

It’s also important to make sure that the frame you choose fits your face well. A good fitting frame can make a big difference in how you look in the final photos. If you’re not sure which frame will work best, consider visiting an optometrist or an eyewear specialist for a professional fitting.

Sonoma, California Portrait Photographer

If you’re looking for timeless portraits that capture your true beauty and personality and are located near Sonoma county, look no further! As a professional portrait photographer, I specialize in capturing the perfect portrait for any occasion.

When it comes to what to wear for a portrait photoshoot, I understand the importance of choosing the right outfit to achieve the desired aesthetic and look your best in the final photos. That’s why I offer a personal consultation service, to help you choose the perfect outfit and accessories to match your style.

My goal is to make you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, so that I can capture the real you. I use the latest equipment and techniques to ensure that your portraits are of the highest quality and truly reflect your unique beauty.

So whether you’re looking for headshots, publicity photos, dating profile photos, or just want to capture a special moment in your life, I am here to help! Contact me today to schedule your portrait consultation and let’s collaborate to create something truly special together!