About Clothing, Color, Tone, and Style

The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer's attention to the face or faces in the portrait. Simple long-sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a dark background. Avoid light colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige, tan, peach, pink, white, and yellow. Darker shades are more flattering and slimming.

Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait. All other elements should be secondary.

Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are confusing and do not photograph well.

Especially bright colors, such as red and orange, will completely overpower the face and ruin a portrait.

Light-colored clothing calls attention to itself and away from the face.

Light colors are appropriate against a white or pastel background, or with a dark background when an interpretive "pictorial" study is planned.

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges.  Light and dark tones together create visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other recedes.

Clothing For Families...

In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, draperies and furniture. This kind of coordination also is necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group. 

Clothing that blends harmoniously creates timeless portraiture because the viewer's eye goes directly  to the faces. Clothing in medium shades complement portraits made in outdoor environments.

• Very simple garments always photograph best unless the clothing is an integral part of the statement being made, such as strong ethnic themes.
• Turtle necks or V-necks are generally flattering. Avoid very wide or particularly deep V-neck garments as well as bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely hide the neck.
• Long sleeves are essential for teens and adults, as bare arms call attention to themselves and will overpower the face.
• Women being photographed in full length should wear long skirts, pants, or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the legs and away from the face.
• If feet are to show in the portrait, make certain shoes and stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
• Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time it is styled.