What to Wear for Your Portrait Session: A Complete Style Guide
Choosing what to wear for your portrait session can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be.
At Salt & Shadow, our goal is to help you look like your best self — natural, confident, and timeless. Your outfit plays a huge part in that.
Here’s everything you need to know to pick the perfect look for your photos.
1. Keep It Simple, Elevated, and Timeless
Trendy pieces are fun, but classic outfits age beautifully. Think clean lines, minimal patterns, and timeless color palettes.
Ask yourself: Will I still love how this looks 10 years from now?
Pro tip: Neutral colors (like cream, beige, olive, navy, black, and muted earth tones) photograph incredibly well.
2. Complement Your Surroundings
If we’re shooting in a lush garden, an urban cityscape, or by the beach, your outfit should complement — not clash — with the environment.
For outdoor sessions:
Soft colors and flowy fabrics are perfect for natural light.
Avoid loud logos, neon colors, or overly busy prints that can steal the spotlight from you.
3. Layers and Textures = Instant Visual Interest
Textures like denim, linen, knitwear, leather jackets, or structured blazers add subtle depth without feeling "overdone."
If you want a simple way to elevate your photos without changing your whole outfit — think layers.
4. Bring Options
We always recommend bringing 1–2 outfits if you can. A casual look and a slightly more polished one gives your session variety without any extra stress.
Ideas:
A casual outfit you feel amazing in (think stylish but comfortable)
A slightly elevated look (something you’d wear to a nice dinner or night out)
5. Think About Movement
Photos feel more natural when you can move freely.
Choose outfits you can walk, spin, sit, or laugh in without feeling stiff. Long dresses, flowy skirts, tailored pants, and relaxed jackets all photograph beautifully when in motion.
6. Make It You
At the end of the day, the best outfit is the one that feels authentically you.
If you feel amazing, it shows on camera — and that’s what we’re after.
Final Quick Tips:
✅ Iron or steam your clothes the night before
✅ Avoid small, distracting patterns (like tiny stripes)
✅ Coordinate colors if shooting with others (but don’t match exactly!)
✅ Choose comfortable shoes — even if we sneak a few barefoot shots!
Ready to Create Something Timeless?
At Salt & Shadow, we specialize in capturing you at your best — real, radiant, and relaxed.
Whether you're planning a solo session, a couples shoot, or a graduation celebration, we'll guide you every step of the way. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.