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Memorable portraits take careful planning, and
the clothing you choose is very important to your portrait's success.
These guidelines will help you to make important decisions about your
portrait.
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.
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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. |
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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. Avoid light colors that approximate flesh tones such as
beige, tan, peach, pink, white, and yellow. Darker shades are more
flattering and slimming. |
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Light colors are appropriate against a white or pastel
background, or ...
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with a dark background when an interpretive "pictorial" study is
planned. |
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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. |
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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.
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The visual statement made by portrait on the left is "Here is
a family in which each individual holds a place of equal
importance," whereas the portrait to the right says "Here is a group
of seemingly unrelated
individuals."
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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. |
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Tips On Clothing Style And
Accessories
- Very simple garments always photograph best.
- Turtle necks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither
is exaggerated in style. 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.
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