Choosing Outfits for your Next Brand Session

I know that I’ve talked about this before but when you are planning a brand photoshoot, there is so much to take into consideration. Locations, props, shot types, it just seems to quickly add up. But I will argue that one of the things that my clients are most concerned with as we go through my shoot plan process are their outfits which is why I recently created my Photoshoot Outfit Guide that you can grab here. 

How you dress can say a lot about your brand as well as who you are. Depending on what you wear you can feel more confident, more aligned with your brand, and it can also help you to connect with your audience. Make sure you click above to grab my guide and then keep reading for more of my advice on choosing outfits for your next brand session.

What makes sense for the Shot Types 

First off, you need to consider the goal of your shoot as well as what kind of shots work for your brand and how you show up for your audience. Do you typically show up in more comfy clothes? Are you more polished? If your audience is made up of corporate executive, you may show up differently than you would for a room full of outdoor adventurists. Once you determine this, it will make it easier to decide on what kind of outfits make sense for the shot types that you’ll be capturing during your session. 

For example, if your brand is all about being cozy and you normally wear clothes that align with that, a dress probably isn’t the best thing to wear. However if you are an attorney or in finance, maybe wearing a blazer and pants makes sense. If your brand focuses on solving the everyday issues stay-at-home parents face, jeans and casual tops will probably fit the bill. 

All of these things actually impact your outfit decisions. My client, Sarah Dutcher, is a real estate agent and she wanted her shoot to appeal to everyone that falls into her audience, working professionals, parents and other entrepreneurs. So we grabbed photos of her in yoga pants, slippers and sweaters, while also having her dress up in blazers and colorful tops. 

Color 

While it may make sense to just wear your brand colors, finding the right hues for your shoot is a lot more complicated than that. Just because your logo is yellow, doesn’t mean you look good in that color. You need to wear what looks good on you so you can also consider colors that are complementary to your brand color that may look better one you. Accessories are another tool you can use to bring together your brand aesthetic. 

If you are unsure about what colors best suit your complexion, check out ColorGuru and use my code, JWPColor10 to save 10%. 

For more on this, you can check out my blog post on how to incorporate your brand colors into your shoot as well as this post on how to match your brand shoot with your brand’s aesthetic.

Fit

Let’s be real, not all clothes will fit everone the same. We are all different shapes so learning what silhouettes and materials fit you best will give you an edge up on your branding session. I use this helpful website when clients ask me about what will look best on them in photographs. Then once we determine their body shape, I have them take a look at my Clothing Fit Examples Pinterest board so they can find inspiration on what to wear. 

Seasonal and Evergreen Content

When I worked with my client, Isabel Kateman of Striped Dog Creative, we were shooting in summer so we selected some fun dresses and short-sleeved tops. But she also mentioned that she wanted to have a few photos of her in sweaters to use during the cooler months for her social media so her images wouldn’t seem so out of season. 

In some cases this may not matter for your brand, but if you are a lifestyle brand, you may want to consider capturing both seasonal and evergreen content when thinking of your outfit selections. 

For more on how to dress for your next branding session, you can check out my post on how to dress for your personal brand. And if you haven't downloaded my Photoshoot Outfit Guide, grab it now!