Not sure what to wear to your photo session?  You're not alone.  Styles have changed over the years, and portrait photography has moved toward a more casual style as well.

Weddings will always be formal occasions with men wearing suits and women usually in formal dresses.  But engagement and family pictures are much less formal.

I remember when I was younger, having pictures taken for the church directory meant wearing a coat and tie and posing very stiffly in front of a fabric backdrop.  Then there was a trend where everybody had their pictures made during summer vacation at the beach, and they all wore matching white shirts and blue jeans or khaki shorts.  I personally liked that style, but it didn't last.

Most of the portraits I do are made outdoors, and the attire is relatively informal.  Here are a few guidelines to help in wardrobe selection that will make you look your best:

- Solid color shirts, blouses, or dresses work best to highlight facial features, especially eyes and hair.  Small prints are OK, but avoid large print patterns and bold, bright colors.  These distract the viewer's eye from the subject's face.

- Jeans or khaki's work well for the men.  Men with hairy legs should avoid wearing shorts.  There is no amount of editing that can fix hairy legs. 

- However, if you really want the men to wear shorts, they should all wear nice shorts like they would wear on the golf course.  I've seen this look at a pool-side summer wedding, and it can work very well.  Cut-offs are a no-no. 

- I prefer that women wear dresses or skirts to provide a visual separation from the men in couples or group shots, but nice pants or shorts will work as well.

- If you really love the look of everybody wearing matching outfits, like red and black plaid shirts with blue or black jeans in the fall, go for it. It's a classic look that some people love.  For others, it might be better to dress in coordinated colors, but not to  look too "matchy".  Unless you insist, "twinning" is a no-no.

- Footwear can be flexible, but unless you're posing as a sports team, I recommend avoiding fabric tennis shoes.  Sandals on men never look great, but can be very attractive on women.  Leather "sneakers" are gaining popularity, and they look a bit less casual.  I prefer a slightly more formal look provided by shoes rather than sneakers or sandals.  They show you made the effort to look your best. 

I recommend you discuss what to wear with your photographer before the day of the session.  The photographer's job is to make you look your very best, and they can guide you in how to do that.