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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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