Be Yourself
Wearing an outfit you’re comfortable in will only accentuate your style and personality. Whether you want to wear jeans and a t-shirt or a matching pajama set, your happiness will show through and influence the overall mood in the photos. However, if you feel like it, consider wearing solids or simple patterns. Don’t over do it with the patterns. Solid dark colors are the most flattering.
Couples / Families .. Complement each other
Coordinating your outfits a little bit is fine, but if you don’t dress like each other every day of the week, I don’t recommend dressing the same for your photoshoot. However, I’m not against wearing colors that complement each other and pieces that have common shades.
Show your true colors
Black might be slimming, but I generally advise couples not to wear it since it leads to every speck of dust and hair being easily caught on camera. Wearing white should be saved for your wedding day, so go with bright hues that will pop from the background.
Dress on the same scale
On the day of your photo shoot, you should all look like you’re headed to the same place. Wear clothes that are on the same level of dressiness or casualness.
Play off the location
Think of your surroundings when picking out colors for your outfit. If your photos are in a park, a green dress might camouflage you with the grass and trees. A complimentary color, like a red dress, would pop against the green if you want to stand out. For a more subdued look, try a cool color like a blue, to differentiate from your surroundings. If you’ll be in more of an urban setting — let’s say in front of an abandoned brick building — try bold hues to contrast with the gritty background.
If you’re going to be shooting in a wheat field, try a casual sun dress or shirt and jeans. If your shoot is more formal — let’s say walking around Gaslamp Quarter before a date — cocktail attire might be the way to go.
Consider the season
This may seem simple enough, but be sure to check the weather the morning of your shoot. Shorts and flip flops probably aren’t the best on a cold day. Bright colors can wash pale skin out, so it may be best to go with pastel or neutral tones if you’re naturally porcelain-toned.
Shoes
Since your photoshoot will most likely cover portraits, half-body, as well as full body shots, shoes are important too. Sometimes however, walking barefoot might be the way to go and often creates spectacular results.
Layer it up
Clothes often photograph better when they are layered, so consider adding a cardigan, blazer, or jacket to finish your look.
Layers are also great because they hide areas you might not feel comfortable flaunting. For the guys, depending on the weather, it’s often simple enough to have another shirt under a sweater or jacket to change things up halfway through the shoot. Layers can also include accessories like a vest or belt, which always add another element to the photos.