Yay! You’ve decided to book a brand photography session and you are ecstatic about giving your professional image a huge glow-up.
But immediately after booking, you may have had a minor meltdown thinking about what to wear for your brand session. Believe me, I’ve been there every time I get my own brand photos updated!
This blog post starts from the basics and gives you inspiration to plan the perfect outfits to wear for your brand session, including:
- How to choose a color palette
- Infuse your brand personality
- Add accessories
- Create variety for multiple outfits
- Try on your outfits before your session
- My favorite places to shop for brand session outfits
Step 1: Choose a Color Palette
To start, when figuring out what to wear for your brand session, I find it really helpful to start with your color palette. Try doing a seasonal color analysis to learn the most flattering shades for your skin tone that make you shine! You can also wear one or more of your brand colors that stand out and create cohesion and build brand recognition.
Ideas for choosing outfit colors:
- Colors in your “season”
- Your brand colors
- Your favorite colors
- Neutrals
If you plan to have your photos taken in a colorful office or studio, I recommend wearing neutrals or contrasting colors to balance.
Step 2: Infuse your Brand Personality
Next, once you’ve narrowed down which colors you want to wear, you can start searching for pieces that match your brand personality.
What are 3 words that describe your brand personality? Take those three words and translate them to your wardrobe to add texture, color, and materials that create visual interest.
Step 3: Add Accessories
After you have the main pieces for your outfit, don’t forget to accessorize as part of what you wear to your brand session! This can transform nice pieces and turn them into an incredible ensemble.
Ideas for your accessories:
- Jewelry that matches your brand personality and outfit
- Layering pieces like a blazer, cardigan or shawl
- Glasses, if you wear them
- A watch, if you wear one
- Shoes that match with your outfit
- Headband, hat, hair scarf, or other hair accessories
Have you narrowed down options but can’t decide which earrings look best with your outfit and shoes? No problem, bring your final options to your session and we can decide once we see it all put together!
Step 4: Create variety for multiple outfits
If your brand session allows time for multiple outfits, the key is to create variety instead of each outfit being a clone of the previous one in a different color.
Let’s say you’re a florist and your brand colors are sage green and white, and turn that into 3 different outfit ideas:
Outfit 1: A soft white top, jeans, and a sage green apron with your brand logo for lifestyle photos of you in your floral design studio.
Links to the items listed above-
Top left: Lulu’s Posh Precision Champagne Satin Surplice Short Sleeve Bodysuit
Top right: Lulu’s Vintage Aesthetic Ivory Embroidered Tie-Front Fringe Hem Top
Apron: Reluctant Trading-Bistro Half Apron, Olive
Bottom right: Altar’d State Estela Lace Button Up Top
Outfit 2: A sage green graphic tee and white linen pants and leather sandals for a casual look.
Links to the items listed above-
Piper and Ivy Floral Book Unisex Tee
Quince 100% European Linen Wide Leg Pants
Outfit 3: A white and green floral maxi dress with a wide brim hat and a basket to carry flowers for photos outdoors on a flower farm.
Links to the items listed above-
Altar’d State Tinsley Maxi Dress
Altar’d State Malibu Sun Hat By Lack Of Color
Garrett Wade Handwoven Wicker Garden & Home Basket
This is how you can incorporate your brand colors into outfits that match your brand personality, without being too similar.
Step 4: Try on your outfits before your session
This cannot be overemphasized: Try on ALL your outfits with accessories, and your hair and makeup somewhat done at home before your session date as a trial run.
Ensure your pieces fit well (not too loose or too tight), you have the right undergarments, and feel comfortable and confident wearing these clothes.
Step 5: My favorite places to shop for brand session outfits
Finally, if you’re looking for new pieces to wear for your brand session, my favorite places to find modern, professional attire that’s not too stuffy, have interesting patterns and textures, and colorful options include Dillard’s , Nordstrom Rack, Express, Altar’d State, Baltic Born, Lulubelle’s , and Nuuly (rental).
Don’t forget to check your local consignment stores, which have a treasure trove of almost new pieces with a unique flair.
Conclusion
Choosing what to wear for your brand session doesn’t have to be stressful! Take this advice to find creative and fresh pieces to wear for your next branding session.
Ready to book a brand session ?
Get in touch to book a complimentary Brand Consult Call, and take a look at my Pinterest board for inspiration on what to wear for your next brand session!
If you loved this post, check out…
The Best Indoor Portrait Studios in Louisville for Headshots and Brand Photos
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Meet your Kentucky Brand Photographer
I’m Johanna Hribal, a Louisville-based headshot and personal brand photographer who loves helping local professionals upgrade their image. I work with everyone from corporate to creatives, and any profession in between! Let’s curate a professional image that matches YOUR brand, business, or passion.
See past client work and testimonials, or book a complimentary Brand Consult to discuss your upcoming photo needs!
