What to Wear

One of the most common questions is “What should I wear in my portrait?”.

The answer depends on what you are planning on doing with the final portrait. Will it be framed and hung in a formal lounge or dining area? If so, you may prefer to dress more formally. If the portrait will hang in an informal lounge or rumpus room, you may prefer something more casual. Whatever you wear it has to be comfortable and reflect your personality.

The following are general guidelines. At your portrait design consultation, we will discuss your individual needs in detail.

• Dark colours look best with dark backgrounds. Light colours work best with light backgrounds.
• Avoid very bold stripes, patterns, logos, etc as they detract from the faces in the portraits. Small prints, light stripes, etc are all fine and look fantastic.
• In the cooler months, layers of textured clothing, funky hats and scarves, etc, work especially well.
• Wear the correct size! Your portrait is not the time to try to squeeeeeeeeeze into that dress you bought last year and still can’t fit into.
• Men should shave an hour prior to the portrait to avoid the “5 o’clock shadow” (unless you like the rough look).
• Women should wear their hair and make-up as if they were going out for a nice dinner. There is no need to pile on extra make-up.
• Families should dress in similar shades of colour. All pastels, all white, all dark looks good. Don’t dress everyone EXACTLY the same unless you want to look like the Brady Bunch.
• Avoid cutting edge fashion, unless it is a fashion portrait. Simple collared shirts will stand the test of time and won’t make you say “what was I thinking?!?” in 2 years time. 
• For ladies, short, long, or 3/4 sleeves are slimming. Tight singlets with “spaghetti straps” are not, unless you are Miss Universe.