Your brand session is booked!! Naturally, the first question on your mind is probably, “Okay, now what do I wear?!” This is the perfect time to start daydreaming and collecting the pieces that will define this brand photoshoot.

A little reminder before diving in: this is likely one photoshoot out of many photoshoots that you will do in your business’s lifetime. Please don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to pick outfits that will feel timeless 10 years from now. Focus on your brand now and in the 6 months ahead.

To me, the word “timeless” in photography feels like a myth or a scam, because we age, our business grows, trends change, and preferences shift. You’re not choosing outfits that will define your lifetime; you’re choosing outfits that will allow you to market yourself in the coming months or year ahead.

So, this is your permission to relieve the pressure of these choices. You can ALWAYS plan another photoshoot and try new ideas, outfits, locations, and so on.

Figuring out what to wear for your brand photoshoot doesn’t have to be stressful, overwhelming, or turn into a full-on closet meltdown. With a little intention (and maybe a little professional help), choosing outfits can actually be really fun and empowering!

Let’s break it down in a way that feels doable, modern, and very you.

1. Know Your Brand

Before you think about trends, TikTok get ready with me videos, or what your favorite influencer is wearing, pause and zoom out.

Your clothes are part of your brand story.

Ask yourself:

• Is my brand bold and playful, or more minimal and calm?
• Do I want to feel elevated, relaxed, creative, edgy, or polished?
• How do I want people to feel when they see these photos?
• What style and vibe will my ideal clients connect with?

A tailored blazer and trousers send a very different message than an oversized cozy sweater or a vintage tee and jeans. No outfit is right or wrong. It truly just depends on your brand and the vibe you want to convey.

Your goal isn’t just to dress professionally, because these are professional photos. It’s to dress intentionally, because these are your brand photos.

2. Think About Your Brand Color Palette

You’ll be using these photos everywhere! Your website, Instagram, email, marketing materials, and maybe even your LinkedIn profile, if we’re getting wild! Orrr.. dating profile?! You do you!

That’s why it helps to think about the colors you already use in your brand.

If your feed is full of warm neutrals and soft tones, a neon green top might feel a little aggressive. On the other hand, if bold and vibrant colors are part of your brand, this is your moment to lean in.

You don’t have to wear your brand colors head-to-toe, but your outfits should pair nicely with them.

Pro tip: If you don’t love wearing your exact brand colors, choose a varying shade, so your photos still blend seamlessly with the rest of your content. Example: your brand color is royal blue, but you look best in a soft dusty blue – pick what flatters you and makes you feel CONFIDENT, while still staying cohesive with your brand vibe.

3. ‘Tis the Season… or is it?!

Let’s be real, posting a chunky sweater photo in July just feels a little off, right?!

If you live somewhere with actual seasons, you have two options:

1. Choose outfits that feel season-neutral so your photos don’t feel dated a few months later.
2. Plan on doing updated shoots throughout the year (which honestly isn’t a bad idea if your brand evolves often).

Think of outfits that can work in multiple seasons, so you can get the most out of your gallery. You can also choose a few outfits that feel more like spring and summer, and then a few outfits that feel like fall and winter, so you can prepare your marketing for the seasons ahead! Super season-specific pieces can be fun for a few shots, but they’re not going to be useful for the whole year. However, if you’re planning a very specific launch that does rely on the season, we can incorporate one outfit that you’ll use solely to market in that season (example: a holiday launch where you’re wearing festive colors)!

4. Wear Colors That Actually Love You Back

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to colors, patterns, or fit! Neutrals don’t always flatter everyone, and the same goes for bold colors. Black is not always everyone’s best friend!

The best colors for your shoot are the ones that:

• Make your skin look glowy
• Make your eyes pop
• Make you feel confident immediately

If you’ve ever heard of color analysis, it’s worth exploring if you have the time and budget. If not, you can DIY this for now! My first recommendation is to simply think back on times where people have said, “that color looks amazing on you!” I know for me, anytime I wear blue, I get a ton of compliments! It makes my eyes and skin tone pop. With that in mind, I may choose to incorporate some blues into a shoot in a way that feels good to me (most likely with denim)!

You can also look up celebrities who have similar hair color, eye color, and skin tone to you and see what colors they often wear!

Pull a few different colors from your closet and try them on in natural light. Pay attention to what makes you look refreshed versus washed out.

As for patterns, keep in mind that super busy patterns can distract from the main subject (you!) or the story we’re telling. Patterns CAN work, but we want to make sure they’re adding to the scene and not taking anything away from it. This is where it’s helpful to consider the space/location we’ll be using, as well. Is it a simple space or does it feel a little busier? If it’s already full of life, a loud pattern can compete or feel overwhelming visually.

5. Emphasize What You Love, Minimize What You Don’t

You are allowed to love your body and want to feel strategic about what you wear.

If you love your legs, let’s show them off. If sleeveless tops make you feel uncomfortable, please skip them. If structure makes you feel powerful, lean into it. This is not the time to try to convince yourself you’re going to love your arms if you’ve always disliked your arms in photos. This is the time to accentuate what you love and minimize what you don’t want to show off as much. There’s no shame in that!

We all have aspects of ourselves that make us feel radiant, and others that make us feel a little down on ourselves. This entire experience rides on comfort and confidence, so anything that may hinder your ability to show up as your best self doesn’t need to enter the building!

Confidence photographs better than anything else. Always.

Pro tip: try on your outfits in natural light and have someone take some photos of you on your phone or set up a tripod and self-timer. You’ll know quickly if you love it or hate it! This also helps to see what is wrinkly and needs to be steamed!

6. When in Doubt, Get Help

If this still feels overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone!

A professional stylist, a boutique with personal shopping services, and your photographer *cough cough* that’s me *cough cough* can help you narrow options down fast. I promise, you are not the first person to ask for help here, and you definitely won’t be the last. Styling is an ART in itself, and as a business owner, your job is to focus on your business, not stress over fabrics and colors!

FaceTime with your bestie, ask your business owner friends, or call a pro. You don’t have to go at it alone. Sometimes just one outside opinion is all it takes to turn “I hate everything” into “Okay, wait… I really love this.”

When working with someone, make sure they understand what your brand is all about. We aren’t just choosing a cute outfit for date night; this is strategic planning to showcase your brand!

7. Options, options, options!

It’s always helpful to have more than not enough. Since we’ll be taking pictures in multiple locations, capturing many different ‘scenes’ of your business, you’re going to want a variety of outfits. Plus, this helps you get the most out of your gallery – more outfits = more variety = more pictures = more to use in your marketing!

No need to be THE most decisive person here and only pick one or two outfits. Bring a few outfit options, and then some extra layering pieces, accessories, shoes, etc. that we can play around with if there’s time! It’s helpful to know what your must-have outfits are, so we can be sure to photograph you in them first. Then, if you have a fun pair of shoes or a custom jacket you want a few photos in, we can make it happen with any extra time!

At the end of the day, the best outfits for your brand shoot are the ones that feel like you on your best day. Confident, comfortable, and fully yourself.

And if you’re ever unsure about what to wear for your brand photoshoot, I’m here for you. Please reach out and send me outfit ideas! I’m here to help you bring your entire vision together, and that starts before we ever take any pictures.