5 Tips on Figuring Out What in the H*ck to Wear for Your Adventurous Couples Shoot
by Carson Hope
I’ve been there, I know the stress… 10 minutes before heading out to get your pictures professionally taken and your closet is strewn all across the room. Yesterday you assured yourself that SURELY you had something that would work, procrastinating hardcore. You laid out a nice cohesive outfit for your partner, but they’re insisting that skinny jeans (which are actually simply slim fit) just “aren’t in anymore” and they don’t want to wear them, but coincidentally those slim fits are the only pair of normal jeans that they own so you do your best to try to convince them they look dope. Your partner ends up picking out orange work pants with a green shirt and slaps on a red beanie. All the while you’re thinking… dang he looks like one mismatched crayon. You end up wearing a size XL grandpa sweater and call it a day.
Okay… so maybe that’s a *little* specific and MAYBE I was drawing on our own experiences but that just goes to show that we’ve all been there… even photographers who have experience in styling people other than themselves.
I want to disclaim that these tips aren’t meant to put you in a box or to try to get you to wear something that you just don’t feel yourself in. These tips are simply to save a few souls from that disaster I so specifically described up top. If you’ll be out in nature or hiking around, picking out clothes can be… complicated. SO here are a few tips & tricks - hopefully, they’ll give ya some guidance if you need it!
1) Wear something that makes you feel CONFIDENT & COMFORTABLE
I’m pretty sure this is EVERY photographer’s golden rule - which is pretty awesome. Getting in front of the camera isn’t everyone’s jam… I’m convinced there’s only a handful of people out there in the world who genuinely love it. Myself… I get a little (or a lot) awkward. It’s just a tad intimidating (that’s why you’ll see me making a fool outta myself; I’m there to be silly and make ya feel more at ease but that’s a different story). You don’t want to add to that potential uncomfortableness by wearing something that you don’t feel yourself in, or that’s physically uncomfortable wearing.
2) Try to wear colors that complement or stand out from the scenery around you
Maybe… don’t wear green while hiking around a very green mountain with very green trees and very green grass. That being said, if green just so happens to be your very favorite color and that’s the only color you want to wear and feel comfortable in, then go for it. Forewarning from the technical photographer… your body just might be a little camouflaged and blend into the scene around you.
3) Options that allow for movement are GREAT
Chances are, we’ll be exploring a bit… possibly twirling around, dancing, tackling each other (in a cute way) and you’ll want an outfit that allows for that kind of fun, raw movement. Flowy dresses and long skirts are always awesome (also… awesome for popping a squat in the woods for all you small bladdered people out there *myself included* if ya know what I mean). If you’re not that kinda gal, then casual jeans do the trick too. Ya just don’t wanna be stuck in a pencil skirt on top of a mountain while attempting to have some fun… that’s my advice :)
4) Ya don’t have to be super matchy-matchy with your partner
Don’t feel like you have to be perfectly in line with each other outfit wise; you can match prints with solids, and stay within certain color pallets without wearing the same colors. When I’m a little lost, I’ll search for color pallets on Pinterest that I really love and then go from there. Chance are, you both already have things in your closet that go together! (Again… if you both love zebra print, wear what you want to wear! These are just suggestions for a cohesive look.)
5) When in doubt, THRIFT IT OUT
So you’ve torn your closet apart and you don’t have anything to wear but you also don’t wanna spend some serious cash on a new outfit… go THRIFT! It’s great for the environment (& for your wallet). Thrifting is my go-to, especially for styled shoots. You can find so many gems at your local thrift stores, and now there’s even online thrift and consignment shops if you enjoy shopping from your couch.
BONUS TIPS
- if you have a long hike ahead of you, wear some hiking clothes on the trail & pack in what you wanna wear for the shoot! Plus pack a think blanket or sheet in that instance that ya can’t find a tree or bush to hide behind.
- If you’re nervous about what your hair situation will be like after hiking a bit, pack a hat or beanie as a backup.
- If you’re visual (like me) and just need some help, we have a Pinterest board that might give ya some ideas and can be found here. Another little disclaimer; everything pinned is just what I personally like. Don’t feel as if that’s a box for you - what you want to wear matters so much more for the wholesomeness of your shoot & your memories!
If ya made it this far, here’s a treat for ya… I present to you, the pictures from the very *specific* scenario I described… even if you have some trouble with figuring out what the in the heck to wear, it’s not the end of the world, and chances are you’ll still come away with some great photos. Pictures from the AMAZING Jasmyn Rose Photography.
Anddd this is how I felt that early morning, wanting to strangle Logan when he refused to wear his slim-fit regular jeans… hahaha totally joking (kind of).
