Photoshoot Outfits
Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photoshoots and have captured over 3 million memories worldwide. Today, we asked our local photographers to tell us their top photoshoot outfit tips so you can look your best in every shot!
Before we dive in, it’s important to remember that the first rule is that you need to choose something that you feel comfortable in and that feels like YOU.
Photo: Claudia in Lisbon for Flytographer. Kimberly and family capture a fun day together in Lisbon with a family photoshoot.
TLDR
- Pop of colour: How to incorporate bright colours into your photo session wardrobe.
- Muted colour: Why earth tones and muted colours make a great choice.
- Elegant flowy dresses: Give your photos an instant “vacation vibe.”
- Fun jumpsuits & rompers: Whimsical throwbacks for a fun, casual look.
- Professional style blazers & blouses: What to wear for headshots.
- Knit sweaters & cozy looks: Especially perfect for fall photo shoots.
- Low-key & casual: Keep it simple with comfortable favorites.
- Tropical & beachy: Colours and styles that work well for photo shoots in tropical locations.
- Classic & timeless: Whether it’s formal or simple, looks that are always in style (especially in certain places).
- Adventurous & cultural: Choose a bold and memorable outfit for a one-of-a-kind photo shoot.
Outfits by Colour
Okay, this might sound crazy, but… you can match, but you shouldn’t match. 😜 What we mean is that it’s fine for everyone in a group to be coordinated using a colour scheme, but not everyone should be dressed alike. (For those of you who can remember the days when everyone wore denim and a white top for family photoshoots—those images seem a bit cheesy and dated now, right?)
You can be creative with coordinating colours. Perhaps one person wears a tasteful pattern while the other wears a solid colour that goes well with the pattern. Or maybe you pick a colour combo such as blue and green, and have everyone in a group wear different shades of those colours. You want your colour palette to reflect the style you’re aiming for.
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Michelle and family capture a beautiful afternoon in Paris with a family photoshoot.
2. Muted Colours
As much as we love bright, bold colours, neutrals can make magic in a photoshoot. Earth tones or muted colours tend to go well with each other, so you don’t have to worry about clashing colours. Think about the time of year: for a fall photo session, darker muted colours will give the photos a cozy vibe, while pastels will look lovely for a spring or summer shoot. And simple white is classic: white shirts or white dresses will give the photos a timeless feel (as long as everyone is not wearing the exact same outfit, of course! 😂).
Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Charleen and family capture their family vacation in Maui with a family photoshoot.
Outfits by Clothes
If you know you have the perfect outfit planned for your photo session, start there and coordinate everyone else’s photoshoot outfit around it. For example, if your perfect dress is blue with little pops of pink and yellow, maybe your partner can wear a solid blue shirt while your little ones each wear one of the accent colours from your dress (say, a little girl in a pink headband, or a yellow belt for a boy; the possibilities are endless!). For couple shoots, it’s especially important that you match each other in terms of style (check out these engagement photos for inspiration).
Photo: Roberta in Rome for Flytographer. Marie and partner capture a trip together in Rome with a couple photoshoot.
3. Elegant Flowy Dresses
There is a reason why so many popular Instagram posts include long flowy dresses in beautiful locations. They evoke a feeling of romance, magic, and escape! Most of us don’t tend to wear a maxi dress every day, so they really make the photo session look and feel extra special. Even a flowy midi dress can look very romantic. It might just be the perfect thing to give a summer family photo that vacation-y look.
Photo: Flytographer in Dubai. Belle captures the perfect headshot in Dubai with a headshot photoshoot.
4. Fun Jumpsuits & Rompers
Jumpsuits and rompers are just so fun! More than a throwback to the clothes we wore as kids, they are a fashion statement and a trendy look. Jumpsuits are everywhere these days, and you can find them in casual or elegant styles. Rompers, the shorter versions, are adorable for a casual summer shoot. (Always keep your own comfort in mind, though—if the romper is very short, you might find yourself feeling a bit exposed!) Our number one rule for choosing outfits is to always be comfortable and wear something that feels like YOU. 🤗
Photo: Ana in Tulum for Flytographer. Vincent and partner celebrate a trip together in Tulum with a couple photoshoot.
5. Professional Blazers & Blouses
If you’re looking for a professional look for headshots, the great news is that plain black suits are no longer the only option. More and more companies are opting for a more approachable look for corporate headshots. However, what you choose to wear for your photoshoot will still depend on your industry and what message you’re trying to convey. (A lawyer at a large firm will have a very different audience than an adventure tourism guide or artist or yoga teacher!) One look that is always professional is a blazer in a solid colour, paired with a button-down dress or blouse. For a bit of variety, you can take it off in some of the photos for a more casual look.
Photo: Hayley in Vancouver for Flytographer. Kirsten captures the perfect headshot in Vancouver with a headshot photoshoot.
Photo: Seehee in New York City for Flytographer. Brittany celebrates a beautiful day in New York with a headshot photoshoot.
6. Knit Sweaters & Cozy Looks
Fall clothing offers so many different looks. One person in the group could wear a cozy cardigan, another a long-sleeve shirt or a button-down, while the third person could wear a sweater dress with boots. Depending on the weather, scarves or hats might be perfect accessories (and they give you another chance for incorporating pops of colour).
If it’s really cold outside and you have to wear coats, remember that the coats will cover most of your photoshoot outfits, so you really need to think about colour and style! If one person has a casual fleece or bright pink puffer on and another is wearing a classic navy peacoat, you might have a style mismatch regardless of what’s underneath the coats.
Photo: Madison in Jackson Hole for Flytographer. Katie and family capture a vacation together in Jackson Hole with a family photoshoot.
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Outfits by Vibe
Some destinations are especially suited for a particular style of clothing. And the reverse is true too—it can look a bit weird if you wear professional attire for a beach shoot or hiking gear in Paris! Unless… quirky is what you’re going for! 😝 It is often helpful to look through galleries from other shoots in your location for inspiration. Once you have a vision for your shoot, it becomes much easier to come up with outfit ideas and find clothing to match.
Photo: Karla in New Orleans for Flytographer. Ayauna and friends capture a bright day in New Orleans with a vacation photoshoot.
7. Low-Key & Casual
Casual destinations: New York, Dublin, Sydney, Amsterdam, Toronto
Cities offer various backgrounds that can work with all kinds of styles. You can even keep things really simple. If you opt for a low-key look, you allow your surroundings to be subjects too. This is especially convenient if you didn’t pack a lot of clothes for your trip, or if you plan to walk around a lot. Plain white sneakers are not just comfortable, but they are also in style (just make sure they’re clean!). Denim generally photographs well, and jeans go with everything, so it’s easy to coordinate with any colour. If you want to add some accessories, a cute hat or scarf (maybe one that you just bought during your trip?) adds a lot of interest without any hassle.
Photo: Vanessa in Dublin for Flytographer. Bianca captures a solo adventure in Dublin with a solo photoshoot.
8. Tropical & Beachy
Beachy destinations: Maui, Cabo San Lucas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Bangkok
Do you just immediately think of vacation when you see a palm tree, or is that just us? 🌴 😎 A photoshoot in a tropical location is the perfect time to break out those fun tropical/floral dresses and casual outfits: long, flowy dresses; bright colours; and even bare feet (which, by the way, we don’t necessarily recommend in other locations 😅). Coordinate your outfits with the location: a white dress really pops against the blue of the water, but so does a contrasting colour like orange.
Photo: Rojeena in Maui for Flytographer. Janel and family celebrate a day together in Maui with a family photoshoot.
9. Classic & Timeless
Elegant destinations: Paris, Santorini, Budapest, Positano, Washington DC
Some places bring out the fancy part of you! Didn’t pack your ballgown 👗? No worries! Elegance does not need to be formal. A simple dress in a neutral colour will look timeless and beautiful. Don’t forget the shoes—if you’re aiming for a classic look, the shoes should be classic as well. Simple flats or sandals will work, but probably not athletic shoes.
Photo: Flytographer in Santorini. Courtney and partner capture their honeymoon in Santorini with a couple photoshoot.
10. Adventurous & Cultural
Cultural destinations: Dubai, Tokyo, Cairo, Marrakesh, Chiang Mai
Adventure means something different to each of us, of course. If you live in the desert, a trip to a lush forest will seem exotic (and vice versa). But you can emphasize the adventure part of your trip through your clothing choices. Pick something bold, something memorable.
Photo: Mint in Chiang Mai for Flytographer. Sarina and partner capture their honeymoon in Chiang Mai with a couple photoshoot.
Choosing the Picture-Perfect Outfit
Don’t agonize over outfit choices—the bottom line is that you should be comfortable and feel like yourself. You might not have a vision for your shoot, and that’s okay! Keep it simple and just enjoy the moment. And when in doubt, ask your Flytographer. A professional photographer knows what looks great at their location.
“Gabriel was easy to engage and get comfortable with. We had a great shoot with him! Not only he was the photographer, but a local guide! We followed his recommendations to some eateries and turned out to be our best meals in Spain! We hope to come back to Sevilla again!”
Yilu
“Zuzana was AMAZING! She was so sweet and personable! Zuzana took us to a great location and gave us a lot of pose recommendations! She made our photo shoot experience easy and stress free. I would definitely recommend Zuzana again!”
Cristian
“Amanda was amazing! She had a great vibe that made us super comfortable, the photos came out gorgeous and she was just great! It felt like shooting with a friend instead of a stranger. I would recommend her to everyone!”
Marissa
