You've booked your session. You're excited. And then the panic sets in.
What am I supposed to wear?
It's one of the most common questions I get — and honestly, it makes complete sense. Your wardrobe is one of the only things about your brand session that you have to figure out yourself, and getting it wrong feels like it could throw off the whole shoot.
Here's the good news: it doesn't have to be complicated. Once you understand a few simple principles, putting together your outfits actually becomes one of the most fun parts of the whole process.
Let's break it down.
Start With Your Brand Colors, Not Your Favorite Outfit
This is the number one shift that changes everything. Your session isn't about dressing in what makes you personally feel cutest — it's about dressing in a way that makes your brand feel cohesive.
Pull out your brand palette. Look at your website colors, your logo, the tones you use consistently across your social media. Your wardrobe should live within that world. That doesn't mean wearing a shirt that's the exact hex code of your brand blue — it means choosing pieces in tones that complement your brand without competing with it.
Neutral bases — cream, tan, white, soft black — almost always work. From there, you can layer in a color or two that echoes your brand.
The Magic Number: Three Outfits
For most sessions, three outfit changes hit the sweet spot. Here's how to think about them:
Outfit 1 — The Hero Look: Your most polished, on-brand outfit. This is the one that ends up on your website homepage. Think: how do you want your dream client to feel when they first encounter your brand?
Outfit 2 — The Relaxed Look: A little more lived-in, a little more "behind the scenes." This one works beautifully for blog headers, Instagram content, and anything that needs to feel approachable.
Outfit 3 — The Wildcard: This is where you have a little fun. A texture, a pattern, a color you don't normally reach for. Sometimes the most unexpected outfit produces the most unforgettable images.
"The goal isn't to look like the best version of someone else. It's to look like the most intentional version of you."
What to Avoid (Even If You Love It)
A few things that consistently work against you on camera:
Busy patterns and small prints. Tiny stripes, micro-florals, and tight houndstooth tend to create a visual effect on camera that's distracting and unflattering. Save those for days when no one's photographing you.
Logos and text. Wearing another brand's name in your brand photos is a strange thing to do when you think about it. Keep your imagery clean and yours.
Anything that doesn't fit right now. Not in a year. Not after whatever. Right now. If you're pulling, tugging, or holding your breath, it's going to show up in your body language and your face.
Shades too close to your skin tone. Depending on your complexion and the lighting environment, very light or very nude tones can wash you out or blend into your background in ways that don't translate well.
One More Thing: Bring Options
Even with the most thorough planning, sometimes an outfit you loved at home just doesn't work in the space or the light. Bring a backup for each look — an alternate top, a swap jacket, a different shoe. You almost certainly won't need all of it. But having options means you'll never be standing on set wishing you'd packed differently.
Wardrobe is included in every pre-shoot planning session at Salt & Sol — so if you're booked with me, you won't be navigating this alone. We'll talk through your outfits together before shoot day so you show up feeling confident, not second-guessing yourself in the parking lot.
Ready to get started?
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