Curating a Client Closet
image:Brit Shimasky of Rachel Owens
Beautiful clothes make for beautiful photographs. One way to elevate your client’s photos and your own portfolio is to assist them in selecting their wardrobe for their photo session. Contrasting patterns and colors could be distracting and make for less than desirable images. Clients will likely welcome any guidance as choosing outfits can be stressful!
image:brenna heater
One way to achieve this is to create a Pinterest board or collages (which can be made with Noble Grids) with various color schemes and stylish outfit ideas to send to your clients after they book. Pinterest has a wealth of ideas and even some outfit inspiration boards for families, like the one below.
(Pinterest)
Include photos of people wearing ensembles that you’d love to photograph. Include a note explaining this is for outfit inspiration and are only suggestions. It’s ultimately up to the client what they’d like to wear for their session, but you can point them in the right direction. Pastels and neutrals photograph beautifully. Everyone doesn’t have to be in the same color, but complimentary colors can be lovely! Keep the location in mind and suggest clothing that would photograph well with the scenery. Some photographers even invest in clothing for their clients to choose from and wear for the session, such as maternity gowns. We reached out to photographer extraordinaire and Noble user Jen Gagliardi about her process of providing gowns to her maternity clients.
image:Jen Gagliardi
What made you decide to start providing maternity gowns for your clients?
Jen: I often had clients reach out to me for guidance regarding "what to wear" for their maternity photos. Many clients had issues finding simple stylish dresses in stock or items that were in the neutral color range. Some seemed frustrated when shopping.
I slowly started building up a client wardrobe with a few classic neutral pieces and I'm always on the lookout for a great versatile maternity dress that's comfortable and beautiful. This was one less thing and expense they have to think about before their shoot and they appreciated this.
image:Jen Gagliardi
Would you share some of your finds and the links?
I recently discovered the brand "Nothing Fits But." Most of their dresses come in a handful of solid colors and soft patterns. Ideal for a spring or summer shoot and can also be worn after pregnancy!
Sakura Dress
I also love this Free People Oasis Dress. It's one of my most popular choices as it fits a wide variety of sizes. It has a stretchy waistband, which is ideal for maternity and can even be worn during your newborn photos.
image:Jen Gagliardi
If you're looking for a similar option to the "Oasis dress" but at a cheaper price point, Amazon has this knock off that's at a great price point and works well for maternity. The quality of the fabric isn't as soft and pretty as the original Free people dress, but it's one of the best matches I've seen! It's also really flattering on and comes in several beautiful colors.
Do you have any tips for other photographers wanting to provide this option?
Start with a few staple pieces that are versatile, classic, and can fit a variety of sizes. Look for pieces that have an empire or a stretchy waistband. I tend to personally love sticking with softer and lighter neutral tones as it fits my brand. Textures and soft florals can also photograph really beautifully. If you can't find what you're looking for check http://www.poshmark.com or http://www.ebay.com I've had really good luck finding gently used pieces that were sold out!
Thank you, Jen, for sharing your beautiful work and tips!
In conclusion, using these approaches with clientele wardrobe styling, you are sure to find yourself photographing more of what you would like to see in your images!