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Whether we’re on beach in Fife or Edinburgh, up at Glencoe or enjoying the woods and hills of Perthshire… clothing can have a huge impact on how your images turn out.

What should I wear?

Whilst it’s not the most important thing, clothing can really add to a photo or take away from it so I wouldn’t leave it to the last minute. You don’t want to end up in a situation where your favourite jeans are in the wash on shoot day!! I will offer to help with choosing an outfit or you can always ask for my opinion, but if you want to have a think about it yourself, this page should give you all you need (but with a pinch of salt, I generalise and make suggestions but at the end of the day - you do you!)

I’d always suggest going for a slightly more considered version of something you already feel comfortable in and appropriate footwear for the location and season. Being in Scotland means that there’s a high chance it is going to be cold, bring a jacket for in-between shoots if you like and for colder months layer up those thermals.

It’s also worth thinking about outfits as a group. You don’t need to match (in fact, please don’t go super matchy… if you’re a couple, you don’t want to look like siblings), but you do want everything to feel like it belongs together. Similar tones, complementary colours and a shared feel will help everything look cohesive so no one stands out in a distracting way.

Fit, Movement and Texture

Avoid super tight everything unless that’s what you feel best in.

Looser, more relaxed clothing allows for movement and tends to photograph in a way that feels more natural. Flowy dresses, oversized knits, relaxed shirts and soft layers all work really well. Natural fibres like linen, cotton, or wool are amazing. Avoid stiff-seeming garments with collars as they look a bit too formal and often get tucked in weird spots and need adjusting.

a side by side comparison of effortless style in photography vs distracting clothing

Texture is something people often overlook, but it makes a big difference. Mixing textures adds depth without needing lots of colour:

Flowy fabrics like cotton or linen feel soft and natural
Chunky knits add warmth and a cosy feel
Loose denim adds a bit of structure and a laid back feel
Layers like cardigans, scarves or overshirts help break things up and even act as a nice prop

Relaxed, softer textures tend to photograph in a way that feels more effortless than anything too stiff or tight.

On the left, focus is on the subjects, the photo feels calm. On the right, focus is divided.

woman with child photoshoot, side by side comparison of natural texture in clothing vs synthetic and tight clothes

Choosing the colours for your shoot

Colour has a big impact on how your photos feel, so it’s worth thinking about it a little beforehand. Neutral and / or muted colours tend to work well because they don’t take attention away from the subject (you!) but equally bright colours can add a real fun element to photos as long as you’re intentional about it. If you want to incorporate colour but are unsure how to go about it, I am so happy to chat this through with you.

A good starting point is your location and the colours already there, then deciding whether you want to blend in softly or stand out a bit more.

Without going too much into colour theory and all the different types of colour combinations, the main ones to think about are

Analogous Colours
Colours that sit next to each other, like blue, blue-green and green. These combinations feel very natural and are easy to get right.
Complementary Colours
Colours opposite each other, like blue and orange or green and pink. This creates more contrast and helps you stand out from the background in a really nice way.

Using this with your location

Beach / coast - You’ll usually have blues, greys and sandy tones around you.
You could go monochromatic or analogous with soft blues, whites and neutrals for a really calm look. Or add a complementary pop like rust, mustard or red to stand out against the blue tones.
Woods / forests - Lots of greens and earthy tones.
Analogous colours like greens, browns and creams work really well and feel very natural.
If you want a bit more contrast, muted pinks, rust or soft mustard tones can lift everything nicely without being too bold.
Hills / countryside - Usually softer, more muted landscapes.
Monochromatic and analogous tones like sage, beige, denim and dusty pinks tend to work best here. If you do want to bring in more colour, something slightly brighter can work, just keep it balanced across the group.

BUT!!! An unexpected pop of colour is also nice, think neutral outfit but yellow wellies for the toddler on the beach and maybe a complementary shade of yellow on dad’s beanie? Contrast that with mum’s blue chunky sweater that contrasts with the yellows but works with the blues of the sea and sky.

On the left, focus is on the moment and the feeling the colours and textures give is softer. On the right everything feels tighter, more chaotic and distracting taking away from the sweet moment between a mother and her child

On the left, focus is on the subjects, and the photo feels more timeless and soft. On the right, focus is divided and clothes stand out more than the moment or the people.

If you want to incorporate colour, Sara Covey (above) is someone I suggest having a look at for styling inspiration. Her photography masterfully incorporates unexpected colours in a way that adds to images without losing the moment.

Footwear & Accessories

Select the right shoes based on the location, and consider what you’d normally wear if I wasn’t following you around with a camera. Being barefoot makes sense on the beach, and boots are beautiful in the mountains or woods. In Scotland, wellies are usually not out of place for kids and adults alike. For the most part, when it comes to heels I would recommend giving those a miss.

Hats, sunglasses, socks, and jackets are a great way to jazz up your accessory game. Throw some fun extras into your bag but avoid large distracting pieces. If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m interested in shooting you (not your clothes or your bling).

Hair & Make-Up

I do love a wild mane blowing in the breeze. Up-dos are alright, and I totally get it, it’s so easy to throw your hair up! But when it comes to saving a moment and putting it in your pocket, hair down is the way to go. With your hair down, you get movement, you get interest, you get some perfect slices of imperfection in the best possible way. But again, whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident will be best. Make-up should also ideally enhance not distract, use what you normally would and think about what makes sense. Full on glam and smokey eye for a natural woods shoot is probably going to stand out as a bit odd if that’s not typically your vibe.

Before moving on some final, but important tips, take a look at these fabulous AI generated comparison photos I made and take notice of how the photos feel and look completely different purely because of clothing. Neither is good or bad, but when paying for someone to capture YOU and your loved ones, I’d prefer the focus to be on that, wouldn’t you?

A few general tips for outfits looking 10/10 in your photos

Dress like an elevated version of yourself, appropriate for location and weather
Solid colours or subtle patterns tend to be more timeless
Avoid large logos or really busy prints unless that’s very much your thing
Bright colours can look amazing, especially when they’re balanced across people rather than all on one person
Empty pockets please. Phones and wallets always show more than you think
Big watches can also be quite distracting so leave it in the car or at home please unless it’s super sentimental
Tidy, clean nails please. If the camera picks up on it, it’s hard to unsee so try and avoid chipped or dirty nails
Try laying outfits out together beforehand to see how they look as a group
If you’re unsure, simple is usually better
Don’t wear anything you’re going to be precious about. Your shoes might get muddy and wet as we explore, you may get some dirt or sand here or there. We’re going for an effortless vibe and you don’t want to be spending the whole time worrying about your white shoes getting a scuff or your dress trailing in the sand.
Pinterest is great for inspiration, especially for similar locations

And if you want a second opinion, just send me what you’re thinking, send me snaps of your ideas. I’m always happy to help tweak things or give ideas 😊

/Note: images on this post are not mine, but found on Pinterest without original author cited. The AI versions were generated by me to illustrate the different feeling and atmosphere clothing can create/

anetekruze@outlook.com

I offer natural, candid and unposed family and couples photography in Scotland and beyond. I am based in Kinross, near Fife, Perthshire, Edinburgh and Central Scotland.