With video and photos becoming a crucial part of most marketing strategies, it’s only a matter of time before you will have to appear in front of the camera. One of the first questions you’ll likely ask is, “What should I wear?”
What you wear is actually instrumental in a successful video or photo shoot. In this blog, we will go over the basics so you can confidently appear in front of the camera.
But before we get into the dos and don’ts of what to wear on your shoot first you want to think about how you want to come across in your photos whether for your personal brand or your business. What tone do you want to project?
This will often depend on your company & the industry you work in. If you work in professional services, a lawyer, for example, you will want your photos to project authority & knowledge. Whereas a social media marketer will want something more creative, contemporary & relaxed. These attributes are often represented by the clothes we wear.
You will also want to consider your brand identity. It’s important that your new photos and videos fit with your existing brand. Is yours a stand-alone image or does it need to complement other, pre-existing profile photos on the company website?
Once you know the tone of your photos, then we can go on to plan what you are going to wear for your shoot! Also, we recommend washing, dry-cleaning & iron your outfits in advance so you make show up prepared and confident. No one wants a crumpled shirt to spoil an otherwise perfect photo
101: What to wear on the day of your video/photo shoot!
1. Patterns or Plain?
In our opinion, strong patterns should be avoided on the day of the shoot. We want the viewer to be captivated by the story being told, not the leopard print blouse that is in the back of your closet for a special occasion. It’s best to let your facial expressions, what you’re saying, and the cinematic video do the work and capture your viewer. So we recommend wearing something that is on brand and can be repurposed in multiple ways without clashing.
2. Colours?
WARM PLAIN COLOURS are universally flattering and help the image stand out on a page. They convert well to black and white as well. Colours like teal, cobalt, purple and coral pop on screen. For women, wearing a top in one of these bright shades will really warm up your face. For men, neckties are your best opportunity to deliver a punch of colour.
BLACK is sombre, guarded, and safe. Probably not the vibe you’re looking to give. If you usually wear a lot of black, try substituting it for richer, more neutral colours. Colours such as navy, chocolate, maroon, or dark green.
PASTEL COLOURS, cream or beige, are often similar to flesh tones and can look weak, washed-out, and unflattering to your skin.
Overall the key is to wear simple and flattering colours to your skin type.
3. STYLE?
As important as choosing the right colour is selecting the right style of clothing. Choose shapes & cuts that flatter your body type and ensure that your clothing fits you well. Poorly fitting clothes (either too big or too small) can spoil an otherwise good photo. Here are some style tips we recommend:
Sleeves or No Sleeves?
We usually recommend avoiding sleeveless tops, as bare arms highlight the contrast between the tone and colour of your arms in contrast to your face.
Jacket on, jacket off?
BOTH! It’s an easy way to create two different looks, jacket on and jacket off.
Layering
Layers are great so you can capture multiple different looks on one shoot. Don’t be afraid to experiment with layers. A scarf or pashmina can be an easy change between a summer look and a winter look. It will also change your neckline and add volume, texture, and dimension to the photo.
Hair
Another way to diversify your look. We can try some shots with your hair tied up and some with it down. Pro-tip, remember to bring a hairbrush for last-minute adjustments if needed. Guys with man buns, this goes for you too.
Makeup
Stills photography, unlike film or video, requires a much lighter hand with the makeup brush. Keep it light and natural and remember that it’s the eyes and mouth that the person viewing your photo will focus on.
Remember to arrive with your makeup complete and bring some to the shoot for touch-ups.
Glasses
If you wear glasses, then they should be included! We want the images to captivate you fully and authentically. One pro tip when wearing glasses on a shoot is it’s important that they are spotlessly clean because any fingermarks or dust will show up on the final image. Now if you wear glasses normally but don’t wish to wear them on your shoot, we recommend taking your glasses off for at least a couple of hours before the shoot to avoid marks on the bridge of your nose.
Jewellery
Dangly jewellery can be visually distracting, plus it’s loud… Microphones will pick up your bangle bracelets or jangly earrings. My advice stick to studs and forgo the bracelets.
Wrap Up:
There you have it! Now you can get back to focusing on showing up confidently to your shoot in the right outfit!
If you are in need of professional videography and photography then you are in the right place. This is what we do here at Capital Content! Send us an email to get started.