What to wear for your London photoshoot - a few tips
The most important thing first The most common question I get before a shoot isn't about locations or timing. It's about what to wear. And it's a genuinely good question. The right outfit can make a photograph sing, and the wrong one can quietly undermine everything else. The short answer is wear something you feel good in, because confidence reads on camera more than any colour choice. But there's more to it than that, and after hundreds of shoots across London I've noticed patterns that are worth sharing.
Colour in a London context Colour is your friend in London. The city is more colourful than people expect. The sage green railings of Westminster Bridge, the pastel terraces of Notting Hill, the vibrant graffiti of Shoreditch, the lush green of Hyde Park in summer. Bold colours photograph brilliantly against these backdrops. That said, some of my favourite shoots have been entirely neutral in palette. Cream, sand, soft white and warm grey work beautifully, especially for families. That combination becomes quietly cinematic in a way that bold colours sometimes can't match, especially in the softer light of early morning or late afternoon.
Coordinate, don't match For couples and families the goal is harmony, not uniformity. Choose a palette of two or three tones and dress within it rather than wearing identical outfits. One person in navy, another in cream and soft blue feels considered and relaxed. Everyone in the same shade of grey feels like a school photo. Layers help enormously here. A jacket you can take on and off, a scarf that adds texture. These small things create variety and movement within a single shoot. What to avoid: large logos, busy patterns, and anything you're not comfortable in. If you're not comfortable in what you're wearing, it will come through in the photos. Very bright white can also blow out in direct sunlight, which is worth knowing if you're shooting on a clear day.
The practical bit One practical note that people always underestimate. We will be walking. Comfortable shoes matter more than most clients expect. Beautiful shoes for the shots, something you can actually move in for getting between locations. Bring both if you can. And please, iron your clothes beforehand or choose fabrics that don't crinkle. Creases show up clearly in photographs and they're not something that's easy to fix in editing. When in doubt about any of it, send me a photo of your outfit before the shoot. I'm always happy to give a quick opinion, and it takes two minutes to save you second-guessing on the morning.
