Please, For the Love of All Things Good, Don't Wear Black
(A passionate plea from your photographer)
Deciding what to wear to a photo shoot is hard. I get it. There are about forty-seven things to think about and approximately zero time to think about them. So you do what most people do when they're overwhelmed by a decision, you reach for the black.
And I am begging you not to.
Black is safe. That's exactly the problem.
Here's the thing about black: it doesn't do you any favours. It blends into backgrounds. It flattens. It says please don't look at me too closely, which is, funnily enough, the opposite of what you're paying a photographer to capture.
You're not investing in a photo shoot to disappear into it.
And to be honest… most people don't even look their best in black. It's one of those things we've collectively agreed is flattering without ever really questioning it. But black next to your face? It can drain the life right out of you, depending on your colouring. It's stark, it pulls focus in the wrong direction.
A bit of colour theory, stay with me
I used to live in black, head to toe, every day, because it felt safe and I thought it was slimming. Now I own exactly one black jumper and that's it.
Why the change? I found out my colour season.
Colour seasons are a way of grouping people by their natural colouring, skin tone, hair, eyes into a palette that actually suits them. There are four main seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) each with variations, and once you know yours, you know which colours make you look alive and which ones quietly drain you. It's not as woo-woo as it sounds. It's just… colour science.
Turns out I'm an Autumn, with a bit of Bright Spring thrown in. Browns, caramels, maroons, these are my neutrals. And when I wear them? My skin glows (as much as it ever does with 2 small humans to look after), my eyes pop. I look alive. When I wore black? I just… existed. Technically present, visually forgettable.
Knowing your colour season is an absolute game-changer. There are almost always better neutrals for your specific colouring, ones that work with you rather than absorbing you.
What to think about instead
You don't have to go loud. I'm not telling you to show up in a bold print if that's not you. But if black is your default because it feels safe, try nudging it slightly:
A different neutral. Camel, stone, navy, rust, cream, olive. Something that sits near your skin rather than against it.
Texture. A chunky knit, a linen shirt, something with a bit of physical interest. Texture photographs beautifully and gives images depth.
Layering. Adds dimension and something to play with in front of the camera.
Movement. This one's underrated. Clothing that moves, a flowy layer, a relaxed shirt can completely transform a photo. Movement brings life and life brings connection.
Rules are made to be broken…
The bit where I admit I've been guilty too
I wore black on a photo shoot once. I should've known better. I still like the photo, but the black does absolutely nothing for me. There's no personality in it. You don't get a real sense of the person. Clothing tells a story about who you are, and black, when it's chosen from fear rather than intention, tells the story of someone who didn't want to be seen.
The caveat (rules are made to be broken)
Okay. Sometimes black is right. If it's part of your brand, if it's genuinely you, if you're walking in ready to make a statement then yes, absolutely, wear the black. But wear it like you mean it. Make it intentional. Make it part of the story we're telling together.
The difference between black-as-armour and black-as-power is all in the intention.
Just... don't use it to hide. You're too interesting for that.
If you're not sure where to start with colour or what to wear for your shoot, I'm always happy to have a chat before your session, that's what the planning call is for.
No guesswork, no stress, just good photos.