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Memorable portraits take careful planning,
and the clothing you choose is very important to your
portrait's success. These guidelines will help you to
make important decisions about your portrait.
About Clothing, Color, Tone, and Style ...
The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer's attention to the
face or faces in the portrait. Simple long-sleeved garments in medium to
dark tones of brown rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices
when photographed against a dark background.
Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait. All other elements
should be secondary. |
Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are confusing and do not photograph
well. |
Especially bright colors, such as red and orange, will completely overpower
the face and ruin a portrait. |
Light-colored clothing calls attention to itself and away from the face.
Avoid light colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige, tan, peach,
pink, white, and yellow. Darker shades are more flattering and slimming. |
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Light colors are appropriate
against a white or pastel
background, or ...
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with a dark background when
an interpretive "pictorial"
study is planned.
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Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within
the same tonal ranges. Light and dark tones together create visual confusion,
as one subject comes forward and the other recedes. |
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Clothing For Families
In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating
a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls,
carpets, draperies and furniture. This kind of coordination also is necessary
when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same
tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the
clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.
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The visual statement made by portrait on the left is "Here
is a family in which each individual holds a place of equal
importance," whereas the portrait to the right says "Here
is a group of seemingly unrelated individuals."
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Clothing that blends harmoniously
creates timeless portraiture
because the viewer's eye
goes directly to the faces.
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Clothing in medium shades
complement portraits made
in outdoor environments.
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Tips On Clothing Style And Accessories
- Very simple garments always photograph best.
- Turtle necks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither is exaggerated
in style. Avoid very wide or particularly deep V-neck garments as well
as bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely hide the neck.
- Long sleeves are essential for teens and adults, as bare arms call
attention to themselves and will overpower the face.
- Women being photographed in full length should wear long skirts, pants,
or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the
legs and away from the face.
- If feet are to show in the portrait, make certain shoes and stockings
are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
- Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait session.
Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair
in relation to the time it is styled.
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