Colours That Flatter
Many of us have had that moment when we see a specific colour on ourselves or someone else, and we think "WOW., You look great!".
Choosing colours that compliment our skin tone adds sophistication and balance to our look, and can enhance our overall appearance. Here are some helpful things to consider when selecting wardrobe and accessories.
Understanding our skin's undertones (cool, warm, neutral) can help in selecting colours that harmonize, rather than clash, with our natural complexion. Harmonizing colours make our skin appear brighter and healthier, rather than washed out or sickly.
A trick I learned from a clothing consultant is to look to the veins on the front of your wrist. If they are blue, then wear cool tones. If they are green, warm tones work better. If they are a mix of both, then neutral tones.
This trick doesn't work as well for mid- to darker toned skin, which tends to have a broader range of flattering options and less likely to look washed out.
For mid to darker toned skin, instead focus on how sunlight interacts with your skin. Greenish or golden undertones indicate warm tones. Bluish or pinkish undertones indicate cool undertones.
Neutral tones can experiment with a wider range of colours, but tend to look best in colours that fall in the middle of the spectrum, so not too bright and not too bold.
The best colours to choose also depend on the industry you’re in. Darker palettes, with some pops of colour, might be found in more conservative professions like accounting, law, finance, or government. Whereas your own personal style may be incorporated into your wardrobe in more creative fields, the tech industry, freelance, etc. Or smaller start-up companies might lean to more fun, brighter and/or casual wardrobes.
From a photographer's perspective
When wearing black or white clothes, ensure there is some texture on them. Button down shirts look good but avoid plain white as this can look boring.
No spaghetti straps or strapless outfits in headshots specifically, as they can make your shoulders look wide, depending how you feel about them. You may also look like you're not wearing any clothes at all.
Too much skin can distract from the face. Longer sleeves are better. The focus of the headshot should be your face, which is why avoiding low cropped tops or sleeveless shirts will help to keep the attention on the face. On the flip side, wearing turtlenecks might not always work either, because with some lighting set ups, it could end up looking like a floating head.
Simple is best.
Less distraction is best.
Solid colours are usually best.
Stick with what you already own and feel confident in, in what people normally see you in. Form fitting clothes are more flattering in photos whereas loose, baggy fitting clothes can confuse the eye and may not work in your favour.
Avoid wearing logos or heavily patterned clothes or too many accessories in a headshot. We want the focus to stay on you. Stripes and checks can be tricky, messing with the cameras sensors creating a moire effect. Basically the image will seem blurry or hurt your brain when viewing. They can also make editing the photo very difficult or tricky.
When in doubt, the colours that are almost always guaranteed to flatter most skin tones are in the blue-green family, deep reds, and grays.
Note: Your favourite outfit may not always translate to a good photo. So bring a few outfit options and I will help you pick what works best on camera.
Preparing for the Shoot
It's a close up photo, so...
Check your teeth.
Men especially, please trim your eyebrow, nose, ear hairs, There is a difference between having wonderful bushy eyebrows versus stray hairs popping out of a more manicured or smaller brow. Or having a moustache versus a few dangling nose hairs.
Bring something to dab away any shine on your face, a towel or make up pad,
Bring some touch up make up with you.
The night before...
Get a good night's rest. Keep hydrated leading up the shoot. This will especially help soften your lips. Use chap stick or lip moisturizer. Dry lips never look good, and can be quite difficult to edit while still maintaining a natural look.