What to Wear for Your Branding Session
Maybe this is your first branding session. Maybe you have no idea what looks good on you, and you want a fashion stylist next to you in your closet right now. Either way, I am here to give you as much guidance as I can so you feel beautiful, elevated, and electric on your session day!
THE COMFORTABLE, ELEVATED VERSION OF YOU
I know, I know – I can hear you saying, “I work in yoga pants all day! I don’t have elevated clothes!” Listen, sister – I am right there with you, so there is no shame in that game! But you can’t tell me you don’t have any clothes that you wouldn’t wear out for a nice dinner, or to a networking event, or to a client meeting! (If you do tell me that, it’s time for some shopping.)
I stress this point to a fault, so be prepared to hear this a lot: Who is your ideal client, and how do you want to be perceived by that client? The most important thing to remember is that people invest in YOU and who YOU are – if you’re not a suit person, then a suit is going to look out of place. If you don’t wear dresses, you’ll likely feel uncomfortable wearing one with a camera in your face. We’re going for the ironed and pressed, non-faded fabric, well fitted version of your wardrobe. Ask yourself who your ideal client would want to meet for a business lunch, and start putting outfits together from that mindset!
ON BRAND COLORS
Stick to your brand’s color palette as you’re curating outfits for your branding session. You are not limited to only these colors, but stay with complimentary colors to keep your website visuals consistent and create brand recognition with your clients.
For example, if your brand colors are olive green and rust, think about sage, ivory, white, and tans to complement those more saturated colors. If this is the kind of palette you are working with, a bright red patterned dress might not be the best choice.
TIMELESS SILHOUETTES
Are there any pieces you have had in your closet for years? What kind of pieces have been staples in a business casual wardrobe? Try to steer away from trends when you’re curating your outfits – trust me, that crop top or big sleeve may be really stylish right at this moment, but over-teased hair and taffeta was all the rage in the 80s too.
I like looking at clothing websites like Banana Republic, Aritzia, and Madewell and scrolling through the filters of clothing types to find ideas for silhouettes. Then start with your own closet and see what you can come up with that feels good to you!
DRESS FOR THE SEASON & LOCATION
If you’re going to be outdoors for your session, make sure you’re dressed appropriately – that could mean bring a light layer with you just in case there’s a chill, or bringing another pair of sandals or other shoes if there’s a lot of walking involved.
If your session location is on a busy street, or an interior with a lot of detail or colors, go for solid pieces instead of patterns that will compete with your environment. If your space is more minimalistic, incorporating on brand colors with an interesting pattern or multiple pattern combo would be a great choice!
ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER FOR TIPS!
When in doubt, reach out to your photographer for advice, or show him or her what outfits you have in mind so far. We see this all the time, so we are a great sounding board to finding the best outfits for you! If you still need some ideas, have a look at these 6 different client outfit ideas based on their 5 brand words!
