Colour Palettes and Clothes for Your CityShoot Liverpool or Your Family Portrait Session

Not sure what to wear for your portrait session or CityShoot with Zoe in Liverpool? We have put together this simple to use reference colour palette to help you think about colours to put together.  This is not exclusive, but is meant to give you some ideas around working with colour for your portrait session or CityShoot with Zoe Photography.

If one person is wearing a strong colour you need to make sure that others involved in the shoot also wear tones around that colour. Alternatively you can choose colours along the line (always work in either blocks of 4 or along the horizontal line) so that you have a mix or stronger and paler colours all working together. Remember, the strongest, brightest colour will be the one the eye is drawn to in the final photographs.

With regards to style of clothes, think about whether you are wanting to dress casually or smart, or somewhere in-between. Having one person in jeans and everyone else in their Sunday best is not a good combination.  Whatever theme you go for, make sure you follow it through into everything, right down to your shoes - there is no point asking for the shoes to be photoshopped into a different colour, when you have the right colour or style of shoes in the wardrobe!

With blocks of colour it's best to avoid round necks, particularly for portly gentlemen or for ladies with curves. We find that V necks, scooped necks and opened necked shirts work best. Go for layered looks, so for men with a T-Shirt it helps to add on a jacket or a V-necked jumper. For women, again a jacket can work well, or a cardigan or open shirt over a V-necked t-shirt.

And finally, think about logos and patterns. Remember that patterns date quicker than colours. So it's best to avoid patterns, particularly bold patterns. And keep stripes to a subtle level if you need to include a shirt, for example, that has stripes, in order for everyone to be in the same colour palette.

It's worth putting some effort into laying out clothes together before you come to the shoot to see how they work together - it's difficult to make any changes when you're at the shoot if you left the obvious top that goes with everyone else's outfit back in the wardrobe, and when you see the pictures and notice that Uncle Bob's bright green jumper just doesn't go with everyone else in creams and browns, it's too late to do anything better than turn the photographs black and white ... unless, of course, Uncle Bob is the one person in the photograph everyone wants to look at!

 Photographers, this is easy enough to create for yourself in photoshop - please respect my copyright.

What to wear for your CityShoot Makeover Photo Shoot in Liverpool?

There is one question we get asked time and again before our CityShoots in Liverpool, so here are a few tips.

Firstly, let's break this down to men and women. Guys, it's always best to think in terms of layering. And use different colours when you layer as this helps to slim you down. Also, open necked shirts, v-necked jumpers and jackets create an illusion - avoid round necks, and never wear stripes, checks, heavy patterns or logos. Remember, one block of colour and totally square tops (like t-shirts and sweatshirts) tend not to be a good look.

For the ladies, again, layering is a useful technique with jackets, a scarf, a cardigan, but if you're wanting to look a little bit sexy, then think about a mix of textures, something with a v-neck, and maybe something with a scoop neck (a lower neckline though, not up by your neck). Think about figure hugging, and bring pants and a top as well as a dress.

If you want to go a little bit boudoir, then make sure you have your gorgeous underwear. Corsets and all-in-ones can look fabulous. And remember the heels - although we rarely photograph full length, your high shoes will throw your body into a better shape for photographs. And we may capture one or two shots with those beautiful shoes in there too!

So what about the colour palette? Keep to the same colour palette - that's easy for me to say as an artist, but what does that actually mean? It's all about wearing similar colours - so blues, pinks, beiges, greys.  Here is an example of two colour palettes that work well. You could choose to go with the lilac/purple tones, or select the blue/grey tones.

An alternative colour palette might be to choose from the dark blue/grey colour scheme or the beige tones.

And another option with greys or pinks ...

When you're planning as a family or a group of friends make sure that no-one chooses a strong bright colour as a contrast to the colour palette, or as the only person wearing a strong colour, as this then stands out in all the photographs.

So when you're preparing for your shoot bring a range of clothes - which might be more than we will actually use. And if you are coming with family members then talk to each other about what colour palette you are going to work with.

And remember accessories that match - and that goes for men with their shoes too! Bring scarves, necklaces, a jacket, earrings and those gorgeous shoes!

One final word - if you don't know or are unsure then take a quick snap of what you're planning to bring, email it over to us and we can advise you about how the choices you've made will work in the photographs.

We look forward to seeing you soon with your lovely outfits for your CityShoot.