What to wear to your family’s Gulf Shores beach photography session
Know what to wear for Gulf Shores beach photography
I have to let you in on a little secret- what you wear to your Gulf Shores beach photography session is 100% up to you!
You do not have to- I repeat- you do. not. have. to. wear all white and khaki for your beach photos! Yes, I can admit that I’ve photographed some gorgeous creamy outfits- but you don’t have to completely avoid color! Of course, there are some tips that I can offer that will help to ensure that your outfits are as flattering as possible for your photos, but the vibe can be exactly what you’d envision your dream session to be.
If you’re not a white or khaki kind of guy or gal (you know, those old school Gulf Shores beach photography photos you see floating around), let’s talk colors.
The biggest tip I can offer when you’re deciding on your color palette is to think about light- and the way that your clothing may reflect onto your skin. Extremely saturated or primary colors like neon green or pink, bright orange or red, etc. will reflect some of that color onto the things surrounding them. AKA, your skin. That can be really hard to edit, meaning either the color of your skin or clothing will change. And sometimes, it isn’t even possible to Photoshop away. When you’re doing natural light Gulf Shores beach photography sessions it is important to choose colors that are soft enough to avoid the dreaded face discoloration.
Choose one of your favorite colors- whether its blue, green, purple, red… and think a bit muted. We’re aiming for soft, or rich, neutral, earthy or muted tones. A beautiful dusty blue paired with creams. Sage or olive tones paired with soft browns. Even blacks and grays. This will be flattering even in bright light and keep your skin looking amazing.
Everyone doesn’t have to wear the same color to your Gulf Shores beach photography session either! Build your color palette around your favorite base, and add flattering neutral tones. If mom is wearing dusty rose, the kids can wear cream and browns. A dusty rose skirt with cream shirt, or khaki pants with an olive toned shirt. Can you envision it? If not, I’ve added a bunch of beautiful examples below of great colors chosen for the beach.
As you can see not only do the colors you wear effect the overall tone of the photos, but the lighting does too! These photos were taken at different locations, times of year, on cloudy and sunny days, sunrise and sunset. But all of these color combos would have been perfect in any light.
I would love to help you plan your Gulf Shores beach photography session!
These are just some ideas for inspiration. I’m happy to assist in session styling for the clients that are looking for a certain aesthetic as well. I have tons more information and ideas for some style boards as well- so keep your eyes out for another styling blog post soon!