What to Wear to Your Portrait Session: A Real Woman's Guide to Showing Up Ready
You booked the session. You're excited. And then you open your closet and the panic sets in.
I hear this ALL the time. Women standing in front of a closet full of clothes feeling like they have absolutely nothing to wear. Second-guessing everything. Pulling things out, putting things back. Stressing about whether they're going to show up and look the part.
Here's what I need you to hear right now: As long as you show up, it's going to be AMAZING. That's it. That's all you have to do. I've got the rest.
That said, the outfits you choose to bring into your session are saying something. About how you see yourself right now. About whether you've given yourself permission to show up fully. Figuring out what to wear to your portrait session is so much bigger than it sounds. It’s much bigger than clothes.
The Number One Wardrobe Rule. Full Stop.
Do not bring outfits that you don't LOVE.
I say this in my Portrait Prep Guide and it bears worth repeating because knowing how to prepare for a photoshoot starts here, before anything else. I cannot tell you how many women show up with something in their bag and immediately say "I really don't like the way I look in this one, but I'll leave it up to you!"
Here's the truth: if you don't like the outfit, you're probably not going to like the photos of yourself in it. It's not about the outfit being ugly. It's about what happens in your body when you put on something that doesn't feel right. Your energy shifts. The confidence dips. You start tugging and second-guessing and suddenly you're thinking about the clothes instead of being present in the moment.
And presence is where the magic lives.
So leave it at home. We're only working with pieces that make you feel like the most YOU version of yourself, the most beautiful and powerful version.
What Your Wardrobe Choices Are Actually Telling You
Here's what I've noticed after photographing thousands of women over more than a decade. The outfits a woman brings to her session often reflect exactly where she is with herself right now.
The woman who brings pieces she loves, the ones she feels powerful and beautiful in, shows up differently. She's present. She's ready. She's already done the inner work of deciding she deserves this.
And the woman who brings the "safe" options, the things she thinks she should wear, the outfits she's been holding onto — she's still on the fence about whether she deserves to take up this much space.
I'm here to tell you: you do. You absolutely do. And the first place to practice that belief is in your own closet before you even walk through my door.
Choose the pieces that celebrate who you are TODAY. Not 15 pounds from now. Not after the next thing on your list. TODAY. Because you are amazing today and I cannot wait to show you.
How Many Outfits to Bring
Bring 4-5 options plus accessories. We may not use everything, but options are everything. And here's what I love: clients who bring pieces they weren't even sure about, I style them in ways they never would have thought of, and they end up being their absolute favorites.
My shoot style can make almost anything work. But the best answer to what to wear to your portrait session isn't one perfect outfit; it's variety. More options mean we capture more of who you actually are. Because you're multi-faceted. You're not just one version of yourself, and your image collection shouldn't be either.
Think about it this way. Bring:
Something Light. Something soft and feminine that feels effortless.
Something Dark. Rich, deep tones photograph beautifully and bring a whole different energy.
Something Classic. The timeless piece that never fails you.
Something Sexy. Yes, I said it. You're allowed to feel that way. Own it.
Something Epic. The thing that makes you feel like a whole entire moment.
We're building a collection of images that represents ALL the ways you show up in the world. Let's capture that.
What Actually Photographs Beautifully
Let's talk specifics. Because there's a difference between what looks great in the mirror and what the camera loves. And part of allowing yourself to be seen — really seen — is showing up in pieces that let your true self come through.
Structured pieces, textures, and solids are your best friendsL velvet, linen, silk, and chunky knit. Textures gives an image depth and dimension. Solid colors keep the focus exactly where it belongs. On YOU.
Monochromatic outfits are incredibly powerful on camera. One color head to toe creates a clean, striking image every single time.
Gorgeous neutrals are endlessly versatile and photograph with such elegance. Don't underestimate them.
The classic black dress. I mean. It's a classic for a reason. If you have one you love, bring it.
Striking metallics and gilded embellishments. These catch light in the most beautiful way and add a level of drama that photographs like a dream.
Fit your form. Something that fits your body beautifully today will always photograph better than something that almost fits. Always.
And if you're wondering what colors don't look good on camera, that would be neons and anything overly saturated are the ones to leave at home.
What to avoid: plaid patterns or busy patterns (but sometimes they work if they reflect you), neon colors, and large logos. These compete with your face for attention in the frame. And nothing should be competing with your gorgeous face.
Don't Forget the Details
The small stuff matters more than you think.
Bring your accessories, but only the ones you actually wear. Jewelry, belts, layering pieces. These add personality and give us things to play with.
Bring necessary undergarments. Seamless, smooth, the right color for each outfit. This is one of those things that makes a quiet but significant difference in the final images.
Get everything pressed and pretty. Wrinkles show up on camera in a way they don't always in real life. Steam your pieces beforehand so we're not losing shooting time dealing with creases.
Bring your shoes. Even if we're not shooting full body, the right shoes affect the way you carry yourself. Wear the ones that make you walk like you own the room.
Get a manicure. It's one of those small details that matters. Always check the Portrait Prep Guide for how to prepare for a photoshoot top to bottom.
Bottom line is that I’m going to give you every reason to pamper yourself. Get the main/pedi. Get the facial. Go shopping or rent something fun for your shoot. This is your day to be cared for and pampered.
One More Thing to Pack
Permission to see yourself differently.
I know the inner critic shows up. She shows up for every woman who walks through my door. She is whispering all the things she doesn't love about herself before she's even gotten her makeup done. You are not alone in that. Not even a little bit.
My one room is to leave that at the door. Put those thoughts in a container and if you choose to pick it up when you leave, do so but it’s not allowed in the studio.
Because here's what I've watched happen over and over again in this studio: women come in seeing one version of themselves and leave seeing someone completely different; stronger, more beautiful than they gave themselves credit for, and someone they're genuinely excited to look at. That's how to step into your future self — not by waiting until everything is perfect, but by deciding right now that she's already worth celebrating.
That transformation starts with giving yourself just a little grace before you arrive.
And if there's a part of yourself you've been at war with for a while — you can tell me. Just say "I love my ___, but my biggest insecurity is my ___." I will hold that with care. And then I will make it my personal mission to show you something about that part of yourself that changes everything.
Because that's what this experience is really about. Not just beautiful photos. A new way of seeing YOU.
The Real Prep Work Happens Before You Touch Your Closet
Before you start pulling anything out, sit with this question: How do I want to feel in these images?
Powerful? Soft? Free? Sexy?
That feeling is what we're building toward. Your outfits are just one of the tools we use to get you there. So start with the feeling, then let the clothes follow. And if you've ever been curious about the unexpected reasons why you should book a boudoir session, that question of “how do I want to feel?”, is usually where the answer lives.
And if you need help figuring out your style, head to Pinterest and start a secret board. Pin anything that speaks to you. Don't overthink it, don't filter yourself. After about 25 pins, I will have a very clear picture of the aesthetic you're drawn to. Sweet and bright? Dark and moody? Editorial? Intimate? We'll figure it out together.
You Are Already Enough to Be Photographed
Here's what I've learned after more than a decade of doing this work. The women who leave their sessions feeling the most transformed aren't the ones who came in with the most perfectly curated wardrobe. They're the ones who decided, before they even walked through the door, that they were worth showing up for.
That decision starts in your closet. When you choose the pieces you LOVE. When you leave behind the ones that don't serve you. When you decide that today this version of you, right now, deserves to exist in photographs.
Because she does. YOU do.
And when you walk through that door, here's what's waiting for you: the full glam experience — professional hair and makeup, your favorite music playing, champagne if you want it, and me right there guiding you through every pose. Think spa meets photoshoot. All you have to do is show up.
Choose the things that make you feel like yourself. Like your bold, beautiful, unapologetic self, and bring those.
I will take care of everything else.
Not sure where to start or what to wear to your portrait session? Let's talk it through together. Book a free consult and we'll figure out exactly what your session should look like…the wardrobe, style, all of it. And when you're ready to go deeper on prep, the Portrait Prep Guidecovers everything you need to know before your day.