Tips for Great Outfit Photos

Emma and I have been doing outfit photos for A Beautiful Mess for almost two years. We've had a lot of fun documenting our silly outfits and collaborating with companies that we admire! We've learned a lot along the way! 

I've recieved some e-mails recently asking about our methods for getting photos and finding backdrops. I hope this post is helpful to some aspiring fashion bloggers out there! More than anything, we believe that outfit photos should be fun! 

1. Use Real Life Props 

Props give outfit photos more personality! We try to use them as often as possible, but we want them to seem natural and not awkward. One hint is to use real life props (like my bicycle) or seasonal props that help tell the story of the day (like this gigantic autumn leaf). When you choose props, find items that you feel natural with and that fit your personality and aesthetic! 

2. Scout Out Backdrops You Love 

Long before our adventures in outfit photos Emma and I owned a small photography business together. We quickly built up a list of 20 cute walls around town for photo shoots. It's good to have a lot of options so you can avoid direct sunlight and find colors that compliment your clothing! 

Something fun to try.... Sometime when we shoot eachother's outfits or photos for Sister Style we find spots with two different colored walls so that we can both get in our photos and we only have to park the car once! It's no fun driving around for 10 minutes just to find a cute wall. 

3. Use A Real Life Setting As Your Backdrop 

Do you work somewhere cool? Have a cute home? Love your favorite local spots? Take outfit photos in a natural place that you love. I sometimes take my photos in my local boutique. Why not take an outfit photo at a lunch date destination or on a picnic? It's fun and your readers will enjoy the peek into your world! 

4. Style A Piece Two Ways 

I LOVE it when outfit posts teach something! For example we've often shown two or three ways to style a piece or taught an easy DIY along with our daily outfit. It's just fun to add a little something extra for your readers to enjoy! 

5. Smile! 

It's kinda a "thing" that fashion bloggers rarely smile in their photos. We don't know how that started but we've grown to love smiling outfit photos! Don't be afraid to show your personality or your silly side when taking outfit photos. It's fun! 

6. Find Your Signature Look 

My go-to look is pops of black and white. If you scan through my outfit index you'll see me wearing this combo over and over. I buy a lot of black and white patterns and I love the way they mix and match. 

Emma's signautre look is easy layers. She wears denim and chambray in layers pretty much every other day. You won't see her wearing a lot of outfits that aren't layered. That's her signature look!  

7. Step Outside Your Box 

My "box" is cute vintage dresses, tights, cardigans and heels. That's what I ususally wear whether for an outfit photo or a night out with my husband. Sometimes it's fun to stretch myself and try something totally outside of my comfort zone. For the outfit above, I challenged myself to wear one of Jeremy's shirts in an outfit. The result was fun and unexpected. Want to try something totally outside your comfort zone? 

8. Find Your Angles. 

Take a day to try a bunch of different angles and see what you like. A photo taken from above will make you appear "smaller". A photo taken from below can make you appear taller (one of our tricks since we are both 5'4"). Do you like your profile? Try shots from the side, shots from straight on. Learn how different camera angles can affect your look in photos. 

9. Find Ways to Multi-Task Your Outfit Photos

On our honeymoon Jeremy agreed to take a few couple outfit photos with me each season. He likes shopping and cares about his style so it was something that came easy. I knew that by doing this we'd have a lot of "portrait" type photos from our first year of marriage together. Even though these photos were taken for the blog they have another meaning and will be something that we save for our children and grandchildren to laugh at. I love that! 

10. Try A Different Pose 

When you've been doing outfit photos for a little while it's easy to fall into a groove. You find a few poses you like and do them over and over and over. It's always good to challenge yourself to try some totally new poses and angles. Tear some pages out of your favorite fashion magazine and try a few poses you've never tried before! 

Have a lovely lovely day! XO. elsie 

*Photos of us together by Kelli Trontel. 

Comments

[anna]

beautiful post!!

[Georgia]

Such a helpful post, thanks so much!

Georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.com/

[CrochetBlogger]

Great tips! And I love that granny square top in the bottom photo. Looks amazing.

[GawgusThings]

These are wonderful tips - I take such a bad photo!!!
Emma x

[Miranda]

Thank you! Awesome post!
Im always a little too scared to do outfit posts! I will have to give it a try.
-Miranda
http://paperthoughtsfabricdreams.blogspot.com

[Sarah]

Thanks so much for this, Elsie! I've tried out outfit posts twice on my blog and found it a bit scary, so having some specific tips to focus on will really help. :) Sarah

[Katie O]

Your blog is better than coffee. I look forward to these posts to motivate me. So helpful and inspiring, every time. Thanks Elsie!
<3 Katie

[Vanita]

Such great tips. Now I just have to find someone to take photos for me.
http://www.houseofavandan.com

[Kaitlin]

Your hair is so gorgeous! Seriously jealous of it.

[Brooke]

Oh I love these tips! My hubby and I are getting ready to do a shoot so this was quite timely!

Brooke

thebebebirds.blogspot.com

[wily darling]

i have been wanting to start doing outfit posts on my blog, but have been putting it off. this information was so helpful. thank you! i look forward to doing regular outfit posts really soon!

www.wilydarling.blogspot.com

[jen@madeinminch]

What brilliant tips that are so helpful in planning shots like this
Great Ideas for newbies to blogging (like us) starting out, Thanks Elsie!

[elizabeth]

such great tips, thanks for sharing!!! this makes me want to do another 30 for 30 real bad.

[Faith @ Ordinary Mommy Design]

Fabulous tips (as always)! I'm really enjoying this collection of posts. Filing all this goodness away for when I'm ready to tackle outfit posts.

[maddy]

these are such great ideas! i will definitely be trying taking photos from below from now on... anything to make me look taller. :)

i just discovered your blog recently and absolutely love it. thanks so much for all the beautiful photos and DIYs and everything!

x
maddy
faux style.

[Ry Pepper]

Absolutely stellar advice. Thank you!

[A Splash of Ida]

Oh I love love love all your tips!!!! These tips are just what I needed as a beginner. :-)

xoxo
Ida

http://asplashofida.blogspot.com

[Cassie]

Those wedge platforms made me swoon. :)

[Annabel]

This such a helpful post! I love how you've given fun examples :)
I'm far too shy to do outfit posts, I worry what people will think! but it doesn't stop me dreaming of being a cool sometimes fashion blogger :) xo

[libby]

these are great tips! thanks!

style-extraordinaire.com