What to wear
What to wear for a garden photoshoot
Anything except green, which merges into the background. Warm tones — cream, rust, terracotta — separate well from foliage. Flat shoes, because lawns…
What to wear
Anything except green, which merges into the background. Warm tones — cream, rust, terracotta — separate well from foliage. Flat shoes, because lawns…
In short: Anything except green, which merges into the background. Warm tones — cream, rust, terracotta — separate well from foliage. Flat shoes, because lawns and heels do not coexist and the wobble is visible.
Colour. Anything except green. Warm tones — cream, rust, terracotta, deep red — separate cleanly from foliage, while green clothing merges into the background at every distance.
Fabric. Light fabric that moves, because gardens usually come with a breeze and it is the only free motion available.
Footwear. Flat or barefoot. Heels sink into lawns and the compensation shows in the posture.
The thing that ruins frames. Green light bouncing up off the lawn onto faces. It is a real colour cast, it is worst at midday, and standing people near the house rather than in the middle of the grass largely avoids it.
In the bag. Secateurs for the one branch that will cross a face, a kneeling mat, and something to stand on — most garden portraits improve from thirty centimetres higher. Insect repellent from May onwards, because a session ends when the midges arrive.
People shooting at home, and anyone who has discovered that a beautiful garden photographs as a green mess at the wrong hour.
Location changes the answer: Your own garden works if you use it properly: shoot in the last two hours before sunset, stand people near the house rather than in the middle of the lawn, and use a hedge or a wall behind them. In a public garden, check whether photography permits are required — several London parks distinguish between personal and commercial shoots.
Planning pressure to account for: Shooting at midday. Standing people in front of a flower border so their head sits in a bush. And forgetting that a lawn reflects green light upward onto faces, which is the reason garden portraits so often need colour correction.
Bring each proposed outfit as a complete look, including its shoes and accessories. The final choice is made against the actual background and light rather than from a generic colour rule.
Anything except green, which merges into the background. Warm tones — cream, rust, terracotta — separate well from foliage. Flat shoes, because lawns and heels do not coexist and the wobble is visible.
For a one-hour session, plan one complete look and one quick variation such as a jacket, shoe or jewellery change. Two hours can normally support two or three resolved looks. More changes reduce shooting time, so photograph the most important outfit first and treat extras as options rather than promises.
Choose colours that separate clearly from the location and suit the intended use of the pictures. Solid tones and controlled texture are reliable; very fine checks, tiny stripes and reflective logos can distract or produce moiré. Send phone photographs of the options with the brief if you want a decision before the shoot.
Bring the garments on proper hangers, matching underwear, the shoes for every full-length look, a lint roller and simple touch-up products. Pack one neutral backup layer. Steam everything beforehand, but keep a small steamer nearby for travel creases and final adjustments on set.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.