What to wear
What they actually wear, not what a parent picked. If a compromise is needed, agree one outfit for the parents and one for them, and shoot the…
In short: What they actually wear, not what a parent picked. If a compromise is needed, agree one outfit for the parents and one for them, and shoot the parents' one first. Plain over logo-heavy, because logos date the picture within a year.
Colour. Whatever they actually wear, in something that separates from the location. Black on a dark street loses the shape; a single strong colour carries a full-length frame.
Fabric. Comfort decides the mood of the whole session. Anything stiff or new shows up as tension in the shoulders within five minutes.
Footwear. Their own, worn in. New trainers change how a teenager stands and they will not tell you that they hurt.
The thing that ruins frames. A parent's choice overruling theirs. It decides the expression before the first frame and no direction recovers it.
In the bag. Blotting papers, a hair tie, a lint roller, and the second outfit they actually chose — shoot the family's pick first, then let them change.
Teenagers who dislike being photographed and parents who want one picture before the next school year swallows it.
Location changes the answer: Their choice, within reason: a skate park, a high street, a wood, their own room. Familiarity does more for a teenage portrait than scenery.
Planning pressure to account for: Parents standing behind the photographer. Booking an hour when twenty-five minutes was the real window. And overruling the outfit, which decides the mood of the whole session before the first frame.
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.
What they actually wear, not what a parent picked. If a compromise is needed, agree one outfit for the parents and one for them, and shoot the parents' one first. Plain over logo-heavy, because logos date the picture within a year.
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.