What to wear
What to wear for a travel photoshoot
One or two strong colours that separate from the location — white in a white-walled town disappears. Comfortable shoes, because the good frames are a…
What to wear
One or two strong colours that separate from the location — white in a white-walled town disappears. Comfortable shoes, because the good frames are a…
In short: One or two strong colours that separate from the location — white in a white-walled town disappears. Comfortable shoes, because the good frames are a walk away from the obvious spot. And one outfit that photographs well in motion.
Colour. One or two strong colours that separate from the location: white in a whitewashed town, beige in a desert or navy at sea all disappear. Look at photographs of where you are going before packing.
Fabric. Something that moves, and something that survives a suitcase. Linen photographs beautifully and creases in an hour, which is either the look or a problem depending on your tolerance.
Footwear. Walkable, because the good frames are always further from the hotel than the obvious ones.
The thing that ruins frames. Packing six outfits and photographing all of them badly. Two considered looks produce more usable images than six rushed ones.
In the bag. A steamer or a wrinkle spray for what the suitcase did, one outfit that photographs in motion, and a small tripod for the room and blue-hour frames. Leave the sixth outfit at home — two considered looks beat six rushed ones.
People who come home with two thousand photographs and nothing they would print, and creators who need the trip to produce usable content.
Location changes the answer: Early morning is the whole secret of travel photography: the light is soft and the famous places are empty. The same spot at ten in the morning is a queue. Ask hotel staff where locals eat and shoot there instead of the terrace everyone photographs.
Planning pressure to account for: Photographing everything and printing nothing. Shooting only at midday because that is when you are out. And building the trip around one landmark that photographs badly at the only hour you can visit it.
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.
One or two strong colours that separate from the location — white in a white-walled town disappears. Comfortable shoes, because the good frames are a walk away from the obvious spot. And one outfit that photographs well in motion.
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.