Creating a perfect portrait......

......takes a little planning. Fine portraiture captures facial expressions and mood, while clothing, accessories, and props are secondary and shouldn't create any distractions. And careful selection of these will avoid dating your portraits.

The child below is lost among the colorful clothes and toys.

A white background......

......will show off skin tones best when white, ivory, or pastels are worn. Be sure to select props that match clothing color. While the colorful is a great secondary portrait for a child's playroom, it may not be suitable for a "timeless" quality portrait.

The example below is a 'timeless' portrait....clothing and props have been well chosen.

With only two subjects in the portrait......

......it is especially important to dress in the same color(s) to capture their relationship. With business attire a pure white shirt or blouse with a dark suit jacket will emphasize your neck rather than your face. Pastel, thin striped, or a soft patterned shirt with a subtle tie is preferable. For casual attire, always wear complimenting shades, preferably solid colors with long sleeves instead of patterns and short sleeves. An excellent choice is khaki and denim.

See the three comparisons below. In this first example, the lady's white suit commands attention and can add weight against a dark background:

In this example, the busy pattern in the lady's blouse is distracting.

There is excellent coordination in this example. Their expressions hold your eye.

Outdoors as a background......

......can be beautiful but also very busy. It is important to choose only one or two color themes, with your subjects wearing shades of those colors. While blues are excellent year round, white, ivory, khaki, and salmon are great against lush green foilage. Burgundy, brown, tan, and grey are nice late in the season. Avoid all greens, as they clash with Mother Nature.

In this example the busy background and busy clothing make it almost hard to find their faces.

Now, see for yourself....don't you think this next example looks better? The simplicity of only two colors helps separate the family from the background scenery.

These childrens' cute expressions are much more striking because of the deep background selected to match their clothing.

In the next example, the little boy's light colored suit, red tie, and white shirt all compete for attention.

When you follow these tips and coordinate your dress from head to toe, you are well on your way to a perfect portrait!

Avoid busy patterns and bright colors
Light colors are best with light backgrounds and fair complexions.
Darker colors look better with deep backgrounds and dark hair or complexions.
White, ivory, khaki or pastels are best with a white background.
Avoid wearing yellow or green as they can adversely affect your skin color.
Shoes and socks should always be in key.
Teens and adults should wear long sleeves to cover elbows.
Skirts should cover the knees.