A Photographer's Responsibilities On Clothing Choices For Portraits

[smoke665]

How extreme are we talking?? I would say having done home visits, if it's a safety issue, etc. I don't think it's up to you to decide on fashion trends/choices. When I was a teenager I wore green lipstick, shopped at the army surplus store, etc. and thankfully those trends went by the wayside! Photos will often reflect the time period.

Don't recall ever wearing green lipstick but some of my college days in the late 60's are a little blurry 50 years later (thankfully) but I still peruse army surplus stores.

I suppose you could call any shoot situational, with a moving bar. Despite an earlier comment, jeans or overalls would be a lot more acceptable in a cow barn then formal attire! Likewise you wouldn't expect the prom queen to be in overalls at her coronation.

Having lived through many years of fashion change, I can attest that there's been a lot that most people don't necessarily want photo evidence that they were suckered. However I also realise that we all have different acceptance levels, so rather then debate what is or isn't acceptable how about some insight into what you consider unacceptable.

 

[Designer]

You always get that one person who either can't or can't bother to follow suggestions. Our professional photographer suggest everyone wear white tops and blue jeans. My one DIL chose to wear some thing entirely different, and forever didn't match the rest of the family in our family shoot. Knowing her, it was more of a defying a suggestion rather than simply not having the outfit.

 

[tirediron]

You always get that one person who wither can't or can't bother to follow suggestions. Our professional photographer suggest everyone wear white tops and blue jeans. My one DIL chose to wear some thing entirely different, and forever didn't match the rest of the family in our family shoot. Knowing her, it was more of a defying a suggestion rather than simply not having the outfit.

I try to avoid giving quite such definite suggestions, rather I recommend that people coordinate and choose similar tones, avoid excessive darks or lights.

 

[Nwcid]

It is our job to try and figure out how to take what is important to the client and capture that best.

I don't see how.

You want us to produce a good image, but then you also want us to divine each client's personality, too.

Not happening.

We can, and should make suggestions, but if they come looking like ragamuffins, that's their business.

It is understandable how it is daunting challenge, however it is possible, it happens frequently. With enough changes you can create the "best", most technically correct and pleasing image, but if it does not represent the client, how can they be happy?

What has to be divined? Having a short consultation and getting to know your client and asking what is important will go a long way to creating something that represents them. I never said do not make suggestions, but your suggestion should fit your client.

It is similar to what I run into frequently in my other life. Management suggest that we get XYZ thing or do ABC and spend $$,$$$-$$$,$$$ for this "great thing" they are doing for the employee and it does nothing, or even worse, back fires. What is being given has to have value to the receiver to have an impact.

 

[Original katomi]

Having skimmed the posts this is 1 reason why I don’t do people photography. I would either impose my ideas on the model and I have no dress sense what so ever or do what the model wants but then I get the Hey I am paying for this thought ... so just not my area of interest.

But as to the question.
Yes if you are paying for the model then your your in charge right or wrong.
If you are doing a photography shoot for someone the maybe a bit of tack in that some advice to the customer of what will and will not work
Well that’s my thoughts but as said I don’t do portrait photography
Street photography yes there I can see and capture the moment.
Post script .. I don’t do pet portraits.... tried once....arrrrrrrrrr never again

 

[smoke665]

if you are paying for the model then your your in charge

I would think that would be a given.

If you are doing a photography shoot for someone the maybe a bit of tack in that some advice to the customer of what will and will not work

Agreed, but what if the tack doesn't work??? Are there unacceptable points that you would just walk away from?

 

[Designer]

Agreed, but what if the tack doesn't work???

I think you turn downwind and jibe.

 

[smoke665]

Agreed, but what if the tack doesn't work???

I think you turn downwind and jibe.

Big fingers on a little keyboard. LOL

 

[SquarePeg]

Pants at half-mast

I hate that with a passion. Few years ago my teenage nephew got on that kick. One day at a family event my brother in law remarked how he hadn't been able to stop him from doing it. Next time nephew got in range I grabbed the exposed underwear from the rear and lifted him completely off the ground giving him a giant wedge like he'd never experienced before. Kid walked funny the rest of the day, but it ended the pants hanging down phase.

YOU would have been walking funny for more than a day if you did that to my kid. Everyone has their own clothing trend likes/dislikes. There's no reason to impose your "standards" of what is right/wrong on someone else. That is up to them, and to a greater extent their parents if they are young. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean you are right. And I say this as someone who doesn't get a lot of the trends today but hey, my parents didn't get it either. That is how it goes. We wouldn't all want to still be wearing bathing "costumes" and corsets but we would if we never ignored the horrified stares and snide remarks of our elders.

 

[SquarePeg]

As to your original point of the thread - when I am going to be photographing people I usually tell them to avoid black or white and not to wear anything with a bold pattern as it will dominate the image. I agree with Tirediron, in the end it's their choice and all you can do is suggest.

 

[smoke665]

OU would have been walking funny for more than a day if you did that to my kid. Everyone has their own clothing trend likes/dislikes. There's no

There is an African proverb that was appropriated by a certain politician as the title for a book, "It takes a village to raise a child". I know the world has changed much, maybe you never came from a tight knit family/community where correction and occasionally discipline was just as likely to come from a grandparent, uncle/aunt, friend and neighbor as your own parents. Frankly that may be a part of the problem today, as kids don't get that instant feedback. Problems get hidden, fester and finally turn into bigger problems.

An old black gentleman who I'm proud to call a friend for over 30 years once told me if the only place you'll ever aspire to be is in the hood, then dress like a gangbanger, but if you want to be respected in the world you better leave that crap in the hood where it belongs.

Clothing trends/likes/dislikes come and go, adults have a right to make that choice, but parents (and sometimes favorite Uncles) need to give kids direction until they've reached a point where they can make an informed choice. Once on their own, the world, as my friend pointed out, is a very unforgiving place, that puts a lot of emphasis on first impressions.

 

[Designer]

.. correction and occasionally discipline was just as likely to come from a grandparent, uncle/aunt, friend and neighbor as your own parents.

I did have to correct some children who were not at all related to me. On a church hayride some boys were teasing another boy (who was adopted from Ukraine, and spoke with a Russian accent). I put a stop to the teasing by speaking very frankly to them. I didn't mind in the slightest. I think it needs to happen more often.

 

[Original katomi]

if you are paying for the model then your your in charge

I would think that would be a given.

If you are doing a photography shoot for someone the maybe a bit of tack in that some advice to the customer of what will and will not work

Agreed, but what if the tack doesn't work??? Are there unacceptable points that you would just walk away from?

Yes there are things that I would just walk away from. If it does not feel right go rem at the end of the day it’s YOUR camera the image is on and you will have to explain its presence

 

[AlanKlein]

I think the black tops and constant dark colors for a whole group look fake, not natural, like they were selected just for the shoot. Oh. They were.

 

[smoke665]

I think the black tops and constant dark colors for a whole group look fake, not natural, like they were selected just for the shoot. Oh. They were.

DW got the bright idea that the whole family had to wear red t-shirts and white shorts on vacation one year The two oldest (early teens) were so embarrassed because people kept asking them what church group they were with. Never again was DW able to get the family to dress the same in anything.