When it comes to choosing what to wear for a portrait session, white clothing might seem like a safe, classic option. After all, it’s crisp, clean, and timeless, right? But before you reach for that white shirt or dress, let’s talk about why it may not be the best choice for your portrait photography session.
Sunlight, or daylight balanced strobe lights in the studio, contain colors at all wavelengths. All these wavelengths together make white light. When that white light hits an object, our eye perceives that object's color as the colors that reflect from the object. We see a white object when the object reflects color at all wavelengths. As a result, white is the absence of color for how we see the object - it's also the absence of color in a photograph. Think about that for a moment; an area of no color in your portrait.
When you Wear White, it Will be the Brightest (and visually largest) Part of the Image
First, white can be a bit too bright for the camera. It tends to reflect light, especially in outdoor settings or under studio lighting. This can lead to overexposure, where your clothes end up looking too bright and lose detail. In portraits, where the focus should be on your face and expression, bright white clothing can steal the spotlight and pull attention away from where it should be—on you.
Don't want to look heavier in your photos? Don't wear white! The Irradiation Illusion is the illusion of visual perception in which a light area of the visual field looks larger than an otherwise identical dark area. What does that mean for you? When you wear clothes of similar, darker tonal values in colors like blue, green, red, and other jewel tones, it will make you visually appear to have a slimmer body. Conversely, lighter colors, such as white, make the body appear larger.
White Can Wash Out Your Complexion
Another thing to consider is that white can wash out your complexion. It doesn’t add any warmth or contrast to your skin tone, which can sometimes make you look a bit pale or flat on camera. Colors, on the other hand, especially midtones or deeper shades, tend to add vibrancy and enhance your natural glow.
White Clothing Amplifies Every Wrinkle and Stain
Let’s not forget the practical side: white clothes tend to show every little wrinkle, crease, or stain, and in portrait photography, those little details can be magnified. A simple smudge or wrinkle can become an unwanted distraction in your final photos, and we want to avoid that!
So, while white can be stunning in the right circumstances, it’s not always the best choice for portraits. Instead, opt for softer, richer tones that complement your skin and allow the focus to stay on you, where it belongs (read about my recommendation on what colors to wear in this post).
Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Master of Photography and Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy will guide you every step of the way through your portrait process to ensure a stress-free experience that produces great results.
Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, family, and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.