WHEN DRESSING FOR THE CAMERA, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP A FEW THINGS IN MIND. ONE: THE VIEWER SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU’RE SAYING AND NOT ON DISTRACTING OR LOUD ATTIRE. TWO: YOUR OUTFIT SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO YOUR ROLE IN THE STORY. FOR INSTANCE, A ROCK CLIMBER SHOULDN’T WEAR A SUIT AND A CEO SHOULDN’T LOOK LIKE A ROCK CLIMBER (UNLESS IT’S PART OF THE STORY). THAT IN MIND, ALWAYS BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. HERE ARE SOME TIPS.
1. Consider bringing multiple options to the shoot: You could get coffee on your tie. Maybe the colors aren’t jiving with the camera or clash with another person. There are many reasons to have a back up or alternate option just in case. There’s a lot of time/money spent into a film, commercial, corporate video, etc… and at the very least, have a few options to ensure a smooth day.
2. Wear flattering colors near your face: Pastels, purples and browns are good. Blue is one of the best colors for TV. Green is risky, especially if there will be a green screen.
3. Be careful how you wear black: Through a camera lens, black tends to absorb much of the light around it, making details less visible. Black and very dark colors are usually okay when worn on the lower half of the body. If you must wear black near the face, you can wear a colored jacket or sweater so less black is visible. Or add a colored scarf (avoid neon colors).
4. Avoid bright white: White tends to dominate the screen, and like neon and bright colors, should be avoided. A better choice: not-quite-white colors like light beige, light gray and very pale colors may work better.
5. Avoid wearing bright red (or orange): Red tends to look orange to the camera. A better choice would be burgundy or maroon. In the warmer range, try coral.
6. Avoid herringbones, plaids, checks and especially stripes: Large ones are distracting, and small ones can dance around the screen, creating rivers and waviness (moiré pattern).
7. Jewelry: Keep jewelry to a minimum, especially earrings. A necklace can add a colorful or contrasting accent, but it shouldn’t be noisy, or too flashy or reflective. If it rubs against your microphone causing unwanted noise, get rid of it. Don’t wear jangly bracelets or large dangling earrings. Wear only one ring on each hand, and don’t wear multiple necklaces.
8. Solid colors are best: Large, bright patterns and prints are distracting and can draw attention away from your message. Avoid them. Muted or subdued patterns are generally okay.
9. Be pressed and wrinkle-free: Dress as if you were going to a job interview (appropriate to the subject you will be talking about). Naturally, if your subject is outdoorsy or very casual, you should adjust what you wear accordingly. This is a good place to mention blue jeans: they should be worn sparingly, never ripped or torn, and only when appropriate to your occupation, shoot location, or subject matter. Again for men: Much of the time, a nice shirt (tucked in) and a pair of well-fitting pants (with belt), dark socks and decent shoes, is all you will need.
10. Suits: If you are wearing a suit, Make sure about 1-inch of your shirt cuff is showing, and wear over-the-calf socks in case you cross your legs. No leg skin should show.
11. Skirts: All one color, matching skirt and jacket should do it. Avoid skirts and dresses that are too short unless it makes sense for you, is authentic to who you are and is appropriate for the situation.
12. Style: Don’t make a fashion statement unless you are an artist, fashion designer, or are wearing traditional garb, things of that nature. You want the audience to focus on what you have to say. As mentioned before, be you. But don’t overdo it.
13. Logos: The only logo or brand you should be wearing is your own, if you have one. It goes without saying, that you should not wear t-shirts with phrases or logos. (In most cases, you shouldn’t be wearing a t-shirt at all).
Just do you:At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important. Just be aware of your appearance and if there’s any way to limit unnecessary distractions.
FAQs
Don't wear bright, hot colors.
Now, for the don'ts. Even with the infinite power of movie magic (editing), the colors you wear on camera still matter. For instance, wearing intense reds will bleed and could make the surrounding objects, including your face, appear red as well.
What color not to wear on camera? ›
Don't wear bright, hot colors.
Now, for the don'ts. Even with the infinite power of movie magic (editing), the colors you wear on camera still matter. For instance, wearing intense reds will bleed and could make the surrounding objects, including your face, appear red as well.
What color shirt looks best on camera? ›
If you don't know, or don't really care, some universally safe colors include navy, burgundy, or muted tones. Bold colors can work, too, but avoid wearing hot colors, such as pink or pure red, as they can reflect or bleed color onto your surroundings.
How to dress for being on camera? ›
Solid and rich colours tend to look best on camera, helping you stand out on screen. Avoid bright white clothing as it can overpower the screen.
What is the best color to wear on TV audience? ›
Grey or navy blue work better than black. Navy blue is actually a very good colour to wear on TV. It's seen as safe and understated. It's also regarded as the colour of trust – that's why the police and airline cabin crew often wear it.
What color is most flattering on camera? ›
Colors, like dark red, teal, sapphire blue, emerald green, and coral, pop on the screen and look great with all the skin tones. High-contrast colors, such as all-black and all-white, are super harsh on the camera and pose some technical problems.
What color is unattractive to wear? ›
Hurlbert and Lind19 conducted a study with 138 university students to determine a preference for clothing colors. Purple-blue and blue dress colors were preferred and the least preferred dress colors were yellow-red and green-yellow.
What color makes you look thinner on camera? ›
Darker shades of colors like blue, purple and brown can also help to hide flaws and create a slimming illusion. On the other hand, lighter colors, like white and khaki, can add pounds and give the illusion of a larger frame.
How can I look more attractive on my camera? ›
How to Look Better in Any Picture
- Know your best facial angle. Few people have symmetrical faces — especially at 50, when age and gravity take over. ...
- Employ pro face-lift tricks. ...
- Try out poses in front of a full-length mirror. ...
- Keep changing your pose between shots. ...
- Stay photo conscious. ...
- Act a little.
Avoid herringbones, plaids, checks and especially stripes: Large ones are distracting, and small ones can dance around the screen, creating rivers and waviness (moiré pattern).
To look good on camera, you also need to think about your posture, body positioning, and eye contact. You already know where to place the camera to get the best angle, but you also need to make sure you use good posture, especially if you are sitting while you are filming. Eye contact is important as well.
What to wear on camera to look thin? ›
Choose solid dark colors or vertical stripes to look slimmer overall. No matter what type of clothes you wear, choosing solid dark shades is always a good choice for looking thinner. And if you like patterns, vertical stripes are your best bet for looking slimmer.
Are you supposed to look directly at the camera? ›
Try looking about 6-12 inches away from your camera. This will allow your audience to still see both of your eyes and most of your face. Whereas if you go side on it may look a bit artier but it is harder for the viewer to form a connection with you as they can't see both of your eyes.
What color to wear is most attractive? ›
Sidhu and colleagues found that black and red clothing produced the highest ratings of body attractiveness and slimmer body size judgments. In contrast, grey and green clothes produced the lowest body attractiveness and highest body size assessments.
What color to wear to not be noticed? ›
Wear muted or pale colors if you want to be noticed less. Bright, bold colors, especially purple, may make you seem more creative. Your favorite or go-to colors might not match your undertones, and that's okay!
Which color grabs attention to the audience? ›
Colors that Grab Attention
As a bold color that stands out, it's easily noticeable, even from a distance. In addition, red has been shown to increase the heart rate and stimulate the brain, making it a powerful aid in attracting attention. Blue is another notable color for catching the eye.
What colors should you not wear for photography? ›
DON'T WEAR NEON OR BRIGHT COLORS! Those colors can cast onto the skin. I'm not saying that I don't love a little pop of color, because I certainly do. However, muted colors and warm earth tones look better on camera and are more flattering for skin tones.
What colors should you avoid in photography? ›
Bright red, stark white, or intense black can easily lose depth, detail, and texture, so she recommends skewing into a less pure shade of these colors. And neons tend to cast color onto your skin in a way that can be quite unflattering.
What is the best color to wear when taking pictures? ›
Pastels and light neutrals (white, pale pink, pale purple, peach, tan, etc) will give a soft, monotone look whereas bold colors (think: navy, bright purple, pink, bold blue, etc) will provide more contrast and help you stand out from the background. Both look great! It's up to you and what you want on your walls.
What colors should you avoid on picture day? ›
Don't wear bright or neon colors on school picture day. Do wear rich earth or jewel tones. Avoid bright or neon colors. They may look cute to our eye, however in a photograph they are distracting.
