Women being photographed in full length should wear long skirts, pants, or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the legs and away from the face. If feet are to show in the portrait, make certain shoes and stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait. Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time it is styled. Simple longsleeved parments in medium to dark tones of brown, rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a dark background.
Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait.
All other elements should be secondary. Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are confusing and do not photograph well. Especially bright colors, such as red and orange, will completely overpower the face and ruin a portrait. Light-colored clothing calls attention to itself and away from the face. Avoid light colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige, tan, peach, pink, white, and yellow.