What to Wear for Your Portrait Session

I always suggest two outfits: one that feels like your everyday self, and one a little more elevated. That contrast alone makes a gallery feel varied without needing five changes we don't have time for in a 45-minute session.

Trying to fit in more than two changes usually eats into actual shooting time, so I'd rather you arrive decided and comfortable than juggling options on the day.

Solid colours and muted tones photograph more reliably than loud patterns, logos or busy prints, which can pull the eye away from your face and date the photos quickly. Think terracotta, olive, cream, navy, camel, soft pastels — colours that sit well against both Copenhagen's brick and its water and greenery.

That doesn't mean no colour at all — a single confident colour, like a red coat against Kastellet's green ramparts, can make an image. It's specifically busy patterns and clashing colour combinations that tend to fight with the background.

Texture is the part people underestimate. A wool coat, a knit jumper, linen, denim — these add depth and interest to a photo in a way flat cotton often doesn't. Layers also give us small adjustments through the session: coat on for arrival shots, coat off for a softer look ten minutes later.

In Copenhagen's climate this is practical advice too, not just aesthetic — a good coat or jacket means you're comfortable enough to relax, which shows on your face far more than the outfit itself does.

In summer, lighter fabrics and breathable layers work well at Amager Strandpark or the Botanical Garden, where the light is bright and the setting already does a lot of the work. In autumn and winter, a great coat becomes almost the main character of the shot — Nyhavn and Kastellet both photograph beautifully against darker, richer outfits.

If we're shooting somewhere with a lot of colour already, like Superkilen, I usually suggest simpler, more neutral clothing so you don't compete with the background. If we're shooting somewhere calmer and greener, like Frederiksberg, you have more room to bring colour into the outfit itself.

Shoes matter more than people think, especially for full-length shots, and it's worth choosing something you can also walk comfortably in — we may cover a few hundred metres between spots within our 45 minutes. Simple, well-fitted accessories (a watch, a scarf, a bag with texture) photograph well; anything too flashy tends to distract.

If you're unsure about jewellery, less is generally more — a single striking piece reads better in photos than several competing for attention.

For couple or family sessions, I don't push for matching outfits — that can look staged. Instead, aim for a shared colour palette: two or three complementary tones across everyone, so the photos feel coordinated without looking like a uniform.

If in doubt, send me photos of a few outfit options before the day. I'm happy to give a quick opinion so you're not deciding alone the morning of the shoot.

Comfort beats style every time. If you're tugging at a hem or worrying about a fit, it shows in your face and your posture. Choose something you'd happily wear for a few hours without thinking about it, and the rest of the outfit advice becomes secondary.