Lets Talk.... Wardrobe!

Ok I admit I am a bit obsessed with wardrobe!  I spend HOURS and HOURS scouring the internet, and, since I live in the real world of limited funds, HOURS and HOURS more at thrift shops and yard sales looking for the winning find.

Fig. 1: aetb

It was an interesting phenomenon I noticed as a young up-and-coming photographer.  Before a session (whether it was a family, engagement, child etc.) I typically would ask the client to look up a few images online (or on Pinterest) and send them to me so I could get to know their style or get location ideas.  After receiving MANY images from clients I noticed that most of the time if they sent me a picture idea- it was actually the WARDROBE layout (and the beautiful people) that attracted them,  not the location or photo style.

Sometimes wardrobe is overlooked and non-considered during the process of image development and that is a MISTAKE!  As Elizabeth Halford notes sometimes "the difference between a good session and a mind blower could just be a scarf. A hat.  A glove. (2006)

For me, wardrobe is inseparably connected to the storytelling and the construction of the Tableau Vivant (Cotton 2014).   When concentrating a 'pictorial narrative' into a single image or series of images the wardrobe and contribute in three ways:

Distract - This is the worst case scenario.  Here, wardrobe not only doesn't mesh with an image concept but detracts from it, stands out on its own or brings attention to itself in an unflattering way.  (An easy example of this is the family reunion shot where everyone is told to wear an 'orange' shirt, and you end up with low end t-shirts with a variety -and clashing- orange colors. Ugg!)  I saw a more professional and commercial version of this at a recent art show.  The artist painted beautiful landscapes, then occasionally featured a subject wearing basic everyday clothes you would see in a polaroid shot.  Her paintings had out-of-this-world potential but the wardrobe created a disconnect for me through her wardrobe choices.  It was hard for me to reconcile the two.

Disappear- this is the lesser evil.  The wardrobe does not detract from the image, nor draw attention to itself but still does nothing to add to the image or contribute to the narrative.  It's bland, it is wonderbread on a buffet table.

Deepen- Here wardrobe is an element.  It closes the flow between location and subject.  It can create a sense of time-placement and scenario.  It's not above or below the image itself, it is a part of a whole.

Not to mention there is the whole science of color and linked emotions!  One professional woman made a very nice living (borderline phenomenon) making wardrobe recommendations paring natural colors with natural shapes, and bold colors with geometric shapes etc. tying it to personality types!

WHEW!  Who knew there was so much relying on what socks might be on the feet of your subject!

Here are some wardrobe test shots for some of my upcoming image productions (I start with the base pieces, accessories still to be added):

 Fig. 2-4: Slade 2019

I feel like the wardrobes start to have their own personalities.  Sometimes I feel more of a kinship to them than the people I am taking pictures of!  Just kidding... sort of.



Figure 1. aetb [online] available at: https://elements.envato.com/garage-sale-with-lot-of-items-PEHL8U4. [Accessed June 2019]
Figures 2-4. SLADE, Bren. 2019


COTTON, CHARLOTTE. 2014. The Photograph as Contemporary Art . Third edition. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson.

HALFORD, E. 2006. Child Photography-Wardrobe Options for the Photographer. Digital Photography School. [online] Available at https://digital-photography-school.com/child-photography-wardrobe-options-for-the-photographer/ [accessed June 2019].