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What clothing models should bring to commercial photo shoots

Good commercial models have invested in a commercial wardrobe. Models are often requested to bring a wardrobe to the shoot. This is especially true of stock shoots. I have made lists of wardrobe items most stylists would like to see you bring.


Makeup, hair, and styling: Mary Erickson, Photo: MEMEphoto, Design: Carla Manuel

Women

  • a few business suits
  • a little black dress
  • a few skirts (Current style is best, not too short.)
  • scarves and accessories (Cheap costume jewelry is fine—the more the better. A ring to look like a wedding ring often comes in handy.)
  • nice black slacks and tan pants
  • 5 or 6 tops (Colors are fine, but no black, no crazy colors or prints, and no logos.)
  • a turtleneck
  • jeans (no holes, not too worn-looking)
  • black and tan low-heeled shoes
  • tennis shoes without prominent logos (obvious branding)
  • black high heels (not too stripper-looking)
  • sandals
  • shorts (not too short)
  • ball cap with no logo
  • strapless bra, nude
  • nude undergarments
  • tube top
  • socks
  • a one-piece bathing suit and a two-piece if you have the figure for it
  • a jean jacket
  • a blazer, current style
  • push-up bra and cutlets if you are small on top


Makeup, hair, and styling: Mary Erickson, Photo: MEMEphoto, Design: Carla Manuel

Men

  • a nice suit (not cheap—This is a good investment in your career.)
  • jeans (not too worn-looking)
  • black shoes
  • tan shoes
  • tennis shoes (no obvious branding)
  • socks—black, tan, and white
  • dress shirts for suits (4 or 5 in different colors)
  • 2 or 3 ties to coordinate with shirts
  • polo-style shirts (3 or 4 in different colors)
  • Dockers-type pants in navy and khaki
  • belts (dress and casual)
  • swim shorts
  • shorts, cargo in tan or khaki and one dark color
  • T-shirts (white, black, a few colors, no logos)
  • dress slacks, dark and light (no white)
  • turtleneck
  • pullover sweaters in a few colors
  • dress and sports watches
  • ball cap with no logo

My biggest pet peeves are worn-looking clothing. Take clothes to the dry cleaner to avoid fading and wrinkled clothing. I like to see models arrive with clothing on hangers in a garment bag. I hate seeing a wardrobe wadded up in duffel bags.

Obvious branding should be avoided on all clothing. If you can recognize a brand, we probably cannot use it on the shoot. Small logos on polo-style shirts normally will not show up, but anything larger may.

Mary Erickson

Mary Erickson has been a makeup, hair, and wardrobe stylist for over 25 years, working primarily in the commercial print market in San Diego and Los Angeles. You can view her portfolio at www.TheMakeupArtist.com.

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZILT6TITTHUWVY3Z72EFM2EUK4 Starkey

    Very helpful information for photographers and models alike.

    3.2K

  • streetaccessphoto

    great information for both parties.

  • Marketa Fei

    Rolling clothes (not sure how to describe it other than “carefully” also prevents wrinkles, and lets you bring more more easily.

  • Veganfruitarian

    very helpful information and thoughtful

  • Chantalhasse

    Very good info.Thanks for sharing

  • http://twitter.com/KennethAston Kenneth Aston Jr

    Outstanding info, thanks for sharing

  • http://www.facebook.com/treatsandthreads H. Jules

    You summed it up great. Now when models ask what they should bring I will refer them to your article. :)

  • Tensilverdollars

    I have been a semi-pro Photographer for 30 years. Either I supply wardrobe or a stylist pulls from the rack or the client supplies wardrobe to be shot. Besides a headshot or comp card, at what point has the model been responsible for wardrobe? This weekend I had a model That was amazed she didn’t have to supply wardrobe. WTF. This was a commercial shoot for a local Boutique. The only pet peve I see being an issue is undergarments. Nude, black and white are required.

    • instant

      It all depends what kind of shoot. The problem is that this article opens in an ambiguous way. When I see the words “commercial shoot,” I think commercial client. But when you read the article, Mary is not talking about that kind of shoot. For example, one kind of shoot she specifically calls out is stock. The article would also apply to a model test in a commercial style. Basically we’re talking about shoots that are not commissioned by a client. This isn’t the first edu article that needed extra context…. (hint hint moderators).

  • Jkdrama

    how do i become a model i am 14 almost 15

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for this article. Good to have a check-list. Maria

  • Ann_skowronski

    This list is helpful, except that’s a lot of stuff to bring along to model with. It seems more helpful for me as the model to be told what kind of stock or commercial pics are being sought. I’m not bringing my nice business wear to shoot with dirty tires. I save my skimpy spandex dresses for that.

    I’ll bring my business wear if its clear that it will be used. I don’t want to muss up the clothes I wear to my day job. Otherwise, I pack my mink, jewelry, corsets, undies, jeans, and black leather jacket. Stuff like that.

    You are spot on about the underwear and shoes. I get a lot of compliments from photographers for NOT bringing ‘stripper’ shoes along. There are sexy, peep toe pumps out there that are not on platforms.

  • Haleydancer95

    Outstanding information! These are all great thing to bring to a small commercial or photoshoot, Ladies always have your nude bras NO crazy prints.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=648703265 Treats Threads

    Its an informative article, just needs to be clear on a few points. These are things male/female models should have in their arsenal. I just think people are inferring that you suggest they bring all these items. Not true- I hope, these items should just be available.