First things first — if you love white, wear white. I'm not here to cancel anyone's favourite colour. White can be beautiful, ethereal, very "walking into the ocean dramatically". And black? Absolutely has its place. Strong, graphic, unexpected against sand and water. No notes.
But here's the thing: there are a million other options. And most of them will make your photos look like nothing you've ever seen before.
So let's talk about how to actually choose.
Start with the season. Porto in January and Porto in August are two completely different colour stories. Winter light is softer, cooler, almost silver — it loves muted tones, dusty blues, warm terracottas. Summer is golden and saturated — it can handle bolder choices, richer colours, deeper shades. Look outside before you open your wardrobe.
Then look at your skin. Natural tones work beautifully on the beach — but "natural" doesn't mean the same thing for everyone. Warm undertones glow in camel, rust, olive and burnt orange. Cool undertones come alive in sage, dusty rose, lavender and stone grey. The goal isn't to match the landscape — it's to belong in it.
Bring more than one outfit. Seriously. Throw two or three options in a bag and we'll figure it out on location. The light changes, the mood changes, you change your mind — and that's completely fine. Some of my favourite shoots have been the ones where we pulled out the second outfit and everything suddenly clicked.
And above all — be comfortable. A linen suit, a knitted dress, a floaty skirt you've had for years — if you feel good in it, it will show. The camera always knows when you're pulling at something or wishing you'd worn something else. Wear what feels like you. Just maybe leave the bright white for another day.
