Styling Your Subject

Styling isn’t just about matching colors or dressing your model like they’re going to Fashion Week. It’s about crafting an identity. Think of your subject like a character in a painting. What do they say without speaking?

Leonardo used clothing, gesture, and gaze to build character (see: Mona Lisa’s veil, The Lady with the Ermine). You can do the same with a jacket draped off-shoulder, tousled hair, vintage sneakers, or minimalist jewelry.

Build mood boards. Explore textures. Let styling reflect inner narrative: are they chaotic? Controlled? Dreamy? Edgy? The best styling creates visual subtext. It whispers, "Here’s who I am, if you look close enough."