DRESS DESIGNS FOR BEACH PORTRAITS
If you check the Internet for photographers’ websites for beach
portraits, you will find that today’s dress styles for beach portraits
tend to be simpler designs. White is generally recommended and,
while you will find an occasional traditional heirloom dress in a beach
portrait, by and large, the majority of the designs are simple.
Simpler, classic designs in white create a timeless portrait. The
Beach Dresses Collection features simpler designs with suggestions for
adding embellishment detail, if you wish.
The patterns in this collection include simple, classic designs and
there is a reason for that. Weather conditions at the beach are
rarely predictable. If conditions are windy, collars can flip up
in a child’s face making it harder to get a good photograph. If
you choose a style with shoulder straps or ribbon ties, you can end up
with a tug-of-war when the straps slip off the shoulders or the ribbon
comes untied, complicating the photography session. The same is
true for sashes. By using the classic, stable dress designs, you
can focus more on capturing a good photograph of the child.
If you choose a professional photographer for your beach portrait,
follow his or her guidelines. However, with today’s high quality
digital cameras, you may choose to do your own photography. If
you do so, one way to eliminate distractions while the photographer
works is to have adults who are present stand behind the photographer.
Often simple beach toys, such as a bucket and shovel in pastel colors
or a collection of larger shells can add interest to the photograph, as
well as capture the child’s interest for a more natural
photograph. Take photographs continually and you will end up with
that perfect photograph. Your classic beach dress is sure to be
an asset as you do.
The designs in The Beach Dresses Collection are ideal for beach
portraits and lovely summer dresses. They are light and airy and can be
sewn using a variety of fabrics, making it easy to create several
different designs. Variations can be very simple or embellishment
may be added in varying degrees. Sew a plain design in a pique or
a dotted Swiss or add embellishment with monogramming, rickrack, Swiss
trims, or shadow work. All of these can add subtle detail, adding
interest, but staying with today’s trends for simpler designs for beach
portraits. However you decide to design your own beach dresses,
you are sure to have fun scouring shops for the perfect fabric and
trims.
ADDING CLASSIC EMBELLISHMENT
Consider the type beach portrait that you want when deciding on
embellishment. Do you want a more formal, classic portrait or do
you want a playful portrait that includes a few beach props? In a
portrait, you are striving for more than a photograph. You are
striving to capture more than an image. You are attempting to
present the essence of the person, whether it be in facial expression,
use of a classic prop, position of the body or of a hand, as well as
the garment the subject is wearing. Deciding what you want the
end product to be will help you make choices to accomplish your
goal. This also includes choices about your beach dress
embellishment.
Do you want embellishment on your white dress? If so, where do
you want it and how much detail do you want? If you are going to
have a seated family portrait or a close-up view of the child, you may
want embellishment on a yoke or bodice. If you plan to feature a
child or children or a family walking on the beach, you may want an
embellished hemline. Whatever embellishment details you choose to
add, here are some ideas to spark your creativity:
Suggested fabrics:
waffle pique, waffle box pique, Birdseye pique, diamond weave pique,
double stripe pique, baby wale pique, line pique, any textured or
embroidered fabric, linen, drawn thread linen, voile, dotted
Swiss, Swiss eyelet fabric, pima broadcloth, or Imperial broadcloth
Trim choices include: entredeux
trims and insertions, Swiss eyelet trims and insertions, tatting, lace
edging and insertion and entredeux
Embellishment ideas include:
Swiss insertion bands in the yoke or bodice or along the skirt
Swiss edging along the hemline
A hemline ruffle of self-fabric
Pleats in the skirt
Shadow work on the yoke or bodice or skirt (Especially shell shadow
work designs in soft beiges, corals, and off-white)
Hand or machine embroidery on the yoke, bodice, or skirt
Yoke or bodice overlay using table linens
Hemline bands using table linens
Embroidered handkerchief insets
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