What to Wear for Your Intimate Portrait Session: Swimwear Edition

Swimwear sessions are brilliant. They’re intimate without feeling overly exposed, they work beautifully outdoors, and let’s be honest there’s something empowering about celebrating your body in a bikini or one-piece.

But if you’re staring at your swimmers wondering what’ll actually work for photos, here’s your complete guide.

The Golden Rule: Wear What Makes You Feel Good

Just like with lingerie, the best swimwear for your session is whatever makes you feel confident and sexy. Not what looks good on someone else. Not what’s trending on Instagram. What makes you feel like yourself on a really good day.

If that’s a high-waisted bikini, perfect. If it’s a sporty one-piece, great. If it’s a cheeky Brazilian cut, even better. Your vibe, your rules.

What Photographs Beautifully

While I want you to wear what feels right, here’s what tends to work really well on camera:

High-waisted bikinis:

• Flattering on almost every body type
• Creates beautiful lines and elongates the legs
• Vintage vibe that photographs really well
• Works with different top styles (triangle, bandeau, halter)

One-pieces with interesting details:

• Cutouts, lace-up sides, or plunging necklines add visual interest
• Textured fabrics (ribbed, crochet, mesh panels) photograph beautifully
• Sporty styles work great for active, powerful shots

Classic bikinis:

• Triangle tops are timeless and work on most body types
• Tie-side bottoms are adjustable and create nice lines
• Mix and match tops and bottoms for variety

Cheeky or Brazilian cuts:

• If you’re comfortable with them, they photograph stunningly
• Great for capturing curves and confidence
• Work beautifully for beach or outdoor sessions

Colours and Patterns That Work

Solid colours:

• Jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, burgundy) are stunning on most skin tones
• Black is classic but can sometimes blend into shadows—works best with texture or details
• White and cream create a soft, dreamy look (especially at sunrise/sunset)
• Bright colours (red, coral, cobalt) pop beautifully against natural backgrounds

Patterns:

• Small, delicate patterns work better than large, busy prints
• Florals photograph beautifully for a feminine vibe
• Stripes can be flattering but avoid horizontal if you’re self-conscious about width

Metallic and shimmer:

• Gold and bronze tones are gorgeous in sunlight
• Metallic fabrics catch the light beautifully
• Great for creating a luxe, elevated feel

What About Fit?

This is crucial: wear swimwear that fits you now, not what you hope to fit into.

Ill-fitting swimwear will show in photos and more importantly, you’ll spend the whole session feeling self-conscious instead of confident. Swimwear that fits well will always photograph better, regardless of size.

If you’re between sizes, go up. You want to feel comfortable and supported, not tugging at straps or worrying about coverage.

How Many Should You Bring?

Depends on your package:

• The Edit (60 min, 2 outfit changes): Bring 3-4 swimmers so we can choose the best 2 on the day
• The Feature (90 min, 4 outfit changes): Bring 5-6 options
• The Cover (3 hours, unlimited changes): Bring everything. We’ll experiment with different styles and vibes

Pro tip: Include variety. One sporty piece, one sexy piece, one classic piece. This gives us different moods to work with.

Don’t Forget the Extras

These aren’t essential, but they add variety and depth to your session:

• Cover-ups: sheer kimonos, sarongs, oversized shirts, crochet wraps
• Hats: wide-brim sun hats or baseball caps for a sporty vibe
• Sunglasses: classic, oversized styles work beautifully
• Simple jewellery: delicate necklaces or anklets that feel like you
• A second bikini top or bottom: mix and match for more looks

What Doesn’t Work

Avoid:

• Brand new swimmers you’ve never worn: you won’t know if they fit right or feel comfortable until it’s too late
• Overly complicated straps: they can dig in, create unflattering lines, or look messy on camera
• Faded or worn-out swimmers: if the elastic is shot or the fabric is thin, it’ll show
• Anything uncomfortable: you’ll be moving, posing, and potentially getting wet. If it’s riding up or falling down, you’ll be distracted

What If I’m Self-Conscious About My Body?

Most women are. You’re not alone.

Here’s what I tell everyone: swimwear sessions aren’t about having a “perfect” body. They’re about celebrating the body you have right now. Stretch marks, scars, cellulite, asymmetry, it’s all part of your story, and it all photographs beautifully when captured with honesty and respect.

The goal isn’t to hide or minimize. It’s to see yourself with kindness.

And trust me, once you see your photos, you’ll realise you were worrying about things no one else even noticed.

Location Matters

Where you’re shooting will influence what works best:

• Beach sessions: Natural, relaxed vibes work well. Think classic bikinis, one-pieces, and soft colours
• Pool or backyard: You can go bolder. Bright colours, metallic finishes, sporty styles
• Outdoor natural settings (cliffs, rivers, rocks): Earthy tones, textured fabrics, and classic cuts work beautifully

We’ll chat about location during your consultation and I can help guide your choices based on where we’re shooting.

Still Not Sure?

Send me photos of your options before the session. I’m happy to look through them and help you choose what’ll work best for your vibe, body type, and location.

The goal is for you to feel confident, comfortable, and like yourself. Everything else follows from there.

Ready to book your swimwear session? Get in touch here View pricing