The Couple Lookbook
Six wardrobe archetypes for your shoot
Every location we shoot in falls into one of six looks. Build your own plan at the end of this page.
How to use this
- One
Scroll the six looks below. Each one has a code — A1, B1, B2, D2 and so on — plus its palette, fabrics and what to avoid.
- Two
Turn only to the looks that match your locations. Most couples use four to five of the six.
- Three
Read the AVOID box first. It is the most useful part of every page — not a matter of taste, these are things that genuinely do not photograph well in that light, that location, or on that lens.
- Four
Shop or shortlist, then send us photos. Phone photos on a hanger are fine. We confirm every look before you pack.
A few principles that apply to every look
- Texture always beats pattern. A plain fabric with a beautiful weave photographs better than a print, every single time.
- You two should be in the same tonal family, one shade apart — never the identical colour, never unrelated colours.
- Comfort is not the enemy of a good photograph. Stiff, tight or unbroken-in clothing shows in the body language within ten minutes.
- One hero look per day at most. Spend the styling, jewellery and hair effort there, keep the rest light.
- Bring a steamer or wrinkle-release spray. Travel creases are the one thing we cannot fix afterwards.
- One garment bag per look, labelled with the day and the code. Saves forty-five minutes every morning.
The Six Looks
Section A — Soft & Intimate
Quiet, unstructured, close. These are the looks that carry emotion rather than spectacle.
Section B — Ethnic, Indo-Fusion & Tailoring
Cultural, ceremonial and rooted — and, alongside it, gowns and tailoring built for wide frames and dramatic light.
Section D — Casual & Cold
Real, worn-in and warm. The looks that make the film feel like your actual life.
Neutral Linen Sunrise
Where it is used
Open beaches, dune grass, terrace mornings and any first-light block before 8am. Wide, airy frames with the sun behind you.
The mood
Barefoot, unhurried, half-awake. Warmth rather than glamour.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- A tiered or bias-cut maxi in linen or linen-cotton, beige through oat.
- A relaxed co-ord set — wide trouser and a soft overshirt — if you prefer not to wear a dress.
- Hair down or loosely pinned. Sunrise wind is part of the frame, not a problem.
For him
- An off-white or oat linen shirt, sleeves rolled once, top two buttons open.
- Beige or stone linen trousers with a soft break at the ankle.
- Nothing tucked too tightly. The silhouette should move.
Fabric & silhouette
Linen, linen-cotton, khadi, soft muslin. Anything that catches wind and holds a crease honestly. Avoid stiff structure — this look lives on drape.
Avoid
- Pure white — it blows out completely in low sunrise light.
- Prints of any kind, including small florals. They pull attention away from the light.
- Black or navy. They read as heavy holes in a pale frame.
- Denim. The blue fights the warm colour cast at this hour.
- Anything with visible logos, branding or slogans.
Footwear
Barefoot is the intent. Otherwise flat leather sandals in tan or natural jute.
Jewellery & detail
Almost nothing. A thin gold chain, small studs, your rings. Skin and light are the jewellery here.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for A1 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Property Intimate
Where it is used
Hotel suites, villa bedrooms, window seats and balconies. Close, handheld, mostly indoors on available light.
The mood
The half hour before the day begins. Coffee, laughter, no audience.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- A knit lounge set in ivory or a satin robe over a simple slip.
- Soft, unstructured shapes — nothing that needs adjusting when you sit.
- Loose hair, minimal makeup. This look is deliberately undone.
For him
- An oversized cream or oatmeal sweater, or a plain crew tee in a warm neutral.
- Linen pyjama trousers or soft drawstring bottoms.
- Bare feet, no belt, no watch that catches the window light.
Fabric & silhouette
Fine knit, brushed cotton, washed silk, satin. Fabrics that read soft at close range and hold window light gently.
Avoid
- Hard blacks and charcoals — indoor light has no strength to lift them.
- Tight, structured shirting. It reads formal in a bedroom frame.
- Anything sheer that becomes a distraction against a bright window.
- Busy prints. At this distance the pattern is all you will see.
- Bold red or emerald. Colour bounces onto skin in small rooms.
Footwear
None. Bare feet or soft socks only.
Jewellery & detail
Rings and a single fine chain. Remove anything that clicks against a coffee cup.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for A2 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Ethnic / Indo-Fusion
★ Hero lookWhere it is used
Temples, havelis, stepwells and family homes for the formal half; open fields, rooftops and lakesides in the late afternoon for the lighter half. Wide architectural frames and fabric-in-motion blocks.
The mood
Ceremony without the ceremony — heirloom weight, held lightly, and then loosened into air, colour and laughing.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- Formal: a maroon or wine lehenga, or a Banarasi silk saree with real zari.
- Lighter: a chiffon or georgette saree in marigold or coral, or an anarkali kurta set.
- Keep the dupatta or pallu free — we will ask you to walk into the wind.
- Traditional hair with fresh flowers works beautifully in courtyard light.
For him
- An ivory or cream kurta with churidar — the tonal counterweight to her colour.
- A maroon or deep wine Nehru jacket for the formal block, one shade off hers, never identical.
- A beige or sand Nehru jacket for the lighter block — easy to remove mid-block.
- Soft, uncrisp fabric where possible. Starch does not move.
Fabric & silhouette
Silk, Banarasi, raw silk, brocade and real zari for the ceremonial half; chiffon, georgette, organza and fine cotton for the lighter half. Weight is an asset in stills, weightlessness in motion.
Avoid
- Plastic sequins and mirror work — they flare white under any direct light.
- Neon or fluorescent trims. They bleed colour onto skin in daylight.
- Matching your outfits exactly. It flattens both of you into one shape.
- Synthetic georgette pretending to be silk — it shines wrong on camera.
- Tight blouses that restrict arms, and loose dupatta pins that give way mid-frame.
- Brand-new, unbroken-in footwear. You will be walking on stone for two hours.
Footwear
Juttis, kolhapuris or embroidered mojris, broken in for at least three days. Flats or bare feet on grass — nothing with a heel that sinks into soft ground.
Jewellery & detail
Temple gold, polki or kundan — one statement piece, not three. Lighter blocks: jhumkas, thin bangles, a single ring, neckline kept clear.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for B1 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Gown & Tailoring
★ Hero lookWhere it is used
Cliff edges, mountain ridges and salt flats for scale — and grand staircases, colonial verandahs, heritage lanes and old mansions for the tailored half. Long lenses, wide frames, dramatic sky or period architecture.
The mood
Cinema. One frame you will print at four feet wide — half epic landscape, half period film.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- A gown with a train or a long ivory chiffon column — length is what gives us scale.
- For the tailored half: a structured ivory midi or column dress with a belt, gloves or a wide-brim hat.
- A single fabric, no embellishment. The silhouette does all the work.
- Hair back, pinned or tied. At altitude, wind will otherwise cover your face in every frame.
For him
- A charcoal or maroon tailored suit, properly fitted at the shoulder.
- For the period half: a cream, oatmeal or beige three-piece suit with a tie or cravat.
- A black turtleneck under the jacket if the location is cold or stark.
- No tie unless you want one. An open collar reads more modern here.
Fabric & silhouette
Chiffon, crepe, satin-back georgette and fine wool suiting for the gown half; linen suiting, tweed, brushed cotton and wool blends for the vintage half. Fluid for her, structured for him — the contrast is the look.
Avoid
- Short hemlines. They kill the scale a wide frame is built for.
- Bright saturated colour — it dates the image and fights dramatic sky.
- Ill-fitting jackets. On a wide frame the shoulder line is the first thing the eye reads.
- Sneakers and white soles with the tailored looks — the single most common thing that ruins them.
- High-shine synthetics, large logos, smartwatches or phone cases in frame.
- Heels on uneven terrain. Carry them, wear them for the frame, change back.
Footwear
Heels for the frame, boots for the walk — bring both. For the tailored half: brogues, loafers or ankle boots in brown or black leather.
Jewellery & detail
One line: statement earrings or a neckpiece, never both. For the vintage half, pearls, a vintage-face watch and antique finishes over polished.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for B2 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Knitwear & Layers
Where it is used
Misty forests, hill stations, early-morning tea estates and any block below fifteen degrees.
The mood
Cold air, warm people. The look that photographs like a memory.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- A camel long coat over a knit dress, or a wool overcoat in a warm neutral.
- One long layer that swings — coats are the reason this look works in motion.
- A scarf you can pull up. Cold weather reads on the face otherwise.
For him
- A charcoal overcoat over a turtleneck.
- Wool trousers or dark denim, no distressing.
- Leather boots. This block always involves wet ground.
Fabric & silhouette
Wool, cashmere, cable knit, tweed. Heavy, matte, visibly warm fabrics that hold shape in mist.
Avoid
- Thin synthetic puffer jackets — they read cheap and reflect flash badly.
- Bright technical outerwear in red or electric blue. It kills the mood instantly.
- Visible thermal collars poking out from the neckline.
- Beanies pulled low — they hide your eyes, which is the whole frame.
- Anything you are genuinely too cold in. Discomfort shows in the shoulders within minutes.
Footwear
Leather boots or Chelsea boots. Broken in, and waterproofed if you have the time.
Jewellery & detail
Minimal — the layers are already doing the work. Small earrings and a watch are enough.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for D1 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Street Casual
Where it is used
Markets, old-city lanes, cafés, promenades and any block where the crowd is part of the frame.
The mood
An ordinary afternoon that happens to be yours.
Palette
● anchor colour — build the look outward from this one
For her
- High-waisted jeans with a cable knit or a plain cream sweater.
- A tartan scarf if the day is cold — it gives the frame a single point of colour.
- Comfortable everything. You will walk a lot in this block.
For him
- A flannel shirt or plain crew, layered under a bomber or denim jacket.
- Straight denim in a mid or dark wash, no rips.
- Sneakers are allowed here, and only here.
Fabric & silhouette
Denim, cotton, wool knit, canvas. Real everyday fabric with honest wear in it.
Avoid
- Head-to-toe denim on both of you. One denim piece each, maximum.
- Large brand logos — they date the images and cannot be removed later.
- Formal shoes with casual clothing. It reads as an unfinished outfit.
- Fluorescent colour, which bounces onto both faces in narrow lanes.
- New white sneakers so bright they pull the eye off your face.
Footwear
Clean sneakers, loafers or low boots. Nothing you cannot walk two kilometres in.
Jewellery & detail
Everyday pieces — your rings, a watch, small hoops. Keep it as you normally wear it.
Reference frames
Mood and styling reference for D2 — for direction only, not exact outfits.
Shop this look
For her
For him
These are search suggestions to help you start, not endorsements. Anything that matches the palette and fabric notes above will work beautifully.
Build your own Look Plan
Tell us your names and describe your shoot in plain language — days, locations and the looks you want. We will build a plan from the looks above, matched to each location, plus one spare look held in reserve.
Write it in plain language — the days, each location, roughly what time, and any looks you already have in mind. We will match looks from the six above to each block.