What to Wear on Photo Day: The Best Outfits for Strong, Clean Sports Shots” Practical for all ages and sports.

When photo day arrives, every athlete wants to look sharp, powerful and ready for action.

But one of the biggest factors that affects how strong your portraits turn out has nothing to do with posing, lighting or editing. It starts with what you wear.

At GameFace GB, we bring everything needed to create high level sports portraits. We bring the lighting. We bring the special effects. We bring the studio environment. We bring the professional equipment. We even bring the editing power to polish every image to a flawless finish.

All we need from athletes is one thing: Clean, tidy, presentable kit.

This guide breaks down exactly what to wear, how to prepare and how to make sure your outfit supports strong, clean and professional looking photos that you will be proud to share for years.

Why Your Kit Matters So Much in Sports Photography

Even though we control the lighting, angles and final edits, your kit is a huge part of the final image. If your uniform looks messy, worn out or mismatched, no amount of professional photography can fully hide it.

Clean, well prepared kit makes your photos look:

• More professional

• Higher quality

• Sharper and more defined

• Stronger in colour and detail

• More polished and organised

• Timeless instead of dated

Your outfit is a key part of your identity as an athlete. When it is in top condition, you instantly look more confident and ready. Photo day is the perfect moment to show your sport with pride.

The Golden Rule: Wear Your Cleanest, Best Kit

It sounds simple, but it is the most important step.

Before photo day:

• Wash your kit

• Remove stains

• Let everything dry fully

• Make sure the colours look bright

• Check for mud, marks or scuffs

• Fold or hang it so it stays neat

Fresh kit photographs beautifully. Dirty kit photographs exactly how it looks.

When your uniform is bright, tidy and clean, it makes the entire photo look more powerful.

Check for Updated Logos and Badges

Most sports clubs refresh logos or update sponsors every few years. Many teams also release new kits every season. Wearing old or mismatched kit can instantly date your photos.

Before photo day:

• Check that your badge reflects the current team logo

• Make sure the sponsor or team branding is correct

• Avoid wearing items with old or faded versions

• Bring the newest version of your kit if you have more than one

Updated kit helps us create modern, fresh images that represent your club accurately and professionally.

Make Sure All Kit Pieces Match

This is something that often gets overlooked. We have seen athletes turn up with:

• Mismatched socks

• Shorts from an older season

• A top from one set and bottoms from another

• Two different coloured sleeves

• Different brands mixed together

These things are normal in day to day training, but during a portrait shoot they stand out instantly.

Matching kit creates:

• Clean lines

• Consistent colours

• Better symmetry

• A stronger visual impact

If you play a team sport, matching kit is even more important for group photos.

Don’t Forget About Footwear

Shoes matter more than people think. They often appear in full body portraits or action style poses. Dirty or worn out shoes can distract from an otherwise powerful image.

Before photo day:

• Brush off mud or grass

• Wipe down scuffs

• Tighten laces

• Make sure both shoes match the team colours

• Avoid heavily worn or broken footwear if possible

You don’t need brand new boots or trainers, but they should be presentable.

Hair, Accessories and Extras

Details matter. Small things can make a big difference in how clean your final photo looks.

Hair

• Tie hair back if needed for sport

• Keep loose strands controlled

• Bring clips or bands if required

• Avoid messy hair that covers your face unless it’s part of your sport identity

Headbands and accessories

• Keep them clean

• Make sure colours match the kit

• Avoid neon or random items that don’t fit the uniform

• Remove any unnecessary accessories that distract from your look

Glasses or goggles

Wear them if you normally wear them for sport. We can handle reflections during editing.

Bring Your Main Sports Equipment (We Handle the Rest)

We provide all photographic gear, lighting, editing and effects.
We do NOT need you to bring anything technical.

But we do recommend bringing essential sports equipment like:

• Your stick

• Racket

• Ball

• Gloves

• Pads

• Helmet

• Boots

• Bat

• Clubs

• Mouthguard (optional)

Having your own equipment creates a more authentic, personal and dynamic look. It also helps you relax into your natural sporting posture.

Everything else needed for the photo is supplied by us:

• Studio level lighting

• Fog and atmosphere effects

• Backgrounds

• On site setups

• Full editing and retouching

• Colour grading

• Cinematic effects

• Professional level post production

You never need to worry about how the photo will turn out. We handle everything.

What NOT to Wear on Photo Day

To keep your images looking clean and professional, avoid the following:

1. Dirty Kit

Stains, mud and sweat marks stand out immediately.

2. Old Uniforms

Retired kits or outdated badges make photos feel old before they’re even taken.

3. Mismatched Club Gear

Different socks, shorts or tops break the visual flow.

4. Distracting Accessories

Bright jewellery, neon bits, random patterns, oversized hoodies or unrelated logos.

5. Everyday Clothing

Photo day is not the time for jeans, casual trainers or hoodies unless the photography style specifically calls for them.

Youth Athletes: How Parents Can Help

Younger athletes often forget things or grab kit straight from their bag after a muddy training session. Parents can make a huge difference by helping with:

• Washing kit the night before

• Packing the clean version

• Checking socks and shorts match

• Making sure shoes are tidy

• Ensuring the correct colours are included

• Bringing any accessories needed for the sport

A few minutes of prep results in a dramatically cleaner portrait.

Teen Athletes: Avoid Last Minute Panic

Teen athletes often rush to get ready. Quick reminders help:

• Lay kit out the night before

• Check everything is dry

• Remove school clothes from kit bags

• Confirm logos match

• Bring equipment you normally use

A calm start means better confidence and stronger photos.

Adult Athletes: Keep It Professional

Many adults want strong, polished portraits for profiles, social media, coaching pages or personal branding. Clean kit is the fastest way to elevate the quality.

• Avoid faded gear

• Avoid holes or peeling badges

• Bring pristine footwear

• Make sure the uniform represents your sport accurately

Clean, modern kit instantly pushes your images to a higher level.

Why GameFace GB Makes The Rest Look Incredible

Once you handle your kit, we handle everything else.
Our team uses high end professional equipment designed to make athletes look powerful in any environment.

We supply:

• Elite photographic gear

• Studio strength lighting

• Atmosphere effects

• Stadium style backgrounds

• Smoke and mist

• Dynamic shadows

• Perfect colour grading

• Full retouching

• Clean up and detail enhancement

Your job is to arrive with clean, presentable kit.
Our job is to make you look like a superstar.

Final Thoughts: Clean Kit Creates Clean Images

Photo day shouldn’t be stressful. It should be fun, powerful and memorable. When your kit is clean, tidy and ready, everything else falls into place. Strong portraits rely on good preparation, and the best preparation starts with your uniform.

You bring the athlete.
You bring the clean kit.
We’ll bring the magic.