Moiré Effect

Have you ever been in a Facebook group primarily made up of moms? Oh yeah, I have. Aside from my least favorite topic of "Name that rash," there's always the mom asking for advice on what to wear for family pictures. I get it, it's tough dressing your family.

Colors are much easier to think about than the actual fabric choice though. Most people don't consider the make-up of the fabric, beyond the color. The print and the material are equally important though.

When you're choosing clothing for family pictures, avoid anything with a very close pattern or stripes. The moiré effect occurs when busy lines or patterns on fabric curve. The outcome is that it looks like the image is jumping out at you.

The image above was originally found at Ocean Studio's Website.

To avoid moiré, choose a fabric that doesn't have thin stripes like silk and corduroy, certain plaids with tiny and intricate designs, or even some waffle textured shirts. Solids colors are your friend.

There's a rumor that I have heard in the photography community that the moiré effect does not appear on printed images. And that is completely false. Moiré will show up on the printed image as well as the digital images. It's best to avoid the fabrics with those tight weaves. Need help choosing outfits? Shoot me an e-mail with your ideas and I will help you shop your closet to choose the best options that will photograph well and compliment your existing home decor, skin tones, and ensure it doesn't create the dreaded moiré effect.