What to wear for a yoga and movement photoshoot

By Mariya Harley · London · updated August 2026

What works for a yoga and movement shoot specifically

Colour. Plain and contrasting with the floor. A grey mat, grey leggings and a grey studio wall removes the line of the body, which is the entire subject.

Fabric. Fitted, matte, high-waisted. Loose fabric hides the hip position that makes a pose readable, and shiny fabric blows out under a window.

Footwear. None — which makes feet visible in almost every frame. Check nails and soles before starting.

The thing that ruins frames. A patterned mat. It competes with the body in every single shot and cannot be removed afterwards.

In the bag. A plain mat in a solid colour, a hair tie, a towel, and gaffer tape to mark where the mat sits so every frame in the sequence lines up.

Two rules that hold everywhere

• Steam it the night before — creases are the most expensive thing in any retouching bill and the cheapest to prevent.
• Bring options and decide on set, where you can see the light and the background rather than guessing at home.