One of the most common things I am asked for is suggestions on what to wear to photo sessions. Here are some tips. Keep in mind that everyone has their own styles, and these are of course only suggestions. You should always go with what you feel best in, and what you see yourself enjoying the most when you look at your portraits on your wall! It is best to plan outfits in advance, so you don’t feel rushed, and have time to pick things that you are truly happy with.
Timeless: Try to think timeless, because you will have your portraits forever and want to always enjoy them and treasure them. What does your living room decor look like? Usually neutral and/or earthy tones will coordinate with just about any decor. Pink, purple and green might be your kids’ favorite colors, but they might not go well with your living room decor, or wherever you may plan to hang your photos.
Solids: Solid colors often look the best. Many prints and stripes tend to be distracting, and you really want the focus of the photo to be on your family, and not your clothes. The same is said for characters on clothing. The exception to this is, if one person has a small print to add some detail to the bottom of their dress for example, that usually looks pretty. Just keep in mind that you may not want more than one print, so you aren’t clashing with a print another family member is wearing.
Mom’s outfit: I highly recommend picking out Mom’s outfit first and then building around it. Something she feels beautiful in. Next, pick for the rest of the ladies in the family. It’s usually easy to find some solid colored shirts for guys to coordinate with just about anything the ladies might choose, but sometimes when you pick the guy’s outfits first, it’s harder to find a dress to coordinate with.
Coordinate: I recommend coordinating, but not matching. When you match, it tends to look unnatural. Navy, pale blue and grey look great together for example. Cream, tan and just about any color look awesome as well. Maybe have Dad in a cream button down, and Mom in a blue dress with a cream scarf to pull the colors together with Dad.
Avoid Bright Colors: Bright colors tend to cause color casts on skin, which most people don’t want in their photos. If you ever wear a bright pink, orange or lime green shirt outside on a sunny day, and look down at yourself, you’ll likely see the color reflecting on your arm. This probably isn’t the look you’re going for in your family portraits.
Accessories: Consider adding a scarf for Mom or maybe a vest for Dad to add some texture. Nice earrings for Mom to coordinate with her daughter’s necklace are quite appealing too. Does Dad have a favorite belt he loves to wear? Remember too with accessories to try to do texture and not busy patterns.
Season: It is important to think of the weather when selecting your outfits. You don’t want the kids to be freezing in short sleeve shirts on a windy fall day, nor do you want them sweating in long sleeves on a summer night. Choose outfits that will be comfortable for the season. At the same time, you want to remember that you’ll have your photos year round, so you might not want to wear your Halloween costumes to fall photos, nor reindeer hats to Christmas photos.
Location: Keep location in mind, so you aren’t blending in with your background. If the location has lots of trees and greenery, you’ll want to avoid green, so you don’t get lost in the photo. Some blues would contrast nicely with green.
Comfort: Don’t forget about comfort. We tend to do a lot of walking around during sessions. Mom might get really sore feet walking around in the grass in stilettos, compared to boots, flats or wedges. At the same time, you don’t want to wear funky sneakers either. You want something that goes well with your outfits. Think about the kids too. If your daughter HATES wearing bows, consider skipping it, so she isn’t pulling it out or unhappy during the session. Would you rather a smile without a bow, or a grin with your most favorite bow? Maybe swap in a nice necklace instead. A happy kid will make you enjoy having your photos taken so much more!
If you’re having trouble deciding, I am always happy to help! Clients often send me photos of a few different outfit choices and ask for help in deciding which might look best. Please feel free to ask!