Thank you for choosing to book a session with me! This guide will help you whether you are a seasoned family or maybe you have been contemplating getting family photos done for a while now and decided not to put it off any longer. Your little ones (or not so little ones) are growing so fast and you don’t want to regret not capturing these special memories because you didn’t know what to wear!
Now that you’ve booked your session…what the heck are we going to wear? To inspire you as you prepare for your family portrait session, I have put together a comprehensive outfit guide.
A Fool Proof Formula
First consider your location, the best outfit in the wrong environment will look out of place. When selecting outfits that will fit with your location, start with mom’s outfit, since women’s clothing tends to have more texture and prints. Then select 2-3 complimentary colors in mom’s outfit to incorporate throughout your family’s outfits, some neutrals and one color which pops and brings life to the outfits. Colors don’t need to be exact, just a close match.
Don’t dress like someone else you saw on Pinterest just because you found an amazing outfit idea. You want these photos to represent the real you and your family and not be something that you aren’t. Just be you!
COMPLIMENT, DON’T MATCH
The day of all white shirts and khaki pants are long past! We want colors that generally complement each other. Keep soft colors (light blue, gray, blush) or warm colors (brown, orange, burgundy) separate. Colors help to create contrast between family members to keep them from blending into one another. Muted solids pieces with texture or flow work best.
COLOR PALETTE
The color palette you choose will affect your appearance and the overall look of your photo. Warmer colors like peach, cream, brown, will give your photos a soft glowing look, while bold and vivid colors will produce a brighter and sharper appearance.
TEXTURE
Adding texture creates interest and depth to your images. The easiest way to do this is by incorporating a variety of fabrics and textures. Creating movement through flowing dresses. Patterns are tricky. If you want to mix patterns, scale them, one person wears a medium size and another wears a small print. While flowy shirts and dresses are currently in style, they can hide your shape and be less flattering in photos if they are too big. Find clothes that are neither overly baggy nor too tight, and think about balance between your upper and lower half. If you have a flowing skirt, chose a fitted top, and with a loose top, choose skinny jeans.
SHOES
These are often a forgotten element. Women’s flats and sandals always look nice but steer away from athletic shoes and bright white sneakers. Some locations require more walking than others and if you want to wear heels it may be best to bring sandals to walk to different areas of the location. Shoes have the power to complete an outfit or completely destroy it! If you just can’t find shoes you love, consider having the family go barefoot for the session (just bring shoes to walk around at the location!).
LET YOUR KIDS HAVE INPUT
If your daughter hates wearing sweaters, don’t force her to wear one for picture day. If your son thinks that bowtie is uncomfortable, ditch it. Involve your children in planning and choosing outfits. They will be much more excited about family photos if they like what they’re wearing. This doesn’t mean that you should let your daughter wear her favorite princess dress. Instead, incorporate their favorite color. Please don’t make them wear something they hate. Happy kids make for happy photos!
TRY YOU CLOTHES ON IN ADVANCE
Check your outfits in front of the mirror, not just the one you like best. Try sitting, squatting, leaning forward, etc. The kids’ clothes should work well in motion so that we can play during your session (think flying, tickling, and cuddling).
MAKEUP
Apply your makeup in natural light so that you know how it will look for outdoor photos. Apply just a little bit more than you usually would and make sure to blend foundation well with your neck. Stay away from nude lipsticks as they wash you out, but do make sure to wear lip gloss (chapstick for everyone in the family so they don’t have the dry lip look). If you’re comfortable with it, help your eyes pop with natural length fake eyelashes.
DO
Comfortable clothes
Make a trip to the salon to get hair/nails touched up beforehand
Neutral color footwear
Simple is better!
DON’T
Wear trendy clothes
Dark, neon or saturated colors
Text & graphics on t-shirts
No white socks with shoes, that inevitably show
PLEASE AVOID
OVERSIZED CLOTHING: Steer clear of cargo shorts, baggy jeans, and oversized clothing.
THIN STRIPES OR PLAIDS: Thin stripes and tight plaids distort in printed photos and appear zig-zaggy and thus should be avoided.
FORMALWEAR: Avoid outfits that are too formal for your setting. If you are in a natural area, a tuxedo, formal dress, tie/bowtie, might feel out of place.
MEN’S SHORTS: Dads, leave the shorts at home and opt for pants so your hairy legs don’t distract from the photo.
BRIGHT WHITE: White has the tendency to wash out complexions. Choose ivory and creams instead.
BOLD AND DARK COLORS: Dark colors (e.g., navy blues, black, dark browns and grays) should be avoided, since they appear black in photos. Also, dark colors can wash out your complexion and create an overly dark feel in the photo. Overly saturated colors can distract from the photo, so look instead for muted versions. For example, if you have a bright yellow dress, think about a mustard or gold dress instead.
NEON COLORS: Neon colors can reflect onto your face, causing skin tone problems in your photos. That neon green shirt will reflect upwards on your face and cause you to look green!
LOGOS: Logos or text on clothing is distracting. Avoid shirts that have logos (even just a simple Nike check mark or Polo horse is distracting).
STRAPLESS/SLEEVELESS TOPS: Unless you absolutely love your arms, avoid strapless or sleeveless tops. Sleeves are typically more flattering for everyone!
UNDERSHIRTS: Guys, it’s best to avoid wearing white undershirts that hang out of the top of your shirt or sleeves.
ATHLETIC SHOES: White tennis shoes, athletic shoes, and character shoes (think Disney princess shoes) should all be avoided. Leather shoes, casual sneakers (think Converse), sandals, slide-on canvas shoes, and wedges are all great options.
LOW-CUT AND OVERLY TIGHT SHIRTS: Low-cut shirts can shift during the session and leave you a little more revealed than you intended. Clothing that is overly tight and clings to you is uncomfortable and can leave bulges and bumps in places you don’t want.
BABY OUTFITS WITH DIAPERS PEEKING OUT: An adorably cute moment with your baby can be ruined by the green-lined diaper that is hanging out of a little romper or dress. Avoid baby clothing that doesn’t completely cover those little Pampers.
TRANSITIONAL LENSES: If you typically wear glasses, wear them for your session. But if you have polarized or transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photos.
