Client Guide~ What to Wear for Your Session
Your family is growing and changing so quickly! So that means it’s time to update your family photos! But what that comes with for many of us we find to be the most frustrating part of the process…finding what to wear! Dressing your family for portraits does not have to be a challenging experience. As a family photographer, I have had the opportunity to work with many families! Today I’m going to give you some steps to help make the process of choosing what to wear for family photos easier.
I’m not going to be posting links to specific outfits. Each of us has our own unique style. We each have stores where we prefer to shop. We know the fit that compliments us the best, and we know what type clothes will fit within our shopping budget. I think it’s important to have your portraits represent who you are. I’m simply going to be sharing some tips to help you as you navigate your way to dressing for your photos.
Yes, I’m giving your permission to put yourself first for once!! Find your perfect outfit first, and then you can coordinate the rest of the family to you. Why? Well first of all, you deserve to feel your absolute best in your portraits. And let’s be honest here, whatever you dress your kids in, they are going to look absolutely adorable. Your husband will likely end up in either khaki slacks or jeans with a button down shirt. Typically husbands already have something in the closet you can pull to coordinate with just about anything.
Notice I said coordinate….you do NOT have to match perfectly. As long as your colors do not clash and compliment one another, you are on the right path. You don’t need to all wear the same color, find colors that flow well together! I personally love to see moms choose a flattering dress. A dress brings the perfect feminine touch and l love the movement long, flowy dresses bring to images. If dresses just aren’t for you, look for a pretty blouse and a pair of fitted pants or jeans. One thing I always say is definitely find something that fits your style. You want your photos to represent you, your family, and who you all are. You don’t like to wear dresses… skip the dress. Your husband is more of a jeans and T-shirt type guy? I get it. Don’t over complicate things. Being in front of the camera can make people uncomfortable enough. You don’t want to add an itchy, scratchy outfit that you can’t wait to tear off into the mix of things.
You chose to have your family portraits taken probably because you want to use your images to print and hang in your home. Choosing colors that match your decor provide two-fold benefits. One is that the portraits look even better hanging on your walls when they compliment the colors in your home. The second is that if you have chosen certain colors to decorate your home, then you are clearly drawn to those colors and prefer them over all the rest. This means you will automatically like the aesthetics of your photos because of the color schemes represented in them.
Another option here is to choose neutral shades for your outfits. This helps to provide a timeless look that will match any decor, and ensures that you won’t tire of the colors. I personally prefer portrait outfits with soft neutrals. This means tones of cream, grey, pale blue, blush, tan, and other colors in this palette. These colors hold up over time and bring all the focus onto the most important part of the images…your family!
Now that we’ve covered the do’s of what to wear, let’s go over some things that you want to avoid:
1. No tight plaids or stripes
Buffalo plaid and most plaids are great, but very tight checked plaid patterns can produce a strange optical effect in digital images where it looks as if the pattern is moving.
2. No neon colors
Explanation is not needed for this one!
3. No writing or large logos
4. Avoid extremely trendy items
While we all love to look back and laugh at how silly old trends can be, it’s best to always strive for a classic look that will be timeless for your photo session.
If you need some outfit inspiration, look through my website and portfolio. All my families show up dressed great! Plus, I will always be more than willing to help review outfit choices and advise my clients on their wardrobe options..
