What do we wear?

When thinking about what to wear it’s good to think about the final result. Are these photos for a holiday card or will they be going up on your wall at home? Will the colors you select go with your home decor? Where will your photos be taken… a natural field/park or more urban/city setting? Also, dress for the weather of that season. If you are having photos done in the summer, wear summer-like clothes. If it’s fall and a bit chilly, make sure everyone has enough layers and will be warm enough. Here are some tips for selecting the right outfits for your photos:

DO:

  • Plan your outfit first (that’s you mom) and then figure out everyone else’s outfits next. Mom’s outfit should be the basis for the rest of the family. Decide on what type of outfit, colors, etc. that you want to wear and then coordinate the rest from that point. 
  • Dress for comfort, if you are uncomfortable in your clothes it will show. Also dress in clothing that is flattering and forgiving for your body type.
  • Pick outfits that have slight color coordination, or colors that complement each other.
  • Add small pops of color and pair some patterns, or florals with solid colors.
  • Pick outfit colors based on your photoshoot setting. Think soft, natural/organic tones for natural locations and richer, bolder colors for urban locations.
  • Dress in layers as needed based on the weather. Late fall, the temps can get really cold so think about incorporating cute hats and mittens for the family to wear in the photos.
  • Think about shoes! Shoes are important too as they will be in the photos as well. In the right setting and weather conditions, barefoot can also work great.
  • If your little girl is wearing a dress, have them wear either leggings, small shorts or a diaper cover/bloomers underneath. We don’t want undies or diapers to show.
  • When in doubt, reach out to me for styling tips!


DON’T:

  • Don’t be too matchy, everyone in the family does not need to wear the same color.
  • Try to stay away from bright, primary colors such as red*, primary yellow, royal blue, turquoise, fluorescent colors, too much white or too much black. (*Red can look great for holiday photos or against evergreen backdrops, but keep in mind that small pops of red work best!)
  • Avoid clothing with large visible logos, wording or characters.
  • Stay away too many patterns.
  • Avoid putting one person in bright white and one person in black – it makes proper camera exposure tricky.
  • If at all possible... ditch the baseball caps! They cause horrible face shadows.