What to wear to your session
Selecting outfits is one of my client's biggest concerns so I’ve put together some ideas below to help. Picking good outfits can actually make a massive difference in how your images turn out. Family and couple photos are about making your loves the main subject, so picking the right outfit can bring it all together. I always suggest wearing neutral colours, soft prints and something that you're comfortable in so you can concentrate on snuggling your loved ones but there are some other guidelines that can help and put a gallery at the bottom of this page with some really good examples of great clothing choices.
Let’s spell out some guidelines
Things to aim for:
complimentary colours
mixing of patterns with solid colours (you can have one really patterned outfit in the mix and then compliment that with everyone else’s outfits)
something that makes you feel good when you put it on
if you’ve got any little ones in dresses, having little bloomers to cover their nappies is a good idea
outfits that compliment your photo location
Things you should avoid:
large logos on shirts
neon colors
baggy clothes that hide your figure
complete matching prints for everyone
underwear showing under your garmets (think black bra strap poking out from under a white dress)
Photo location makes a difference
Consider your photo location. If you’ve chosen a beach location for example, maybe wearing a full suit and ball gown won’t quite be the vibe of the shoot. If you’ve chosen a rainforest background, then it would be best to steer clear of wearing too much green (even if it’s your favourite colour) because you will blend into the background.
Choosing a theme
If you want to choose a theme, for example, white and blue, then I would suggest mixing shades of blue and white and mixing up the textures. While being matchy matchy is adorable for Christmas PJ photos, it can be overwhelming in lifestyle images.
Picking something flattering
Loose-fitting clothes aren’t always the answer. It’s a misconception to think that baggy clothing “hides flaws” when actually it can drown a beautiful figure. Shirts or dresses that have a tapered waist or putting a belt on with a dress can make all the difference. Let’s show off how gorgeous you are!
A few common choices that stand out in photos (for the wrong reasons)
A list of things that tend to stand out in photos:
Sometimes one of your littles has a favourite shirt but it has a big logo on the front and it really stands out in photos
Clothing that requires constant readjusting - you’ll see how uncomfortable you are in the images
Undergarments that show
Having one partner dress much more casually than the other
Seeing nappies under dresses on little ones
Why not dress up?
Have you considered dressing up? How often do you get the opportunity to get extra fancy? Obviously, you don’t have to, but you can definitely use this as an excuse to wear your fanciest outfit so you feel extra special.
Bring a backup outfit for little ones
We all know it, kids are messy. If they eat in the car, I suggest waiting until you arrive at your session location before popping them in their outfits or bringing along a backup outfit you can leave in the car if it comes to it. I’ve only had a few clients who need this option, but if you don’t have it, you might regret it!
At the end of the day, you do need to feel comfortable in your images so please use this as a helpful guide but not a rule book. And as always, feel free to send pictures to me before our session if you’d like my input or if you’re finding it hard to choose.
Until next time x
