The number one worry I hear from my clients when they’re preparing for their family session, is how stressful deciding what to wear is. I know it can be especially overwhelming to dress a whole family! Everyone that books a family session with me gets my complete Family Welcome Guide, full of info for preparing for your session as well as tips and examples for what to wear! I want to quickly share of few of them to help relieve a little stress and make your upcoming family session go as smoothly as possible! For more ideas, follow me on Pinterest, where I have an Outfit Inspiration board.
- Wear something you feel comfortable in. If you NEVER wear really dressy clothes, the chances are you won’t feel comfortable in them and it may end up looking like you are wearing a costume. You want the final photos to look like YOU!
- Wear clothes that fit well. This goes along with comfort, but if you are having to pull your shirt a certain way, tuck bra straps or pin your dress into place… don’t wear it. These issues will show in your photos and can be difficult to fix in editing.
- Choose a color palate. Don’t end up on “Awkward Family Photos” by wearing husband and wife matching outfits! Try choosing 2-3 complementary colors to add into your neutrals. Think of coordinating with each other instead of being match-matchy. Use patterns sparingly, so they aren’t too overwhelming. If you plan on hanging the photos in your home, consider a color scheme that will coordinate well with your decor.
- Consider the location. If your session location is the salt flats, cool tones and neutrals work best. If you will be in the fall-colored mountains, consider warm tones. It is best to balance a busier location with simple outfits and a simple location with more bold colors and/or patterns. Will your session be in-home? (I hope so) Dress casual and bare feet are highly encouraged!
- Dress for the season. Think light and airy fabrics for hot temperatures and cozy sweaters with boots for fall and winter. If you wear shorts and a t-shirt to your winter session, chances are you will look uncomfortable and out of place.
- Dress mom first. Moms, if you are struggling, choose something you LOVE and feel great in and then build everyone else’s outfit around yours. If you aren’t happy with your outfit when you look in the mirror, chances are you won’t like how it photographs.
- Empty your pockets! You don’t want keys, phones and wallets showing through your pockets.
- A few don’ts… avoid branding and logos. Don’t show more skin than you are comfortable with. Avoid neon colors, they create crazy color casts that are sometimes impossible to correct. Avoid really thin stripes, they sometimes create an optical illusion. Remove distractions such as sunglasses, hair ties on wrists and distracting jewelry.
I hope you find this helpful when it comes time to choose outfits for your next family session! I’m always happy to help it you have any questions. I would love to be your photographer this year and I’m starting to book my 2019 shoots, so email me at madison.jj@hotmail.com to schedule yours!
