Choosing Outfits for Your Session

First, I want to emphasize how much I truly want you to wear what reflects the true “you”, and your unique family and personality. I don’t want you to think you have to dress in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or doesn’t feel like you. And I certainly don’t want you to have to go buy new outfits unless you had already planned to!

As a mom of three, I am acutely aware of how difficult it can be just to get photos together, let alone trying to influence how the family dresses for those photos. And I completely understand when there are people with sensory issues who may have limits on what they can comfortably/willingly wear (hello, my 3rd child!). At the end of the day, I’m here to photograph your family and my very first priority is to relieve stress and for you to have a great experience together!

Whether you’re planning to dress up and wear a gown you’ve been saving in the back of your closet for a special occasion or are planning to throw on your favorite leggings, sweater and cozy socks, keep the following tips in mind but remember that it’s definitely not the end of the world if it doesn’t go exactly according to plan!

1. COMFORT

Being comfortable and feeling good about yourself is the priority when being photographed. Try to avoid clothing that you know you’ll constantly need to tug at and readjust because they ride up, fall off your shoulders, shoes that pinch feet, etc.

2. COORDINATE

To avoid looking like an ad for 90’s denim (although on second thought, that would be a fun vibe!), try to coordinate outfits – not match. That means avoiding putting everyone in the same jeans and white t-shirts or matching plaids.

Consider dressing in a similar overall style and feel (i.e. semiformal, casual/relaxed) with some common elements, such as complimentary shades or color palettes. A cohesive, similar style gives the photos a timeless appearance. For example, a handmade, lace-trimmed, camel-colored maternity gown would look a bit disjointed paired with a spouse/partner in a black Nike hoodie, but when the spouse wears a classic linen button-up, suddenly the couple’s photos are elevated and timeless.

3. COLOR

Colors you’d be more likely to find in nature tend to photograph best (creams, browns, greens, gray, etc) but if you have a particular bold colored clothing item you just adore, embrace it! Just plan the rest of the family’s outfits around the piece you love and it’ll all come together.

In general, try to avoid:

• crazy bright colors (think neons and fluorescents)
• everyone in the same super dark colors like solid black (this can look harsh and create a “floating heads effect”, unless it’s a single piece coordinated well with other outfits)
• large logos, writing or characters
• matching, not coordinating

These things can take away from the overall feel and look of your images and bright colors reflect color back onto your skin, creating unnatural and unflattering skin tones.

4. PHONES, KEYS, SMART WATCHES AND HAIR TIES

I always do a quick check in the first couple of images and remind everyone to empty their pockets and take off anything that might be considered a distraction like smart watches or hair ties around wrists, as these can detract from your finished images.

Again, the most important thing to remember is that these are your photos. Wear what makes you feel good and let’s make some memories!