More than any other question, clients always ask what they should wear to their family photography session. Coordinating your outfits can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips to help you with styling.

GENERAL TIPS

START WITH ONE PERSON.

It’s way easier to visualise the whole puzzle once you know what one piece looks like! Try starting with mum, or daughter, since women’s clothing tends to have more colours and prints.

COMPLEMENT, DON’T MATCH.

The day of all white shirts and khaki pants are long past! We want colours that generally complement each other: so for instance, soft colours (light blue, grey, blush) or warm colours (brown, orange, burgundy), If you want colourful images, then you should choose a more vivid colours scheme for your outfits!

CONSIDER YOUR HOME DECOR.

If you’re planning to hang your images in your living room that’s decorated in all white, you probably don’t want your clothing to be dark. If you’re hanging them in a colorful nursery, then wear vivid outfits.

PLAN FOR THE WEATHER.

Nothing is worse than being miserably uncomfortable in a perfect outfit. If you’re planning an outdoor session in June or July, think about coats, gloves, and hats. In the summer, dress in layers that you can easily take off if you get too hot.

DON’T FORGET SHOES!

These are often the forgotten last element, but they can really make or break your outfits! If you can’t find shoes you love, consider going barefoot (just bring walking shoes to get from point A to point B). Steer away from athletic shoes and bright white sneakers.

TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES WELL IN ADVANCE!

Check your outfits from all possible angles in the mirror, not just the one you like best. Try sitting, squatting, leaning forward, etc. The kids’ clothes should work well in motion so that we can play during your session (think flying, tickling, and hanging upside down).

LET THE KIDS HAVE INPUT.

If your daughter hates wearing dresses, don’t force her to wear one for picture day. If your son thinks that bowties are uncomfortable, ditch it. Happy kids make for happy photos!

OVERALL TIPS

SAY YES TO:

COMFORT

Above all, if you feel good, you will look good! Choose clothing that gives you freedom of movement, keeps you warm/cool, and won’t require a lot of maintenance throughout your session.

TEXTURE

Add some visual interest to your images with unique fabrics. Some examples: lace, cable knits, chambray, tweed, herringbone, chambray, faux fur, wool

PATTERNS

Don’t be scared of patterns and prints! They can work great in moderation. Try one statement piece (for instance, a colourful floral dress for Mum) and one subtle pattern (maybe tiny polka dots for baby girl), and then keep the rest of the family more simple.

LAYERS AND ACCESSORIES

These are the quickest way to take your outfits from average to amazing! Think scarves, blazers, cardigans, belts, jewelry, fun socks, and hats.

FITTED CLOTHING

We don’t want your clothing to be too baggy or too tight. Properly fitted clothing looks put together and will show your shape. For women, your upper half and lower half should be balanced: so for instance, blousy shirt + skinny pants, or tight shirt + flowing skirt.

SAY NO TO:

BRIGHT WHITE

If you love white, try off-white or ivory instead.

NEON COLORS

These create skin tone/color cast issues.

LOGOS & TEXT

Words will draw attention away from your faces.

TRANSITION LENSES

If you wear glasses every day, please wear them in your shoot! However, lens glare and shaded lenses will keep your eyes from being seen. You can have anti-reflective coating added to your lenses or wear just the frames.

ATHLETIC SHOES

Self-explanatory!

HOLIDAY COLOURS

Even if you’re planning to use these images for your holiday cards, steer away from holiday-coloured clothing and let your card design incorporate those instead. That way you’ll be able to enjoy your images year-round!

TINY PLAID & COMPLICATED PATTERNS

These don’t always translate well in-camera.

SAMPLE COLOUR PALETTES

If you’re overwhelmed by all of the advice I just gave you, here are some sample colour palettes that you can use as a starting point. We based all of these sets off of two or three colours, then filled in the rest with neutral materials like denim and khaki.