Oh the stress!
Oh the anxiety!
Whatever will I wear for my photo shoot???
You are paying good money for your photos, so please, please, please put some thought into your outfits. If you frame your photos, they will be something you will look at over and over for years to come, so don’t wait until last minute to choose your outfits. Don’t regret later what everyone wore for your photos.
You don’t need a stylist, but it is very important to listen to suggestions from your professional photographer. We’ve seen it all, and know what works.
Who are we doing the photos for? Usually it’s Mom. Pictures of her family is usually something very important to her, and she will care the most about what she looks like with her family. Everyone else is typically along for the ride, so let Mom choose her outfit first.
Start with Mom:
Mom, choose something you are comfortable in, and that makes you feel beautiful.
- Dresses can be flattering, especially long ones to give twirl effect in pictures, and choose one that looks best for your waist line.
- Hate dresses? Then choose something else that works for your style.
- Heels can elongate legs.
- Most women don’t like their arms in photos, so choose something with ¾ sleeves or a jacket to cover arms.
- Avoid skinny straps, or strapless dresses depending on how you feel about your arms. A camera doesn’t always flatter this area and can make arms look bigger than they actually are.
- Then take cues from Mom’s outfit to coordinate the rest of the family.
Key suggestions:
- Minimize distracting clothing that will take focus away from subjects.
- No bold patterns.
- No Hawaiian shirts. They clash.
- Too many different colors are distracting. Use complimentary colors.
- No logos or clothing with slogans or other type of wording.
- I am getting family photos done, and the photographer suggested something that really stood out to me: Think of choosing outfits like you are decorating your living room. You wouldn’t put busy patterns on all of your curtains, couch, rug, and pillows. The same goes with people in a photo. If one person is wearing a bold pattern, think of using solid colors to coordinate rather than multiple bold patterns. (less is more) Think of your picture hanging in your living room, and what would coordinate best.
Match your clothes to the vibe of your location:
- Beach: Breezy, carefree, keep wind in mind, more than likely barefoot (heels don’t work in the sand).
- Park: Playful, casual.
- Downtown setting: Lines to match buildings.
- You can do Google searches for suggestions on clothing styles by locations for other spots.
Accessories:
- A bold necklace can make a statement.
- Scarves look beautiful.
- Wide-brimmed hats for a Boho touch.
- Bracelets, funky earrings or anything that adds movement to the photographs.
- Flower crowns for little girls are a sweet touch.
Hair & Make up
- If you have the money for it, think about getting it done professionally if you choose.
- Make up artists know how to make you look best on camera; however, if you’re more comfortable doing it yourself, that works, too.
- False Eyelashes levels up look 10X and it’s worth it.
- Wear lipstick, because you want your features to show up on camera
- Paint your fingernails, manicure, etc. your fingers will show. Details matter.
Tips for Men:
- Dress shoes, brown or black.
- Long pants flattering or dress shirt with slimmer fit.
- Colors: Solids are nice, nothing too busy, soft/pastel colors look awesome on camera.
- Layering: Flattering, adding a jacket, suspenders can be fun, belts are nice.
- If your family has more of a casual vibe with shorts, that’s fine, but my suggestion would be to make sure they are ironed to look a little dressier.
Colors/Coordinating/Ironing:
- Google a color wheel. It’s very helpful in coordinating colors.
- If you want bright and breezy photos, wear light colors.
- If you want moody photos, wear darker colors.
- Coordinating: Stay away from too matchy matchy / 2 to 3 color combinations
- Try on outfit combo at least one week in advance.
- Ironing, no wrinkles as they show up on camera.
Don’t:
- Loose fitting clothing
- Sweatshirts
- Wear pony tails, depending on angle you might not like how it comes out
Make sure everyone is comfortable! If dressy isn’t your family’s vibe, then don’t force it. There is still a way to dress up shorts, or more casual clothes if that matches more with your family. If people are uncomfortable it will show up in pictures.
It’s my goal to have fun in your session, so I love to see when everyone feels good about what they are wearing. We want to do everything we can to capture your family’s personalities.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. I love seeing what families choose for their sessions.
Newborn Photographer / Family Photographer / Lifestyle Photographer / Tomball, Texas / Magnolia, Texas / Spring, Texas / The Woodlands, Texas
