Family Session: WHAT Are We Going to Wear?!

Panic time, right?!? It doesn't have to be. Don't stress.....and don't feel like you have to rush out and buy everyone in the group a whole new outfit. Your closets probably already contain all or most of a good starting point. Some general guidelines....and maybe a few specific ones....are usually all you need.

Remember: In the end it's your faces and your connection with each other that is the most important component. What you're wearing is a distant second.

DO:

  • Neutral/coordinating clothes
  • Appropriate for the season (light/pastels for spring, earthtones for fall)
  • Complementary solid colors
  • Well-fitting but comfortable, especially while sitting
  • Sleeves of any length are recommended for most adults
  • Comfortable shoes/boots
  • Layers and textures
  • Well-ironed wrinkle-free
  • Minimal accessories
  • Hairstyle that doesn't blow wild in the wind

DON'T:

  • Matchy-matchy with identical clothes
  • Holiday-specific (unless ALL you want them for is Christmas cards)
  • Plaids/stripes/geometrics/large florals
  • Bold bright colors
  • Logos/characters/graphics
  • Light colored athletic shoes
  • Short dresses/skirts
  • Cell phones/keys in pockets or watches on wrists
  • Too tight OR too baggy
  • Stark white or black

Coordination

Matching is so last century. Coordination, on the other hand, is in....your chance to be creative. So, how to coordinate without matching? Start with a color group/category, ideally one that fits the season for your session: pastels for spring, earth tones/deep jewel colors for fall, neutrals for either one. Choose two basic complementary colors for a family of 3-4 (three if a larger group) in various shades (light/medium/dark) to mix with neutrals. Mom usually concentrates on the rest of the family, then is stuck finding something for herself. Try choosing your outfit first....something that makes you feel amazing and confident....then base everyone else's off of that.

Colors

Light reflecting from clothes in bold bright colors can cast that color on your skin. White pants will be the first and primary focus of the image. Black can be a bit severe, but in a minimal amount coordinated with various shades of grays and creams it can work.


Styles

Dads are often most comfortable in jeans or khakis, and both of those go with everything. Long flowy dresses are flattering on virtually any mom/daughter. (Just be mindful of excessive billowing from possible wind gusts. Slight movement in portraits is good....puffing up, less desirable.)

Patterns

The "no plaids/stripes/florals" is not intended to be a strict unbreakable don't. However, a camera lens does crazy wavy things with stripes/checks. As with most "rules" moderation is the key. One person in the group with a small pinstripe/check, muted plaid, or dainty floral isn't a deal breaker. Using that pattern to select coordinating solid colors for the rest of the family can also be helpful. We're not hardcore anti-pattern....however, logos and characters on clothing can be quite distracting and draw attention away from the faces, taking away from a beautiful moment in a peaceful scene that we are trying to capture for you to have forever.

Layers/Textures

It's hard to over-do textures. Having some family members in woven fabrics (like cotton, linen, etc.) and some in knits, gauzy material, lace trims, leather, etc. is a good way to add visual interest, even in the same color. So is adding a casual vest/blazer or sweater/denim jacket for one or two people in the group, when appropriate for the seasonal weather.

Note:

Sweat stains, underwear lines/bra straps, wrinkles, etc. are time-consuming, difficult, and often impossible to adequately photoshop out.

Prepare Ahead

You can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress by trying everyone's clothes on them several days in advance instead of an hour before session time. Have them stand, sit on a chair, and sit on the floor. Can they breathe, can they comfortably bend their arms and legs completely? Does the baby/toddler's diaper stay covered when you pick them up/hold them without constant tugging and rearranging the shirt/pants? Do you have to keep hiding a bra strap? If something doesn't fit or someone doesn't like their outfit, finding that out ahead of time will give you another opportunity to pull it all together without rushing.


When you think you have it all figured out, lay them all out close to each other and take a quick cell phone picture of the whole group of outfits. When you look at the picture, do you love it? Does anything jump out at you that needs to change? Is there too much of one color? Too "busy?" That's what you'll notice in your finished portraits too. Give yourself time to tweak until it looks cohesive and pleasing to your eye.


Still not sure?

When in doubt, the internet is an amazing source of information and visual inspiration. Google "family photo session wardrobe" and you will see pages and pages of perfectly coordinated sessions with detailed explanations of why this set works or that's a distraction. We are also here.....feel free to send us that pic you took of your selections.