What do people tell us the most stressful part of a photo session is? Planning the outfits.
“What should we wear?”
The good news? You don’t have to overcomplicate it. The goal isn’t to look like you’re all wearing matching uniforms, it’s to look like yourselves, just a little elevated.
After photographing families for more than 15 years, here are my biggest recommendations.
Start With Mom’s Outfit
I always recommend choosing Mom’s outfit first.
Let’s be honest, if mom looks and feels good, the vibes are high. The moms usually care the most about loving the photos and she needs to look like the queen she is. Once you’ve found something you feel beautiful and confident in, use those colors and textures as inspiration for everyone else.
Instead of matching everyone exactly, coordinate.
Think complementary colors, varied textures, and outfits that feel cohesive without looking overly planned.
Long Dresses Almost Always Photograph Beautifully
If you’re wondering what photographs best…
Long, flowy dresses are hard to beat.
Movement adds so much life to images. Whether you’re walking, picking up your little one, or twirling with your kids, longer dresses create beautiful shape and softness that simply doesn’t happen with shorter styles.
Bonus: they’re flattering on just about everyone.
Try Everything On Before Session Day
This is one tip that saves so much stress.
Please don’t wait until the day of your session to discover:
- the dress is see-through
- the pants don’t fit quite right
- your child’s shoes are too small
- Dad hates the shirt
- something is uncomfortable
Try every outfit on, including shoes and accessories, a few days before your session.
You’ll feel much more relaxed knowing everything is ready to go and if the pants are falling off your toddler, you’ll have time to find something that fits.
Don’t Panic About Wrinkles, Dirt, or Spills
This one surprises a lot of people.
Kids are going to be kids.
Someone will probably sit in the dirt.
Someone may spill a drink.
A dress might wrinkle in the car.
It’s okay.
I can fix just about anything in photog
I’d much rather you relax and enjoy your family than spend the entire session worrying about keeping everyone perfectly clean.
One Thing I’d Skip: Puffy Vests on Babies & Young Children
There really aren’t many clothing “rules”…
But if I could eliminate one item from family sessions forever, it would be puffer vests.
They’re adorable in real life.
They’re not so adorable in photographs.
The high, bulky collar constantly rides up and blocks little faces whenever children look down, turn, cuddle, or move—which they do approximately every three seconds.
If it’s chilly, layering with sweaters, cardigans, jackets, or cozy knits photographs much more beautifully.
Coordinate
Gone are the days of everyone wearing identical outfits. I have a family photo from when I was in 4th grade. My mom, dad, brother and I all have on head to toe denim. I love me a Canadian tuxedo, but not my entire family all at once.
There are times when matching works. For example, these brothers are in the exact same outfit. It’s simple, clean, timeless and was a great choice for this in studio session.
Think of your outfits as pieces of the same story.
Choose a color palette of three or four complementary colors and mix in different textures and patterns sparingly.
Creams, soft blues, sage greens, warm neutrals, dusty pinks, camel, denim, and earth tones tend to photograph beautifully year after year.
Wear Something You Feel Like Yourself In
The most important tip of all?
Wear something that makes you feel confident.
When you feel good, you stand differently.
You smile differently.
You relax.
And that’s part of the recipe that creates the photographs you’ll treasure for years to come.
Still Not Sure What to Wear?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Feel free to send outfit ideas, inspiration photos, or even pictures from the fitting room. We are always happy to help you narrow down options and make sure everything works together beautifully.
The less you have to stress about what to wear, the more you can focus on what really matters…making memories with the people you love.
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