Ah, the most frequently asked question of frequently asked questions to photographers! What do I wear to my family photography session?! Well, after years of collecting scientific data on the subject (just kidding, this is all just from experience), I’m here to offer you some photo session wardrobe advice, along with some photos from my recent fall photo sessions, so pin away!!
10 Tips for What to Wear to your Family Photo Session
- Dress in clothes that match your family’s personalities. If you love to dress up and go out for a night on the town, and you have a child that loves to wear a suit or frilly dress, then go fancy. If you are really laid back and flannel and thermal shirts are your thing, that’s really cute, too! Most families fit somewhere in that spectrum. Do your thing.
- Choose outfits you’re comfortable in. Make sure everyone’s clothes fit properly and are not requiring constant adjustment. Don’t wear clothing that wrinkles easily, unless you’re okay with the wrinkles in the photos or want to pay extra to have them digitally lessened/removed. Make sure your bra strap doesn’t keep slipping out and shirts don’t gape open at the buttons when seated.
- Think about where you’ll be displaying the photos. I love hanging our family photos all over our house. It’s a visual reminder to our children of how much we love them and care about them, and it also makes our house into a living museum of our lives. So many memories on display! So, if you’re going to display your photos in your home, match the outfits to the room where you’ll be displaying them. This really makes a difference in bringing together all of the design elements in your home.
- Avoid bright colors… unless you love bright colors. I go back and forth on this one. As you can see from the photo under #2 above, red is a really striking color to use in your photos. The drawback to red and other bright colors is that it draws attention to your clothes and away from the family interactions a bit and also can reflect onto the skin of the people you’re with. However, there’s a reason this is point 4 and not point 1. It’s more important that you love what you’re wearing and it fits your personality. I love the dress the woman above wore, and I love the way her family photos came out. I also have the tools to remove color casts from skin, so it worked out!
- If you love black and white photos, go high contrast. I recommend wearing all light colors or all dark if you know you want to display your photos in black and white. Here are pics of my family from Iceland this summer where I planned for us to wear all light colors to contrast with the black beach for amazing black and white images.
- Don’t forget the shoes and accessories! I always have to go shopping last-minute for my children’s shoes for our photo sessions because I always forget, and they usually only wear sneakers. Also, there’s nothing like a great hat, a pair of suspenders, or a cute headband to complete an outfit!
The final touches on your outfits… - Watch that watch! Do you really want to wear your watch in your family photos? Yes, if it’s a piece of jewelry. No, if it’s constantly lighting up with incoming text notifications.
- Empty your pockets. Pocket bulges from phones and car keys don’t ruin a photo, but they sure do make your pants look silly!
- Remove the hairband from your wrist. Unless you’re a VSCO girl. Sksksksks and I oop!
- Finally, you’re never fully dressed without a smile! Brush AND floss your teeth! Pass it along. Oh, and throw out the gum. You do not want to have to ask your photographer to remove plaque buildup and gum from between your teeth. Can you imagine?
Need more help deciding what to wear to your family photography session? I made a Pinterest board just for you! Browse through colors that coordinate well together and get some inspiration for cute accessories as well.
While you’re on Pinterest, check out more of my family photography boards and pin them for your next family photo session! Would you like to schedule a family photo session with me? Yay! Check out my family photography portfolio, check my availability, and contact me today!
