10 TIPS TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT OUTFIT FOR YOUR SHOOT

Choose your palette first

Pick a palette of 3-4 colors. Let this be your starting place. Think in terms of tones: blue tones, earth tones, neutrals, pastels, etc. Everyone in the family can express their own sense of style within the chosen color palette, and the whole group will coordinate beautifully.

Use the color wheel

I love using the color wheel when I help my clients decide what clothes will look good in our chosen photography location. Most of the time, I’ve scouted the location ahead of time so I have an idea how I want to use the spot and the colors available there. For my seniors who bring several different outfits, this can be really fun. There are many ways to use the color wheel when deciding what to wear for photos, but one way I love is to use complementary colors. For example, in the color wheel, yellow and purple are directly opposite from one another so are considered complementary. I can use those two colors (both in the location and my client’s attire) and I know my results will be beautiful!

Choose neutral clothing.

For at-home newborn or family photos that are typically taken on the big bed, I always recommend wearing cotton t-shirts, linen pants, no shoes, and loose and comfortable clothing. Staying neutral in a bedroom setting keeps the photos simple and soft with the focus on the connection and emotion between people. And don’t forget about the bedspread! If it’s really bright, has a distracting pattern, or maybe it’s a little drab, take it off and stick with light-colored sheets instead.

When families have no idea what colors to wear for photos, I suggest wearing any combination of cream, gray, and tan. It is pretty hard to mess that up and looks good in almost every setting, especially dried-grass fields which are readily available in the fall. The result is a monochromatic look that I love. The soft neutrals always bring the focus back to the people in the photos. This timeless look is easy to pull together, and (bonus!) dads love looking comfortable and not all dressed up.

Use muted colors.

Since my work is more about feeling and less about style, I advise my clients to keep it simple and clean. I like the focus to be on the emotion and connection of the family. Subdued colors, solids, and muted prints work well for that. Skip logos and words as they draw the eye. Babies and toddlers look adorable shirtless and in just a diaper.

I’ve found that muted tones look beautiful together in a family picture. When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t pull attention away from the main subjects, and only put one person in a pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos of some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, and knits.

Choose colors from your home.

Many of my family photo sessions take place in the comfort of the home. I tell my families to dress to coordinate with their home. Is your home light, bright and airy or moody and dark? What colors do you decorate with? What style do you lean towards? I also tell people to dress with no logos showing and muted colors, if possible, to enhance the timeless feel.

Opt for monochromatic.

Dress monochromatically to match your location. Sounds crazy, right? But here’s a few reasons why this can make for interesting portraits. Dressing to match your location puts the focus on the face because everything else is benign, so to speak. It forces the viewer to break down the details in the photo since they’re looking at variations of a single color.

Shop at the same store.

Make coordinating family photo outfits easy by shopping at the same store or brand. It’s especially helpful when there are multiple children to dress. Just this spring.
The colors not only coordinated with my dress but coordinated with each other as well.

Add a pop of color

I love to make my clients pop in the frame with bold colors. My work is filled with joy and happiness so adding cheerful colors to the mix can complement the mood so well! I ask them to pick only one or two happy colors and use some neutral details (white or grey) to tame them a bit. They get bonus points if at least one family member is wearing some sort of geometric pattern. I’m a huge fan of stripes but polka dots are also a great choice in my book!”

“Don’t be afraid of a little color! You don’t have to go overboard, but picking up bold colors from a more subtle outfit for a pop of color can look amazing. For example, if dad is wearing a plaid shirt, draw one color from it and have one child wear a pop of that color.