The photograph on this post is my own family from our session last year with the talented Sara Lally Photography. I have to tell you I get a bit obsessive about picking outfits. I had entirely different outfits planned for our session. The session was at the end of October, so I had sweaters and cooler weather clothes all picked out and ready to go. But at the last minute I knew I could not put my family in sweaters when it was in the high 80s that day. So these outfits were not necessarily my first choice, but the photos still turned out great! So lesson learned, be prepared for different weather situations!
If you are unsure what to wear to your family session, you are not alone! This is a common concern for families (especially mamas!). Generally you want something that will photograph well and you feel comfortable and confident wearing.
Tips for Everyone
The first priority in my opinion is choosing something you will feel good in! You want to look and feel confident when you're having a bunch of photos taken. A couple of years ago, I wore a sweater and jean to my own family session. It was fine but I was a self-conscious of where the sweater hit. I kept pulling at it and this was obvious when I got my gallery back. You can see in more than one photo I am pulling it down. So wear something that you love!
Speaking of feeling confident, wear something that fits you properly. You want clothes that fit you well. I know from personal experience it can be hard to change sizes, but if you need to in order to feel comfortable, do it!! I promise I (and nobody else either) will know the size on the tag! Wear what fits you well and makes you feel spectacular.
Personally, I am not in to being too matchy. You want your family to coordinate, not be dressed exactly the same. Choose colors that complement each other rather than everyone wearing the same color. I recommend finding a color palette you like to help you choose colors. Also, keep in mind the look you want in your photos. If you like a light and airy photograph, it will be hard to achieve this when wearing dark colors.
When choosing outfits, select a more classic style. You want to look back at it for years to come and love the photos (not wonder what you were thinking when you chose those outfits). Think more neutral and muted colors. Not all print is bad, but be selective when choosing outfits with a print on them. You also don't want everyone's outfit to have a big print on it because they will likely clash in the photo.
Consider adding layers and clothing with texture. Having texture and movement in your clothing choices adds depth to your photos. It makes them dynamic and beautiful to look at it.
I recommend choosing cream or off-white if going with white. I know what you are thinking, you are wearing white in your family photo. Which is true, but I made a last minute choice and a cream or off-white probably would have been even better.
Smart Watches.... To be honest I am torn on this topic. To wear the Apple Watch or not? This is of course a personal decision, but you may not want your clunky smart watch in your classic/timeless photos. Last year, I took mine off and you can see the tan line. The tan line drives me a little nuts, but it's probably better than the watch. (This year I have tried to remember to strategically take off my watch so the tan line isn't so bad.)
Avoid logos, neon colors, athletic shoes and other "loud" choices that will distract from the photos.
I recommend looking on Pinterest for some Inspiration about styles you like that work well together. Then you can go shopping with some ideas in mind.
Moms
Mama, pick your outfit first! You are likely going to have the strongest opinion about what you want to wear for your session. So pick your outfit first and then build everyone else's outfits around yours. I recommend choosing clothes that have some movement to them because they tend to photograph well.
Also, consider the age of your children when picking your outfit. If you have little one's you may not want something as short or low cut because you will be picking up your kids, bending down, your kids may pull at it, and you will generally moving around more. If you have a little one who loves to pull your necklace and earrings, you may want to reconsider that for the session.
Kids
For the Kiddos... I love choosing my son's outfit for a photoshoot. There are so many adorable kid's outfits and I use my photo session as an excuse to buy a nicer outfit I wouldn't normally put him in. Kid's outfits are a great place to add a pattern if mom chose a solid or to choose a solid if mom went with a print.
Consider the session location. During the session, I will likely prompt the little ones to run around/play to keep them having fun and smiling. So I recommend the outfit be cute but still practical for movement and play.
Keep it simple. Let your child's natural beauty shine.
I do not recommend any character clothing or shoes, neon colors, large brands, athletic shoes, or other items that may take away from seeing your child's gorgeous face!
Dads
Generally, you can pick dad's outfit last. Choose neutral/muted colors that coordinate with all the other outfits you have already chosen. The outfit should fit well and have enough movement for dad to be able to pick up kids and be comfortable in.
To Recap
When choosing clothes for your session, wear:
- clothes that make you feel confident
- clothes that actually fit
- light neutral/muted tones
- classic styles
- clothes with movement and texture
- colors that complement each other, not that match
- clothes that allow you to move around and be playful
Do Not Wear:
- logos
- character clothes
- bright, neon, or "loud" clothes
- athletic shoes
- smart watches
- ill fitting clothing
I hope this helps you know what clothes will help your photos really shine and be gorgeous! If you have questions or want a second opinion, let me know. I would love to help!
