How to dress for a photoshoot? Answering this question can be a very intimidating thing. As a woman, each time we have family pictures taken, I stress over what everyone will wear, laying clothing all over the bed, often purchasing new clothes for everyone but me and usually leaving myself for last. The night before becomes a flurry of activity as I try exhaustively to determine the perfect outfits, and honestly, it becomes a much more stressful event than it needs to be.
Choosing clothes for a photoshoot can be an exciting thing! What you wear to your session plays a big part in the success of your finished portraits. It is also a way for you to show off your family’s personality. It is important that you and your family feel great and happy about your outfits. Its even ok for Mom to pick out her outfit first and plan everyone else’s around it. I want to help you navigate this with a little more clarity and hopefully excitement.
Some things to consider as you plan clothing for you session:
- Do you look good individually and collectively as a family?
- Does it fit your family’s personality? Some families may choose a very bold pallet, while others may choose a more traditional, neutral one.
- Do the colors and style work with your home decor, as you will want these photos to become part of that decor?
- Does the style of clothing match the location choice? Formal wear in a barn may look awesome for a graduation shoot, but not as much for a family session.
Now for the outfits!
Clothing is a reflection of your personality and it’s your time to shine! The outfit you choose should be something that you feel comfortable in; something that you will not be pulling at or adjusting the entire time. Textures, layers, rich colors (even just a pop) and acessories look awesome in photos and help to bring out your personality. Accessories can also be put on or taken off for an entirely different look. For children, accessories may include the boots your son wears around constantly or the skirt you can’t take off your daughter! Let’s include these memories!
Used from The Dark Room Blog
The goal is to create a cohesive look, while still allowing everyone’s personality to shine. One way to accomplish this is to start with a color palette – this may come from colors you love, the colors in your home or maybe Mom’s outfit choice. From there you can develop each style individually, while still maintaining consistency.
General Suggestions as you choose your clothing:
- Avoid matching! Instead choose a color family and build from it.
- Light colored clothing and shirts with large logos or characters typically draw attention away from the face, and should be avoided.
- White generally does not photograph well. If you want to use one color, try black. It looks great in photos and tends to be slimming, as an added bonus.
- Mini skirts or short shorts are almost always a bad idea!
- 3/4 sleeve length or longer shirts with a square, v-neck or scoop neck are the most flattering for women.
Take these suggestions and work with them for YOUR family! Ask your kids what clothes are their favorite to wear and why. Include them in this process of capturing these memories and moments in time.
For more ideas on family color palette ideas, visit my pintrest board or for clothing ideas for women, check out this board.