Family sessions are such special times! Yes, they may be a bit hectic at time, but they are capturing memories of your children at whatever stage of life they are in right now, and that is precious! But choosing your outfits for your session? That can be a little stressful. Here are some tips to help you out!
Choosing Your Outfits-For Mom
This is a fun time to purchase a new dress if there’s something you’ve been eyeing, but pulling something out of your closet, works too! (It just may not be quite as fun.;)
Say yes to the dress. I recommend choosing long, flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Maxi (or floor length) skirts and dresses will give us the best “twirl factor,” and add variety to your session. Midi skirts photograph beautifully as well. My clients who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one of each! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress (or skirt!) or two! You won’t regret it!
Adding Accessories. Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Whether it’s a belt, hat, vest, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be really cute as well!
Choosing Colors. When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter, neutral tones and more muted shades. Bright, bold or neon colors are distracting and take the focus away from where it should be: YOU! And how much you love each other 🙂 You can never go wrong with light neutral colors like cream, taupe, camel or light gray. The camera loves shades of soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light-colored neutrals. That softer, more pastel-leaning color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments –– and especially complements the West Texas background!
Coordinating the Look
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match.” In fact, I recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through.
If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, if one of your daughters wears a dress and flats, the other can wear a skirt and boots, if that’s more of her style. If one of your sons wears a bowtie, the other can wear suspenders. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring even more visual interest to the photos.
For Him
Choosing colors. For colors, I recommend neutrals and soft, warm tones that complement your look. When selecting your pieces, I recommend choosing a different “weight” for the pants and coat. So for example, navy pants (darker) and a gray coat or sweater. Or gray pants (darker) with a soft powder blue shirt (lighter).
Tops and Bottoms. You can’t got wrong with a nice button-down shirt and slacks for your man. Add on a suit jacket or sports jacket, and you have yourself some very classy photos. While this would be my first choice, if you choose to go with a more casual look, nice jeans with a button down shirt still looks sharp!
After getting your family all dressed up, I recommend going out after your session for a nice meal! You’ve earned it!
Want to see more tips for your family session? Check them out here!
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