Here are some suggestions on what you can wear or do!
1. Choose your color palette first
When deciding what to wear for photos, 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.
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 soft neutrals always bring the focus back to the people in the photos as well, and (bonus!) dads love looking comfortable and not all dressed up!
BUT don’t be afraid to dress up in formal clothes, especially for an engagement session.
Its also a good idea to keep your session location in mind when choosing your outfit. If your session is happening in a city setting, dress up a bit with a pair of cute heels etc. If you’ve selected a more natural environment, choose something a bit more casual such as a maxi dress and opt for casual footwear like flat sandals or boots.
2. Use the color wheel
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. So results will be beautiful!
3. Do not match, coordinate
Avoid wearing all white shirts and blue jeans. Instead, pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme.
4. Mix solids & limit patterns
It is good to have outfit in the mix that has all the colors in it. However, not everyone in the photo should wear patterns as it can make the photo too busy. When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t pull attention away from the main subjects. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, and knits. For example, mom can be in a solid red dress and dad can be in large stripes.
5. Look for clothing collections/shop at the same store
Keep comfort first for everyone! When shopping for kid’s clothes, try stores that typically have color coordinating collections or same brands. You can then purchase clothes for all the children from one store and know their clothes will coordinate and hopefully get the parents as well.
6. Skip the logos/Say no to characters
Yes, your little one may love their Car or Marval shirts, but you may want to skip it for the family photo session. Just like patterns, characters on shirts can be pretty distracting.
7. Look at your home
Is your home light, bright and airy or moody and dark? Neutral? What colors do you decorate with? What style do you lean towards?
Since you will be hanging these photos in your house (Most likely) you want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home. Photo sessions that take place in the comfort of your home. I tell my families to dress to coordinate with their home.
8. Avoid all white, all black, or all florescent colors, but have a little pop
If you are wearing an all-white shirt, then it is very easy to blow out parts of your shirt causing it to lose its detail and can blow yourself out. Same can be said with all black, you can lose the details and it can make you look darker as well. The same thing happens with super bright colors, and they also tend to put color casts on your face, turning your skin the color of your shirt.
Don’t get me wrong I love to make my clients pop in the frame with bold colors (a little pop), I love the joy and happiness that it can bring to my clients. So adding cheerful colors to the mix can complement the mood so well! For example, I ask them to pick only one or two happy colors and use some neutral details (white or grey) to tame them a bit. Or for another example, if dad is wearing a plaid shirt, draw one color from it and have one child wear a pop of that color (Pop of color can help the subject pop against a neutral background).
9. Use your go-to outfit
I’m all about being who you truly are. I tell my clients to think about being the best versions of themselves. Now that does not mean going out and purchasing new outfits. In fact, I always advise to look in their closets and pull out the outfit that is their favorite. Everyone has a go-to outfit that they choose when going out with friends, the outfit that fits perfectly and makes them feel fabulous.
10. Keep it simple and comfy at home
For at-home newborn sessions (which are typically taken on the bed and at your home) or family photos, I always recommend wearing cotton t-shirts, linen pants, no shoes and loose and comfortable clothing (you can keep this in mind on any photo shoot). 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.
11. Accessorize!
Accessories not only add to your outfit, but they can be fun to use in photos. Adding a scarf, necklace, cute hats, belts, all add texture, fun, and personality to your photos not to mention it is an easy way to add color or to tie colors together.
12. Highlight your best asset
Wearing something that highlights your best asset during your session will give you a boost of confidence throughout the shoot that will definitely show in your final images.
13. Do not forget about the shoes
If you’re not the type of family who likes being barefoot, be sure to keep your footwear in mind. Nothing will throw your look off more than a ratty old pair of shoes.