The Dos and Don’ts of Dressing for a Family Photo Shoot
The most common question I get from clients who are preparing for a family photo shoot is “What should we wear?” I’ve been photographing families for over a decade, so this is an easy question for me to answer. I’ve broken it down into some simple dos and don’ts:
Do:
Choose 3 or 4 coordinating colors for the whole family.
Work with what looks best on you. A palette with handful of coordinating colors gives family members some flexibility to choose what looks best on them, while still allowing the photos to appear cohesive.
If your skin has yellow undertones, choose warm, yellow-based colors like chocolate brown, olive, tomato, gold, peach, emerald green or ivory.
If you have pink undertones, aim for cool shades like blue, purple, hunter green, pastels, shades of berry, or white.
Wear clothes that are somewhat tailored to your figure—whatever your size.
Accessorize! A hat, jacket or scarf can be easily added or removed to change up your look.
Iron your clothes. Please. I cannot effectively edit clothing wrinkles out of dozens of photos.
Have fun with kids’ clothing; they’re only young once! Bring a tutu or dress-up wear. If you want to capture their free-spirited nature, let them dress themselves.
Don’t:
Ask everyone in the family to wear the same color. This causes everyone blend together in photographs, and frankly, it’s a bit cheesy. How often do you go out in public wearing the same clothes? Choose a palette that’s flexible enough to support your family members’ differences in taste.
Use caution when wearing horizontal stripes and loud patterns, as these can widen your silhouette and are sometimes distracting.
Wear baggy clothes to cover your shape. Oversized clothes often have the opposite effect of the intended outcome and make people appear larger. Instead, wear clothes that are neither too snug nor too loose.
Try anything new with your look just before a shoot, such as spray tans or eyelash extensions. Experiment well in advance so you can moderate your beauty routine as needed.
That’s about it! I encourage my clients to text me photos of their planned wardrobe prior to a shoot, if they want a second opinion. If you have other questions about preparing for a shoot, feel free to check out my Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact me directly.