Here are a few tips to help you decide what to wear to your outdoor family photo session.
#1 What is your home decor style?
The first thing to consider is what style is your home decor.
If you have a light bright sleek modern home, then a large portrait of your family wearing pops of colours will look amazing on your wall.
If your home has a Scandinavian light and airy feel, then portraits of your family wearing whites and pastels will enhance the relaxed feel of your space.
If you have a warm cream and brown earthy theme in your home decor, then wearing creams, tans, and burgundy will create portraits that look great in your home.
If you don't have any themed colours or styles in your decor, then choose from the photographic style in the next tip to determine your wardrobe for your session.
#2 What is your photographic preference?
If you prefer the Fun and Casual look (see examples below), then pops of colour will work well.
Pick two to three colours that are flattering for everyone, then go through your wardrobes to find clothes that have those colours in varying degrees. Lay everyone's clothing next to each other's on the bed and have a look to see if anything clashes. It is good to have a pop of colour somewhere.
Avoid black. Black clashes terribly with the green background.
If you prefer the Light and Airy look (see examples below), then let your hair down, wear white (or pastel) flowing dresses, and celebrate that spring feel.
If you prefer the Warm and Romantic look (see examples below), then choose clothing that is soft, with lots of texture. Flowing cotton dresses, wool wraps, soft cotton shirts. Warm and earthy colours such as creams, tans, browns and burgundy will all work well.
A fun way to put together a colour scheme is using a fashion planner like https://urstyle.fashion/create which allows you to drop clothing next to each other to see how they look.
#3 Well Fitted, Soft, & Comfortable
Go to your wardrobe and pick out one or two base pieces you really like. Dress in the style you're most comfortable in. Avoid anything too stiff and formal that will hinder your movement when playing with the kids.
Choose soft knits, cottons, or flannels. Soft fabric photographs better than stiff fabric. Clothing with textures (chunky knits, tulle, lace, fur, etc.) photograph particularly well because they add interest to your photographs.
For women, clothing that accentuate the waistline tends to be more flattering.
For men, wear what you're most comfortable in. For photographs, I prefer t-shirts, soft cotton shirts, or jumpers because they're softer and don't bunch up. But if you're more comfortable in shirts, then wear a shirt. Shirts look better when they're not tucked in at the waist.
For your children, please choose clothing that is not too big or too small, so that they look comfortable. Please avoid clothing made from stiff fabric, as they tend to bunch up when your child is sitting down. A good test is to ask your child to sit on the floor with her legs crossed (kinder-legs) and see if her clothing bunches up in an unflattering way and whether the collar rides up to cover your child’s neck & shoulders area.
Make sure your children have worn the clothing you planned to photograph them in at least a few times before our session, to make sure they’re well fitted and comfortable. Children can sometimes be upset by tags or stiff fabric rubbing against their skin when they wear new clothes for the first time.
#4 No Big Words, Big Faces, Or Neon Colours
Avoid big words like 'Gap' or 'Nike' splashed in huge letters across a shirt. Your eye will go straight to these words.
Avoid big cartoon characters faces on your children's clothing, they will draw attention and dominate your photograph.
Avoid super bright neon orange/green/yellow (the type of neon colours on high-vis or sports clothing), these super-strong neon colours will clash with just about everything.
#5 What About Patterns?
Patterns are great! But please make sure no more than two people in the family are wearing patterns.
Start with your favourite patterned dress, what are some colours in the patterns? Use those colours to co-ordinate the clothing for other members of your family.
#6 Dress in Layers
Why? Because this is Melbourne. There could be four seasons in one hour!
Plus, layering brings a lot of texture and allow you to add colours and patterns to create a more cohesive look.
Layering also allows you to wear your favourite summer dress in the cooler weather by adding a warm coat/wrap/cardigan, paired with leggings and boots.
#7 Glasses
If you wear glasses that turn dark outdoors, please bring a pair that is non-transition, or be willing to take them off for photos.
If you have multiple pairs of glasses to choose from, please choose the pair that has anti-glare coating. The AR Coating reduces the reflection on your glasses and makes them look more attractive. If you're not sure which pair has anti-glare coating, simply face them towards a window and choose the pair that is less reflective.
#8 Shoes
Please wear sensible shoes, as we will be walking through the park. (Stilettos may not be a good idea.)
Do feel free to wear sandals if it completes the 'look', but please be willing to put up with a little bit of wet & squelchy grass if it had just rained.
Make sure your children are comfortable wearing the shoes you have prepared for them. Some children may get very agitated if their shoes are too big, too small, or too new.
#9 Accessories & Props
Hats, scarves, wool wraps, fairy wings, etc. can add a bit of flair to your images, but make sure your accessories go with the 'feel' of your style. For example, over-sized sunglasses for kids look cute in photos that are 'fun and casual', but they feel out of place in photos that are 'warm and romantic'.
Please don't force your children to wear something they're not comfortable in. For example, a loose hairband that slips off constantly will become quite annoying for your child; a baby who isn't used to wearing beanies will try to take it off.
Please keep in mind that we will be moving and playing, running and spinning, so please be willing to remove any accessories that impair movement.
If you have props that you would like to bring, please take photos of them and show them to me ahead of your session. That will help me plan them in with my session flow. I can also give you my honest opinion as to whether or not they will look good in your photos.
#10 Getting Ready
Make sure all the clothes you want your family to wear for your photography session are washed and put aside one week prior, so no one will wear them the week before your session and get them dirty.
The night before your session, lay all the clothes out, including accessories, ready for the next morning. Pack your bags with everything you want to bring the next day: water bottles, snacks, props, etc. Put the bags by the door or in the car so there's one less thing you have to worry about in the morning.
Allow extra time to get dressed and ready in the morning. If you're worried about kids getting breakfast on their 'photo-clothes', you can put an oversize top over the clothes that act as a big bib to catch any drips and crumbs. :-D
If our session is in summer, put sunscreen on before leaving home, so that it has time to sink in and won't make your skin look oily in the photos.