What to Wear to Your Family Portrait Session
Wear something you would dress in for a really nice dinner. You can also do a more casual look with jeans and a dress top.
I recommend sticking to solid colors (tiny patterns don't photograph well), and for women, using accessories like scarves or jewelry for accent pieces. Bold jewelry, scarves, and shoes photograph well!
Men
Think very nice dinner. That means no polos or t-shirts. Also avoid writing and logos, unless it’s your favorite shirt and there’s an inside joke about it that you both agree should be documented. :)
Please come clean shaven, if you don’t wear any facial hair. While I can easily remove any razor burn or cuts in post-production, removing stubble or a 5-o’clock shadow may need to be done by a retouching specialist.
Ladies
Don’t bring a purse, if you can help it. Unless it’s part of your props, or even your bag to carry your props in, you probably will not want to worry about where to set your purse as we walk around the location taking photos. You might want to bring a small lipgloss or lipstick with you, but most women I have worked with haven’t needed to touch up their makeup.
Most women I photograph choose to show off their beautiful locks - and I highly encourage this. To help you out the day of your photo session, try using a little hairspray on long bangs that might fall into your face from the side (don’t pile it on though, we want you looking natural!), or bring a backup hair tie in case there is some wind. Occasionally a slight breeze will blow hair in the way, but don’t worry, we’ll work around it and make sure your hair looks great in your photos.
Kids
If your daughter or granddaughter is wearing a dress, add on some tights or leggings. That way if she squirms or crawls around, and her little dress gets out of place, the photos are still useable. :)
Think Color Palettes.
Coordinate, don’t match. Choose colors that make you look alive and bring out the best in your features. If you are pale, stick to deep colors like navy, maroon, or forest green (not pale pink, white, etc).
Avoid having a single person in a contrasting outfit, meaning a very bright white or red shirt - they will stick out much brighter the rest of the group!
Try your clothes on first (everyone!) and double-check in the mirror. Look for any problem areas and choose outfits that flatter you from all sides. While bra straps, low-cut shirts, or logos can usually be edited out in Photoshop after your session, the extra work will delay your finished photographs, and may cost extra. Plus, you need to be comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing. If you love your clothes, you’ll be more relaxed and your photos will turn out even better!
