I want to just start this by saying that in my life, my every day getting ready to exit my home and enter the world life, I have a hard time getting dressed. I have been this way since I was a small child. Depending on my mood, or if I had enough exercise, or the right amount of sleep, would determine if a particular outfit would “feel right.” While I mostly can get out of the house looking fairly put together these days, sometimes I still have this problem. Putting outfits together can put me in a downright spiral, does it feel too tight, too loose? Is there a scratchy tag? Does the color of the shirt match too much with the shoes? Not enough? Does the vibe of the pants correlate to the top? Am I putting too much thought into the outfit? (probably) Am I overdressed? (usually, especially in Maine.) So please believe me when I say I know how you feel trying to dress your family for photos. I GET IT. It is not easy, but I want to put some guidelines out there that can help when getting ready to head to our next photo session.
First, take a deep breath. Your photos are going to be beautiful. The first step in getting us there is making sure you are wearing something you are comfortable in that you can breathe in. Is the dress you want to wear a bit too tight? Then, for the love of God, wear something else. Use this as your permission to go buy something that feels amazing. Because you know what doesn’t feel amazing? Clothes that are a size too small, and guess what else? You will forever look at your photos and remember how uncomfortable you felt. So, be kind to yourself, wear something that feels good.
Mom First! I recently read an article where the author suggests Mom getting her outfit together first, then plan everyone around that. This is brilliant advice and I want to use it. Moms: get your own outfit put together first, everyone else can fall in line with corresponding to you.
Please, I am begging you, don’t wear all the same matching outfits. There was a time and place for that. We have moved on. Instead…
Use a color palette to help make outfits. Think of warm colors vs cool colors or neutrals with pops of contrasting bright colors. There are even color palette tools online that can help with this. Don’t be afraid of color! In fact…
Don’t wear more than one black garment. Black has underdyes, some photograph more yellow, some more blue. The sensor on a camera can pick up on all of this, creating conflicting shades of gray. Wearing a whole black outfit can photograph a bit distracting, so I urge you to pick and choose when it comes to black clothing.
Accessories. Photos are a great time to really do it up. Wear the jewelry, grab a scarf, you can always take it off it feels like too much.
Layers. This gives you multiple options without needing to have big outfit changes. Mix and match and give yourself a bunch of options with a few simple layers.
Textures. Cameras and light love texture. It can add so much dimension to a photo.
Details make it special. Having professional photos taken is kind of a big deal. It certainly isn’t something you do every day, and the photos are going to be ones that you print in a book or hang on your wall. Now is the time to get sentimental. Wear the special things that hold memory. Did someone you love knit your baby a special sweater? Let’s put it on them for at least a few shots. Is there a piece of jewelry that you maybe don’t wear every day, but was a gift from someone who you hold dear. Wear it.
Lastly, there are no rules. Fashion is about expressing your most authentic self and feeling good in your clothes. I have photographed people who break every “rule” and look absolutely amazing doing it. So, just be you.