OUTFIT ADVICE FOR YOU NEXT PHOTO SESSION
So you have your session booked and you’ve chosen your date and location. Now what? Now comes one of my favorite parts— outfit planning. Many of my clients reach out with questions on this so I thought I’d compile some tips and tricks here. All this being said, please don’t stress about it. You can even have some fun with the planning, I like to think of this part as a creative outlet, and a way to let your family’s personality shine through. A lot of people think they need to splurge on all new outfits for the family, but keep in mind that you have plenty of great options in your closet already. And most importantly, wear what makes you feel happy, confident, and comfortable.
1. Choose your Color Palette
I recommend choosing 3-4 colors to base your outfits around. Mixing neutrals with earthy tones tends to look best. Where do you get your inspiration? I feel most inspired by fall foliage and golden hour, so you’ll notice a lot of neutral and earthy tones in my portfolio!
Location
Urban
This family’s session was in downtown Seattle, so they opted to stick with neutrals and dress formally! I loved how the outfits popped against the neutral and gritty vibes cityscape background.
Outdoorsy
If an outdoorsier location is a better fit for your family, don’t be afraid to dress the part! I love how plaid looks in front of PNW backdrops, and the rich and vibrant colors look great against earthy tones.
In-home
Neutral and muted tones with pops of color tend to work great for newborn lifestyle sessions. And for you new moms, pick something you are comfortable in!
Accessories
Don’t be afraid to add accessories like scarfs, hats, bow-ties and blankets. These items not only add a little personality to your photo, but they give you something to hold on to, something to sit on, and something to keep you warm! My client to the right was a little unsure if she should wear the hat she brought, but when I saw her in it, my jaw dropped! Same with the little man and his bow-tie. For the session below, I loved how the blanket added a casual touch and providing nice framing.
Patterns
Try not mix too many plaid or pattern outfits! Choose one outfit with a pattern (or two of the pattern is subtle from afar,) and the rest of the outfits should more be neutral and solid, with pops of color.
Newborns
I always recommend having out a few muslin swaddles at the beginning of our session. This material is loose and stretchy and looks so timeless when photographed. And it keeps them calm! As the baby gets comfortable, I’ll start unwrapping the swaddle and getting more photos of her arms, feet, etc. And if you have a fussy baby, I always recommend getting the outfit on ahead of the session, or saving the outfit photos until the end! Color wise, I tend to like neutral and earthy tones for newborn sessions. And don’t be afraid to mix different textures and colors, like the image below!
Toddlers
Choose something your kiddo loves wearing and something that you will love to look back on in the photographs! This family dressed their daughter in denim overalls, and when I arrived at the shoot, I just about melted. I mean, aren’t they always in style?
MaTERNITY
If you’re open to wearing a dress for your maternity session, I highly recommend it. There seems to be a style for all personalities, whether you typically dress more casual, formal, or flowy. And in the photos, a dress will really makes your bump pop!
Large Groups
Try to stick to a color palette, earthy tones look great! And if you’re mixing solids and patterns, I reccomend choosing two or three colors. This family chose blue, green, and neutrals, and while several of them were wearing patterns/plaid, it looked great since they were not all next to eachother.
I hope you found this blog post helpful! If we’ve got a session coming up and have more questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email, or text some photos of your options! I'd also be happy to send my Pinterest board for more outfit inspiration. I know outfit planning can be stressful at first, so remind yourself that you likely have plenty of options in your closets already. And most importantly, have fun with this! Outfits are such a great way to express yourself and add personality to your photos.