What Should I Wear to my Photo Session?
Hey all,
Whether it’s family photos, senior portraits, engagement/couples photos or a maternity session, that question comes to mind right? Even if you don’t ask your photographer, I know it’s somewhere in that lovely brain of yours. I mean, I know it’s definitely in mine when I have photos done, so I know that my clients have asked themselves that same question. Seeing all these gorgeous photos all over the internet, ads on TV or YouTube, hanging in people’s houses & I can’t help but think how much did they spend on clothes? How long did it take to plan those outfits? Where did they even buy them all? Are they comfortable?
Un-popular opinion coming at ya:
Unless you’re planning a themed shoot, please don’t worry about it too much! I know that photographers have ‘client closets’ or suggestions, or they send out a detailed letter when you book a shoot about advice on what to wear & whatnot, but seriously dudes, this is supposed to be a good, fun, experience. I’m not going trying to inditmiate you & tell you that you can only wear certain colors because it makes it more aesthetically pleasing. Yo, WE ARE HUMAN. I tell everyone to wear something they are comfortable in! I don’t have a preference of what color tones or patterns you wear, if that’s what you want to wear, cool.
I tend to tell people to avoid neon or super bright colors and anything with graphics. These are super hard to edit and can take away from the whole image. Flowy dresses and tops are always great, even nice, clean t-shirts and jeans. If you’re having some trouble, shoot me a text with some pictures and I will help!
If you need help, I will help guide you. If your kids need help chosing an outfit, please guide them in a good direction (they can’t go in their underwear, unless that’s planned lol, & maybe don’t let them totally pick out their outfit if they want stripes, plaid, & polka dots.) But their favotire dress, totally! Their overalls that they love playing in the mud with, awesome!
Little backstory here: We have had family photos done where one of my daughters wore a headband with kitty ears & I love them! Another time, (pictured below) my other daughter wouldn’t put her Blippi waterbottle down because she was uncomfortable (like in Big Daddy when ‘Frankenstein’ won’t take his sunglasses off because they make him invisible'), we still have those hanging up on our gallery wall in the dining room. Btw, that waterbottle was bright orange & blue-so didn’t match anything, BUT it avoided tears, frowns, & stress, so it was worth it to have that ugly thing in the photos lol!
If a dude ALWAYS wear a hat (cowboy hat, baseball cap, trucker hat, etc.) & they want to wear it in the photos, go ahead. If your toddler doesn’t want to take off their jacket or put down their Minnie Mouse stuffy, let those things be in the photos. I’d much rather it be REAL than uncomfortbale or have all these photos with uncontrollable crying (I know those dudes love their hats lol!).
& same goes for teenagers! If they have a certain style, I can guarantee they will be (& look) uncomfortable in all the photos if you force them to wear something out of their comfort zone-like a button up shirt or suit or some old-timey, dated get-up.
Obviousy you can see above, all three dudes are wearing hats & guess what?! It didn’t break the photo! Shocking, I know. In fact, I think they look great & it suits them! I know all of them would’ve been uncomfortable if they were asked to take them off & that would show in the photos. Also, little man didn’t want to put his Lion King blankie down in the last one, so instead of tears & tantrums, we opted for the blankie to be in the picture.
If you want my advice on what to wear, I will gladly give it! If you cant decide between a couple outfits, send me photos and I’ll let you know what I think you should wear that will be good for the photos. I know a lot of you don’t think with a “photographer brain” & that is totally ok! That’s why I’m here!
If you do want to do the matchy-matchy thing, cool. If not, that’s cool too. These are your photos, not mine, not anyone else’s. YOURS. I’m just here to click that button & capture you AS YOU ARE, right now, in this season in your life, & all the REAL moments that happen between you & your fam.
As always, if you or anyone you know needs a photographer, let me know by filling out the contact form to get the process started!
