I’m not sure I realized how overwhelming it is to figure out what to wear to a photoshoot until I scheduled a session with a fellow photographer friend and I had to figure out what to wear to a photoshoot! I spent hours looking at outfits for me and Brian. So, in an effort to make it so much easier for my clients and for everyone on the internet struggling with this same problem, here are some helpful tips for what to wear to a photoshoot for the whole family!

Colors: Before every session, I always tell my clients to wear light colored neutrals. However, neutral is a lot more broad than most people might think! It can mean yellows, blues, pinks, greens, etc. To me, neutral means that the color is a bit softer and more muted. Really bright colors can reflect light, and really dark colors can make the whole image appear darker. Neutrals are the way to go!

Patters: I think also once I say the word ‘neutral’, patterns are shied away from. I’m alllll about a good pattern. I think though, similar to neutral colors, they need to be a bit soft. I.e. not busy. Chunky gingham, wide stripes, and soft florals will all look amazing!

 

 

For women: I always think a flowy dress looks so pretty and flattering in photos. Something I always look for in a dress when I’m having photos taken is that it emphasizes my waist a bit. Boxy dresses can look funny at certain angles (on me at least!) so I always aim for a good fit and flare. I also always look for sleeves! I can be self conscious about my arms in photos (who isn’t though) and a bit of a sleeve always makes me feel more confident.

 

Dresses

 

For Men: You can’t go wrong with a button down, kakis, and dress shoes. My best advice is to have every piece be slim fitting! When we booked our photo session, Brian had all of these items but they were all loose fitting and it wouldn’t have been as flattering in photos. When looking at pants, opt for a slim fit and same with shirts!

 

Mens

 

For the kids: This is where things can get tricky when you feel like you’re trying to match multiple outfits with certain colors and patterns. The best thing to keep in mind is that no one will be paying attention to who is in what, as long as it all looks cohesive. It’s actually best to mix it up a bit so things aren’t quite so matchy-matchy. Here is a family session where they all had different but cohesive outfits.

 

Kids

 

Where to shop: H&M and Gap are great budget options, especially for men and for the little ones. For dresses, I love Red Dress Boutique, Lulus, or Rent the Runway! Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack is of course great for investment items that you can wear for years.

If you’re unsure about what to wear to a photoshoot for the whole family, don’t hesitate to reach out to your photographer! I always encourage my clients to text me with any questions and to feel free text me photos of what they have in mind! It’s always so helpful when you and your photographer are on the same page and everyone is feeling good and excited for the session.

Most importantly, wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! I always know a dress is the dress when I try it on and I just want to smile and twirl around because it makes me feel happy and it makes me feel good. On the more practical side of things, your photographer might ask you to sit, kneel down, or walk a bit to the location so it’s also super important that you are comfortable in your outfit!

My goal with any session is always that whoever is in front of my camera feels comfortable, relaxed, confident, and is having fun.

For even more inpso, check out this Pinterest board I curated with family photo outfit ideas!