Choosing the right outfits can really enhance the experience of the family photoshoot as well as elevate the look of your photographs. Family photoshoots are an investment of time and money, so planning out your family’s outfits is something well worth doing. Here are a few tips to help guide you in planning out your outfits:
Comfort
It’s not uncommon to feel the urge to wear a spectacular outfit for a photoshoot. But before you pick out something sparkly new or that outfit you’ve been waiting to wear for a special occasion, make sure that it’s something you feel comfortable in and you can move around in without having to adjust your outfit.
MUMS: Choose an outfit or style that you already know hugs you in the right places, that you can move well in, that is the right length for sitting down shots or when you are lifting and picking up kids.
DADS: Choose shirts that are comfortable to lift and pick up kids. Shirts you don’t have to worry about creasing or riding up. Choose weekend wear rather than opting for business shirt which may be too formal. Collar-less shirts tend to be more comfortable and brings to the photoshoot a sense of casualness and fun. If you go for a collar shirt, choose them in softer, casual fabrics.
BABIES & TODDLERS: Choose outfits that don’t need frequent adjustments when they are being thrown in the air or picked up. Have nappy covers or bloomers under dresses or skirts. Note that if you choose to put them in pants and shirts, it’s best to have shirts that don’t ride up when they are picked up, and sometimes pants can slide down and show nappies. Rompers, overalls or all in one outfits are great as they don’t move around and covers nappies. The less time we need to spend adjusting the clothes the more spontaneous the photoshoot will flow and result in more natural photos. Also something to consider is shirts with collars or dresses with too much ruffle or puffy sleeves can cover their little faces, so sometimes choosing casual or simpler outfits are the way to go.
Appropriate to the location and season
If you are doing a photoshoot in cold weather, layer up. If you are doing a photoshoot at the beach, it might be a good idea not to wear heels. If you know you’ll be walking heaps, wear appropriate foot wear. If you are doing a photoshoot in your home, casual comfy clothes might seem more natural than putting on formal wear.
Colours
Choose a colour palette that is timeless, works well with the photoshoot location as well as where you’ll be using your photos like the walls of your home. For instance, earthy, natural tones and subtle prints work well with any backdrop and the colours and aren’t too overpowering to distract the focus on you and your family or clash with your home’s decor with family photos displayed in the home.
Not sure where to start? I usually suggest picking out the outfit for one person first and then everyone else’s outfits to complement that. Lay out all the clothes next to each other to see if the colours work. For families it’s best to keep your colour scheme limited to four colours.
Also consider the colours of your backdrop and how your outfits work with that.
Complementary colours: Colours that look incredible together, are called complementary colours. They complement each other and create a visual harmony.
Analogous colours: Analogous colours are similar tones of colour, and can be quite soothing to the eye. Think of the jungle and all of the lush variations of green, or the ocean and the infinite hues of blue.
What not to wear: Avoid all wearing the same outfits or being too matchy… it can look like you are wearing a uniform and also looks unnatural. When multiple people wear the same colour, sometimes their matching outfits blend together so much that you can’t really see any of them properly. The viewer can’t tell where one person begins and another one ends. In order for the aesthetics of your photograph to really sing, you want to find complementary outfits that showcase a variety of colors, textures, accessories, patterns, and tones. Complement the other people in the photograph as well as your surroundings. The idea is to have everything look good together without everything looking the same. Avoid large, bold patterns, neons and logos as they often don’t photograph well and are visually distracting.
Incorporate texture, movement and interest
Consider textures such as linen, lace, courdory and knits… they create interest and give your photos that something special. Flowy dresses with lots of movement can liven up your photos when you move and can be tossed around with and played with… not to mention how beautiful the photos look when a bit of wind picks up the material or afternoon Sun glows through it. Stiff garments look great in posed photos, but for candid and moving shots, can make it awkward to move and may require a lot of adjusting throughout the photoshoot.
Combining layers and textures create more visually interesting photographs, it also preps you for all sorts of weather conditions, too! Think jackets, cardigans, hats, scarves, jewellery, flower crowns. These can be added or subtracted in the photoshoot to help create a few different looks and interest.
Please note that having phone, wallets or keys in your pocket can create a bulge and can be visually distracting in the photos. So I would suggest putting everything in a bag and you can leave it with me during the photoshoot.
Extended Family Photoshoots
If you have opted for an extended family photoshoot, ensure that all the outfits still complement within smaller groups as well as in a larger group.
Get Inspired
Pinterest is a great place to get some ideas for your colour palette and to see what already works well. You can check out some family photoshoot outfits that I have pinned here:
And of course you are very welcome to chat to me about ideas, send through some pics and ask for suggestions. You are also very welcome to bring a couple of outfit options so we can see which would work best on the day.
I hope this guide has helped you, I can’t wait to see you and your family at your photo shoot.