Don’t Stress About The Dress…

Here are some tips to help your portrait session be a stylish success!

Deciding what to wear in family and couple photos can be challenging. Afterall, these are the images you are likely to hang on your walls or display in heirloom albums and most certainly cherish for years to come. It can seem intimidating when planning your outfits but it doesn’t need to be. Use these tips to help you pick out the perfect wardrobe for you and your family.

Tip 1

Coordinate your colors.. don’t match them exactly.

Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. Instead, pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme.

Tip 2

Don’t know where to start? Look at your home decor.

Since you will be displaying these photographs in your home, consider choosing colors that compliment your home decor. Don’t choose bright colored clothing if your house is decorated in neutral tones.

Tip 3

Avoid all white or all black clothing.

Wearing white shirts and blouses typically wash out skin tones. If you are wearing an all white shirt then be sure to accessorize it with jewelry, scarves, vest or ties to help break up the white. Cream is a great alternative. The same applies to all black. While we may think it flattering to wear all black, your eyes tend to go to the mass of black first, detracting from the rest of the photo.

Tip 4

Speaking of accessories…

Accessories not only add to your outfit but they can be fun to use in photos. Have the man wear a bow or neck tie to hold, chunky necklaces for the kids to play with or hats to hide behind. In cooler temperatures, scarves not only are the perfect accessory for keeping warm, they add great texture.

Tip 5

Textures are your friend.

Consider adding textures like knitted scarves or chunky belts, faux fur vests or tweed jackets to create a little more depth to your outfits. Don’t shy away from different textures.

Tip 6

Limit patterns.

However, do shy away from everyone wearing a different pattern. That’s not to say everyone has to wear solids, but similar to coordinating your colors, you’ll want to coordinate your patterns. For example, if mom is wearing a delicate floral print sundress, then daughter can a bold printed skirt and solid top in similar colors to mom’s dress. This is the one area that seems tricky, so we’ve included some samples below for inspiration and guidance.

Tip 7

Hands and Feet

Don’t forget the mani/pedi! Don’t panic! We won’t make you take your shoes off, unless your session is at the beach, but do make sure everyone’s hands and fingernails are cleaned and trimmed.

Last but not least…

Be true to you!

Wear what you like and be sure it fits well. Baggy clothes do not flatter anyone in photos. Alternatively, be sure you can move and bend comfortably in photos.. Short skirts might make it difficult to sit on the ground for certain poses

Outfit Inspiration Guide for Couples