W A R D R O B E + S T Y L E
Deciding what to wear for your photo session can be a daunting task. What styles look best? What colors should we wear? How do we look pulled together without being too matchy-matchy? Follow these 4 tips to navigate the process of choosing your wardrobe.
1. Pick a Color Scheme
Coordinate everyone’s clothing at once, so no one sticks out. Lay all the options out and then narrow it down from there. It’s best to pick 2 or 3 colors to work with and then add in some neutral items and use a variety of textures, patterns, and accessories to tie everything together.
Choosing one patterned piece to be a focal item is a good place to start—a floral dress, plaid shirt, or patterned pants are all great staring points.
Once you have a focal piece selected, pull colors from it for the other outfits—and don’t be afraid to add more than one pattern!
2. Pull it Together
It’s helpful to think about how all the colors of your outfits will be distributed.
If your colors are navy, rust, and tan, make sure there is a variety in how these colors are used across the top and bottom portions of the outfits. If everyone wears navy pants and tan tops, there will be a strong visual line separating the top and bottom half of the picture.
The biggest culprit here is having everyone wear jeans and a solid-colored shirt. Instead, add in other silhouettes—dresses, skirts, longer jackets, overalls for kids, and patterned or colored pants are all great options.
3. Style it Up
Now that you have your color choices selected, the next step is deciding what style of clothing you plan to wear.
Well-fitted pants in a neutral color or dark denim jeans look great on the bottom with closed-toed shoes. For a dressier look, pair with a button down and sports coat on the top. You can add a henley or well-fitted solid shirt on top for a more casual look.
Both dresses and skirts photograph well, especially flowy dresses and midi or maxi skirts with a bit of movement. Heels elongate the leg, but your comfort comes first—go for a heeled boot or wedge sandals for a stylish and comfortable option.
Remember to avoid clothing with graphics or logos, which can be very distracting in photographs.
4. Final Touches
Now it’s time to accessorize!
Accessories such as necklaces, earrings, headbands, belts, and hats will help tie everyone’s look together. Remember to consider all the little details.
If you like to have your nails painted, match your manicure and pedicure to your color scheme or keep it neutral. Your shoes and socks will be in some photos—make sure they’re clean and match your color scheme.
Steam and iron any wrinkly fabrics and don’t wear anything that easily wrinkles on the drive to your location.
Most importantly, make sure you wear something you feel comfortable and confident in! This goes double for kids—uncomfortable shoes and scratchy fabrics will make them miserable during the photoshoot. Make sure little ones are comfortable for best results.
Color Schemes + Inspiration
