what to wear

FOR YOUR FAMILY SESSION

Thank you for booking a family session with me! As you plan for your photo session, you're bound to ask yourself "What should we wear?" Here are some tips to get you started: 

Specific Notes for Newborns and Babies

• We really want your baby to be a focus of the images, rather than their clothing. Please choose an outfit that doesn't hide their gorgeous newborn skin and little features. If weather permits it, sleeveless or short-sleeved outfits are best so that we can see their chunky arms. We also want to see their feet! Please don't hide those tiny little baby feet - they are SO adorable and I would love to capture them for you in your images. A simple white onesie does a great job of showing off your baby's skin and size, too!

• For parents with babies, we will want to see some skin-to-skin connection between parent and baby. Please consider sleeveless, short-sleeves, or three quarter length sleeves.

What to Wear for a Family Portrait Session

• Coordinating outfits work great but please do not feel like you have to match.  It's so nice when outfits complement each other but everyone's personality and style still shows through the choice of clothing they wear.

• When picking patterns, choose ones that won’t distract attention away from the main subject/s. Use patterns sparingly…. if one person is wearing a pattern, try to avoid putting someone else in a competing pattern.  

• When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc. However, try not to have too much denim, especially dark denim.   

• Avoid large logos, emblems and graphics like “GAP” and “Old Navy” because again, these will typically distract attention away from the subject.  We want your faces and emotion to show, not promote the clothing company you purchased from!

• Pick outfits that aren’t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come. 

• Layering is great and adds a lot of visual interest to your outfits. (Not recommended for parents with newborns).

• Comfort is key:  Make sure everyone is comfortable in what they are wearing, especially children.  Please make sure they try their outfits on and feel good in them. Outfits that have to stay just so during a session will be challenging to work with. Suspenders for boys are adorable but make sure they fit well. Remember that we want everyone's personality to shine through and this will be more challenging if children are uncomfortable.