What to wear to your photography session | A visual style guide

What should I wear to my photography session? Whether it’s an in-home newborn session, an outdoor family photo session, or an at the beach maternity session. This is a question that almost everyone asks after they’ve booked in a time to have their family photographed. I know this too well after having my own family photographed last year and the time and effort I put into thinking about what everyone would wear is a bit embarrassing to admit.

I also need to admit two things. I’m not naturally a fashionista and I’m a closet Pinterest addict (I guess it’s not closet if i’ve just admitted it on the global internet)… but the reason I love Pinterest so much is because it’s visual!! So I’ve attempted to bring a bit of Pinterest to this post for you by adding visual examples of what photographs well and hopefully it will you visualise and get inspired about your own family’s ensemble as we go.

Photos are an investment and personally with the effort it takes me to get a photo up on my own wall, I want it to be there for a long time! So a great idea is to think long term with your outfits and think classic and timeless. Your outfits are just the supporting act while your connection with each other is the main story we want to tell. Obviously everyone has their different take on what to wear and what not to wear, so this is just my take on it - a quick google on the subject will bring up all sorts of opinions from not wearing pastels, to always wearing long pants and sleeves (neither of which I will advise the latter particularly in the Townsville climate 😂)

So to start off a few things I would recommend you steer away from when picking your outfits:

• Avoid Large Logos, Graphic Tees or Character Tees (these are all just distracting from your beautiful faces)

• Avoid over powering patterns (yeah that tropical shirt hubby wore on last year’s cruise might have to stay in the closet ;))

• Avoid neon, fluro, and other super bright colours (pops of colour are ok, but a solid tangerine shirt will be jarring in a photograph)

• Avoid large items of solid black (if you can) as this can dominate the photo making it harder to process in post

• Avoid trying to make everyone match - coordinating yes! but matchy matchy no ;)

The above are just a few things to avoid, and in turn your images will have a more timeless and classic feel. Now what can I wear you might ask?

Here are a few tips to not only help you look and feel great but also will help create some special unique images that you will love for years to come.

• For a classic and more minimalistic look aim for solid coloured shirts or dresses or subtle patterns.

• For a more eclectic look don’t be afraid of layering complimentary patterns and textures.

• Pick a colour vibe and enjoy freedom to mix and match colours within a wider scheme (ie. neutral, pastel, muted, autumn, spring etc) have fun expressing your family’s personality with your palette and don’t get stuck feeling like everyone has to wear the same colour

• Add textures and accessories - muslin, linen, cotton, chunky knits, wooden buttons, straw hats, lace shawls, flowy dresses, flannel shirts, leather boots, bare feet, braided hair all of these things add personality and look great in photos especially when there are a few things layered together (a lace shawl over a flowy dress with a statement hat? yes please!) or perhaps for a newborn session baby is wearing a beautiful soft onesie wrapped in a muslin swaddle on a crocheted blanket.

• Most importantly relax have fun and be you!

So with those few don’ts and dos out of the way the following is a bit of a visual guide with explanations of what I liked from each session. I hope you feel inspired!

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