One of the most commonly asked questions I’m asked as a RI family photographer is, “What should we wear to our photo session? How should we dress?” In fact, it’s usually the first question clients ask after booking a session—or sometimes it even comes up before then!

It’s natural to want to look your best the you get your photos taken, and it’s also natural to stress out about your family’s potential wardrobe choices—but you don’t have to once you know the basics! In fact, you may already have clothes in your closet that you can wear to your next session. You don’t have to automatically run out on a shopping trip (not that I’ll stop you!)

The most important point to remember when dressing your family for their photo session is to coordinate but not be “matchy”. You DO want to look cohesive. You DON’T want the whole family to wear the same outfit (think those 90’s photos where everyone wears white t-shirts and jeans).

So how do you coordinate without being matchy? There are a few ways. One is to pick one main color and have each member wear a version of that color (for example, each family member above is wearing blues of some sort). Other pieces (skirts, pants, etc) should generally be neutrals. In cooler weather, layering is often necessary for warmth. You can still keep with your color scheme even with layers. For example, dad can wear a plaid shirt with a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath in one of the colors from the plaid.

Another option is to pick two complementary colors (along with one or two neutrals if needed). This family is a GREAT example of that! You can see that they look amazing in yellows and blues, with white added in as well. You can pull together complementary colors in fun ways, like mom wearing a blue dress with a yellow beaded necklace.

What if you choose to have a styled Special Edition Princess session for your children, using the dresses from my princess closet?

Well, that means the wardrobe heat is largely off you (with the exception of helping your little ones choose their dresses…no small task when there are so many to choose from!)

I have a number of dresses in various sizes and colors that coordinate well with each other whether you have two, three, or even more princesses.

What if you’ve got a princess and a little guy or two? I’ll help you decide on the best outfit for your guy(s) to look just as awesome as their sister. I usually suggest khakis and a button-down in a color that complements the dress nicely. Want more swagger? Add a fun bow tie, or a pair of checkerboard Vans!

So what are the things you definitely want to avoid when choosing outfits for your next photo session? Here’s a short list:

No t-shirts/clothing with logos
Simple patterns are OK (plaid, or a simple pattern like the cardigan on the mom in the first photo in this article), but avoid busy/complicated patterns.
Athletic shoes and sneakers are discouraged.
Bright red and bright pink/fuchsia do not photograph well, and can also cause undesirable reflections on skin. These colors should be avoided.

Your photo session should capture your family looking their best…without having to stress! These tips will help with that so all you have to worry about are the smiles.

Want more info on a session? Get the client guide!