What to wear to your family photos

Little details like location, time of day and outfits can have a huge impact on the overall image but I never want you to feel stressed or overwhelmed while making those decisions. So these are a few of the top things I always recommend you keep in mind when it comes to choosing your outfits for the whole family. I have broken it down into 5 categories you may want to consider when making your decisions. 

1. Colours
2. Material 
3. Weather
4. Location
5. Details (such as accessories, hair & makeup)

When choosing colours, think NEUTRAL & EARTHY. 

When choosing a colour pallet for your outfits I recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright and bold colours, it helps keep the attention on what matters most; you and your connection with your loved ones. I would avoid characters and logos for the same reason, it can be a distraction. Also keep in mind if these are images you plan on displaying in your home you may want your clothing choices to reflect your decor and style preferences. It’s important to coordinate but not necessarily to match.

When choosing material, think TEXTURE & MOVEMENT.

Some of the best images are images you can feel, the more movement and texture in an image the more elements are there to draw you in. Some of the best materials for creating movement are: tule, chiffon, satin, and fringe. When it comes to picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t pull attention away from the main subjects, and usually the rule of thumb is to only put one person in a pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give your photos dimension such as lace, corduroy, denim, and knits.

The WEATHER and your LOCATION should also be considered. 

When choosing what to wear you need to think about the story you want your images to tell, your location is the foundation of your images, the setting of the story if you will. Think about some of your favourite places in the world, the locations that hold some of your most treasured memories. What comes to mind? Is it your family cottage on the lake, your backyard, or the beach? Wherever you are happiest, let’s go there! Keep in mind when shooting outdoors the weather is a big factor and Maritime weather is known to be unpredictable. I encourage you to embrace whatever weather comes our way. I pride myself on using the elements to my advantage and will shoot under almost any weather condition, that being said, this is about you. I want the entire experience to be enjoyable and will happily move your date to accommodate the weather in your favour.

It’s all in the details!

When it comes to accessories you want them to make a statement but you don’t want them to be a distraction. That being said, I do encourage you to have fun with this, adding accessories is an easy way to introduce different textures. Scarves, hats, belts, wraps, necklaces … this is a fun way to show off your individual personality in an aesthetic way. 

Hair and makeup are strictly for experience and overall confidence. If you want to remove the stress of getting ready on your own, consider booking an appointment for professional hair and makeup. It looks amazing on camera and you can focus on relaxing and enjoying your session. Especially if you aren’t confident in applying makeup or doing your hair, this is the time to treat yourself! I am always happy to make recommendations on local artistry’s and stylists I trust. 

Ultimately comfort is key, and don’t let any of these suggestions steer you from wearing any outfit that gives you confidence and feels like you. This is your story, write it your way. These are just friendly tips based on my editing style and experience.  That being said I know it can still be stressful so I am always just a message away, feel free to contact me for any styling help along the way!