Dress your best for your session with our top tips! We’ll help you choose comfy, stylish outfits that highlight your unique personality, with expert advice on colors and wardrobe. Your comfort and authenticity are key to timeless, genuine photos.
Choose your palette first
Pick a palette of 3-4 colours. Let this be your starting place. Think in terms of tones: blue tones, earth tones, neutrals, pastels, etc. Everyone in the family can express their own sense of style within the chosen colour palette, and the whole group will coordinate beautifully.”
Don’t match. Coordinate
Please coordinate, not match your clothing. Start with the youngest and pull colors from their outfit to dress and layer everyone else. Layering can make a huge difference in tying in all the colours. Using Pinterest boards for inspiration is your best-friend. Use it!
Choose neutral clothing
For at-home newborn or family photos which are typically taken in our studio, I always recommend wearing cotton t-shirts, linen pants, no shoes and loose and comfortable clothing. Staying neutral keeps the photos simple and soft with the focus on the connection and emotion between people.
Use muted colours
Since my work is a lot about feeling and less on style, keep it simple and clean. I like the focus to be on the emotion and connection of the family. Subdued colors, solids, and muted prints work well for that. Skip logos and words as they draw the eye.
Shop at the same store
Make coordinating family photo outfits easy by shopping at the same store or brand. It’s especially helpful when there are multiple children to dress.
Use your go-to Outfit
I’m all about being who you truly are. For me, that does not mean going out and purchasing four new outfits. In fact, I always advise them to look in their closets and pull out the outfit that is their very favourite. Everyone has a go-to outfit that they choose when going out with friends, the outfit that fits perfectly and makes them feel fabulous.
Fit your style to your location
Always keep your session location in mind when choosing your outfit. If your session is in a natural environment such as in fields, paddocks or tree’d areas , choose something a bit more casual such as a maxi dress, jeans and opt for casual footwear like flat shoes, sandals or boots.
Keep comfort first
My work is based on movement and playful behaviour. It will be difficult for a mum in a short skirt and high heels to play crazily with her kids or get messy so always think about being comfortable first. What you want to remember in 10 or 20 years isn’t how talented you were at styling your kids but how happy you were together as a family. Pick the clothes that will let you run freely and be blissfully carefree! If you love to wear jeans, don’t look further. They are comfortable AND photogenic.
Keep clothing simple
Choosing outfits in simple, bright colours can help the subject pop against a neutral background. Try to find dresses for girls that twirl really well and help to make them stand out without any distracting logos. Plus, having a little girl spin in a twirly dress helps to make her feel more relaxed and the movement looks great in photos!
Minimize patterns
Keep patterns to a minimum. Consider playing with textures instead. We want your family to be the star! The clothing should coordinate, not take over.
Use Complementary Colours
Gravitate towards rich, earthy colours complementing the natural elements around us. Please choose pieces that are timeless.
When choosing complementary colours, consider the colours in your location, too. For example, if you know there is going to be a lot of green foliage around you consider deep red for your families clothing. Dress in complementary colours, it’s a great way to not only make your images visually pleasing but separate you from the background.
Let hair move
I prefer longer hair to be left down to showcase movement. In the land of sunshine and rainbows we also have wind and breeze. Perfectly kept hair will not happen.
Accessorise!
Accessories give your photographs that needed punch! They lend pops of colour, personality, and interest. Everybody wears them well and they work for all ages.”
Overall
I encourage timeless clothing, to ensure that your photos do not outdate.
Lay out all your clothes and see if they look nice together. If ever in doubt I’m only too happy to give you advice. Here are my inspiration boards for Newborn Outfits and Family Outfits.
Feel free to bring along anything you might want to photograph with your child. If they have a favourite toy or blanket, they love tea parties or skateboarding, or even if they like dressing up as a fairy princess or a superhero… you will look back on this and remember with joy when they are grown!
Jess xx
