What should I wear to my photo session?

I have had some questions before “Sam, what should I wear to my (engagement, family, child, etc.) session?!” While I want you to wear what makes you feel most comfortable being photographed in, I do have a few suggestions if you’re looking for great outfit ideas that fit well with my style of shooting and editing, as well as some tips of things you’re going to want to avoid wearing to your session.

Engagement Sessions

I do a  lot of walking with my engagement sessions. It is likely that whatever location we choose for your session, it will be a hike, or long walk to the best places in the area. You’re going to want to bring comfortable shoes, even if you change into something a bit more fancy once we arrive to the spot we will be shooting.
I love long dresses! The way they move is just visually intoxicating. There are so many photo opportunities that will show movement, and thus emotion through your photos.
Short dresses are beautiful too! I love lace accents, sheer parts, and cut-outs, but I also love simple dresses too. Plain pastel dresses and floral prints that aren’t too loud will draw more attention to you in the shots we take.
You’ll want to have your man dress up some too. Dress pants/khakis (not cargo pants/shorts) with a nice, plain colored, coordinating color button-up shirts are a classic look I like for men. Jeans can be good too depending on location and the look we are going for. Please ask your significant other in advance to avoid baseball hats, sunglasses, and tennis shoes (unless we have a more themed-session). Keep in mind that you’re not going to want to match perfectly. You shouldn’t wear the exact same color for formal engagement photos, or it gets a little one-toned. If one of you wears a print, the other should probably wear a solid color that goes with the print, maybe by borrowing one of the colors. If you choose to both be solid, wear colors that complement one another rather than focusing on matching the colors.
Avoid heels if you’re not acclimated to wearing them on a regular basis. If you feel uncomfortable during your session, it will show in the photos.
Avoid any neon colors because it will cause a color cast, usually on your face, chest and insides of your arms, and will turn your skin bright neon colors in those areas that the color reflects on.
Wear something for the season. You’ll want to stay bundled and warm if it is chilly (bring a blanket if you’d like!) and if it is hot, you may want to wear something a little more airy. For fall sessions, plums, mustards, creams, and autumn colors go great with the foliage, and spring and summer can always do with some fun pastels.
Wear something that you can bend in, and feel comfortable with the amount of skin you are showing. We will do a lot of fun poses, and I want to be sure we have all the areas covered!
I aim for a very classy, classic, timeless look that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come!
Here are some of my favorite looks!

Family Sessions

For outdoor family sessions I do tend to shy away from the typical jeans and a plain white t-shirt. You’re coming to have your memories captured, and want to preserve the memories of your actual family, which I am sure is anything but plain!
You will want to wear something comfortable that you can move around in. (If you have small children, we will all be on our toes that day!) Wear something that reflects who you are and complements your body type. I want you to walk up the day of your session with so much confidence, knowing you’re ready to rock it!
If you do not normally wear heels, please do not wear heels. We will be walking a lot, and chasing children. It will show in the pictures if you are uncomfortable wearing shoes you are not used to walking in. If you purchase new shoes just for your session, try to “break them in” in advance to avoid being uncomfortable in them.
Dress for the weather. If it is going to be cold, you may want to bundle up, especially for the kids. If the forecast shows it will be warm, maybe wear something a little airy.
For fall sessions, plums, mustards, creams, and autumn colors go great with the foliage, and spring and summer can always do with some fun pastels.

Try not to wear hot pink, neon yellow, or other neon colors. The way the light hits these colors, it usually reflects back to your face and will show in the pictures. You’re wrangling up the family for these photos, which is no easy feat sometimes. Let’s make sure that small things like shirt colors don’t throw off their perfection!

I like color coordination. If you have a very large family, you can more easily get away with different prints and colors, but you’re going to want to go for a similar color scheme, without matching perfectly. Mix it up with solids and prints that go together. Not everyone should be wearing the same color and not everyone should wear a print. Change it up with different looks, dresses, dressy shorts, nice pants, etc. But if someone wears jeans, no one else should wear khakis or dress pants. It may not, but I personally feel these are two different styles, and if we want to go for a more relaxed look, jeans are great. If we want to go with a more spiffed-up look, we can go the dressy route.
Think about what you want to do with the photos. If you have a wall already planned to hang them or a special card you would like to send out, think of how you want it to look, and the themes or colors already associated.
Send me a message to discuss wardrobe! I have no problem helping you set a color scheme for your family pictures to get the best from them!
Ultimately, I want these photos to reflect who you are rather than what you are wearing, and the less distracting the outfits, the more we can focus on your love together as a family.
(Note: Some photos below are of cousins, mother and daughter while dad stood to the side, etc.)
Here are some of my favorite family outfits:

Child Sessions

Children are a different story when it comes to matching. Sometimes kids can get by with more than the full family having the exact same outfit. Just like all sessions, though, I tend to lean away from neon colors and bright white, due to the effect it has on changing skin tone and brightness in the camera.
Be sure the clothes you put on your little one fit them before the session. A outfit a little snug can directly affect their mood and an outfit that is too large can fall off of them.
If you plan to print these photos for birthday invitations and have a theme, you’ll want to choose an outfit based on what you want to match with your cards. If you want to use the photos to be printed on your walls, keep in mind the colors your home is already decorated in, or the theme of the room you will be hanging your art in.
Showcase who your little one is with their wardrobe, because you’re going to want to remember all the tiny fingers and toes, and all the things they got into!
Some of  my favorite outfits from child sessions:

Senior Sessions

Seniors are always a toss up. If you’re a senior and you play sports, are in clubs or organizations, have special hobbies, or other interests, you’re going to want to bring some attire that will help show off what you’re into. Feel free to bring uniforms, team t-shirts with logos, or any props that you’d like to include in your session.
Please wear clothes that will go along with your school’s dress code. I like to stay conservative with my seniors.
I like to do at least one dressy look with seniors, meaning to bring out the dresses and ties! If you’re not into ties, wear a button up with slacks (or just do it anyway because your mom will appreciate it)!
I also like to do a casual look, maybe jeans and a cute top. Something that you might wear to school on any random Tuesday.
The rest of the outfits if you choose to bring more, feel free to have them reflect who you are.
Avoid neon colors.
Don’t be afraid to go wild with accessories. Hats, jewelry, purses, fun shoes, etc. will help bring out your personality. Bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes to change from until we get to the location of choice.
I like to pair locations with the outfits the seniors wear.

I hope some of these tips helped you on choosing your session’s wardrobe! I have some very fashion-forward clients!
If you would like to discuss outfit options with me, feel free to contact me in the most convenient way for you!

 

 

 

 

 

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