Dress To impress

“Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it”

Before your nerves get into a fizz when thinking about what to wear to a family photoshoot, I have created this blog post to help you have an idea of what to wear, what’s going to suit your family while bring the best out of your photos. So congratulations you have done the hardest part by booking your photoshoot! I know dressing yourself and family on a daily basis is hard enough let alone standing in front of a camera SO before you lose sleep to late nights spent online shopping (guilty) – putting articles of clothing in your cart only to take them out again – let’s talk about what works and what doesn’t.

I’ll be the first to say it I have many clothes in my closet with the tags still on them it’s not uncommon for us to want to shop to buy something new to wear to our photoshoot. And that’s totally fine - if that’s your jam.

But let’s talk about comfort a little more. Do you think you’d be more comfortable in your favourite dress vs something new you haven’t worn?.

I’m a believer in choosing something that’s tried and true, something you know moves with you and hugs you in all the right places. Don’t get me wrong - it 100% does not have to be jeans and a t-shirt.

You can glam it up a bit more if that’s what you fancy. But if authenticity is what you’re after, you’re going to have to show up as yourself. And if you want to capture this time of your life in all its glory, then it’s about the feeling of being in your own skin.

Plan your outfits around what you know about the conditions at the location we’ll be shooting at. You’ll want to be warm enough (or cool enough!), have pain-free feet, and look relatively native to your environment. For at home sessions, slip into your comfiest comfies and rock that (pants optional). The idea is to authentically capture you wherever you are. Think through your clothing choices logically based on location, vibe, and comfort level.

Incorporating fabrics that move and flow with you adds soul to you photos. Ones that add a cosy texture, or get picked up by the wind, filter the late afternoon sun, and glow in the morning light. Linen, cotton, or wool give a natural laidback vibe.

I like to avoid stiff-seeming garments with collars as they look a bit too formal and often get tucked in weird spots and need adjusting.

Select the right shoes based on the location, and consider what you’d normally wear if I wasn’t following you around with a camera. Being barefoot makes sense on the beach, and boots are beautiful in the mountains.

My rule of thumb is to choose your colour scheme to complement your backdrop or contrast it. I like to keep the colour scheme to a maximum of 4 colour shades, I recommend choosing one person to wear a feature colour or pattern and have everyone else’s outfits complement that. Aim for neutrals, earthy tones, these colours compliment the outdoor environment almost anywhere you go and compliment my editing style. You don’t want to create the illusion of being your partners Siamese twin, when multiple people wear the same colour , sometimes their matching outfits blend together so much that you can’t really see any of them properly. Aesthetically, you want to find complementary outfits that showcase a variety of colors, textures, accessories, patterns, and tones. Complement the other people in the photograph as well as your surroundings.

Much like crazy patterns, clothing with writing or logos on it tends to be a bit distracting. We’re not getting paid for Adidas’ not-so-subtle product placement. However, if the logo or phrase is tasteful (read: not tacky), in theme with the shoot, and fits your personality, I’m all for it.