What to wear for a family photoshoot
One of the questions I get asked a lot once a shoot is booked is what each member of family should wear. Of course, there isn’t a simple answer to this however, I generally share a few do’s and don’ts about what is best.
So, the do’s and don’ts of what to wear for a family photoshoot are:
What you are comfortable in
The most important thing for a photo shoot is to be comfortable, not just in your clothes but in general. You don’t want to spend the whole time pulling your trousers up higher or your top down lower to avoid belly exposure. Equally, you don’t want to be constantly adjusting the kid’s clothes if they aren’t sitting right or trying to persuade them to keep on an item of clothing that they don’t want to be wearing. Also, think about what you plan to do during the photoshoot, if you think you will be rolling all over the floor having tickle fights, for example, a dress might not be the best choice! If you are not comfortable in the clothes you are wearing this will either show in the pictures or you will be reminded of the discomfort every time you look back at the images in years to come!
What you would wear to go out for Sunday lunch
If you want to dress up a little then a good guide to use is to wear what you would wear if you were going out for a nice Sunday lunch. Again, it’s something you would be comfortable in but not too over the top. Of course, if you are having your shoot at home, you might want to just wear your everyday clothes – jeans and a jumper for example. The important thing is to remember not to look out of place. If you are looking for photos of you doing painting with the kids, then sitting there in a beautiful, expensive dress might look a bit odd.
Weather appropriate
If you are looking at having all or part of your shoot outdoors then consider the weather. A summer dress is not only going to look a little strange on a cold winter’s day but again, this will show in your face and posture. If you spend the whole shoot freezing, you won’t enjoy it and that memory will be the first thing you think of when you look back at the photos years later. Equally, you don’t want to be too hot and have bright red rosy cheeks!
Read also: How to Prepare for a Relaxed Family Photoshoot at Home
Layers and texture can add interest to a photo
Layers can be a great idea for a family photoshoot as they can add a subtle additional interest to your photos. This also has the benefit of removing or adding a layer if you get too hot or cold. An easy way to do this is simply adding a cardigan or scarf to your outfit. Clothing such as jumpers can be great for adding texture, which again can add a subtle interest to your images.They are my main ideas for what to wear for a family photoshoot, so here are just a couple of ideas of what to avoid…
Clashing colours and patterns
At least a few days ahead of your shoot, think about how the whole family’s outfits are going to look together. Make sure to avoid any colours that might clash or ones that will drown out others. Bright neon colours for example are going to really stand out in the photo and will be the first thing someone looks at. Equally, if anyone has any strong patterns these will really stand out so best to be avoided where possible.
Too Matching
A lot of family photoshoots feature the family in very matching outfits or colour palettes. If this is what you are after then absolutly go for it, it’s fine by me. However, families don’t usually wear matching outfits every day so consider if this is what you want in your final images.
Bold prints/logos/images
Similar to clashing patterns, any bold prints, logos, words or images on clothes will be really distracting. You don’t want the first thing you see when looking at your photos to be the Nike logo or a gorilla face!
One final tip..
Once your outfits are chosen, all stand together in front of a mirror and see how you look! This will enable you to check that no ones clothes are too dominating, drawing the eye more than anyone else, or clashes or matches too much.
As my style of photography is authentic and natural, I don’t like to state too many rules about what you should wear. Ultimately, you don’t want to look at the photos and think that you or the family look any different to how you would generally. However, I appreciate that when you are investing time and money into photos, you want to look your best and be happy with the final images.
I hope these general ideas for what to wear for a family photoshoot have helped, if you have any questions you can email me at hello@rebeccamorganphotography.com
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