Deciding what to wear for a portrait session is one of the hardest tasks! That’s why when you book a session with me, we will discuss your goals for portraits and I’ll offer location and styling advice. In the meantime, here are my top 10 tips to ensure your family feels comfortable and coordinated on the day of the session.

Be comfortable

We’d all probably be a lot happier if we could wear sweatpants and t-shits to the family session, but that’s not quite what I mean here. If you are not comfortable in your clothes - it will show in the photographs. Try on your outfit ahead of time and make sure you feel comfortable and unrestricted sitting, standing, and walking around. If the location requires significant walking, bring a more comfortable pair of shoes for the journey.

Dress for the location

Choosing an outfit that fits the location in both color and style will make the images feel more natural. For example, neutrals photograph really well in parks and blues photograph really well at the beach. Look at photos of the location beforehand for color inspiration!

Bring layers

Layers are a must, especially with the unpredictable weather we have in Oregon. However, they’re not only great for the weather - they add depth and dimension to photographs. Textures from jackets, cardigans, or scarves are great ways to create variation throughout the session and add visual interest to the photographs. 

Avoid Busy Prints and Patterns

Don’t get me wrong, prints and patterns are fun, especially on the little ones. However, for photographs, busy designs can be distracting. Different textured fabrics are a great way to add visual interest in a less distracting way. If you are set on wearing a pattern, I recommend keeping outfits for other individuals more simple.

Avoid Large Logos

Similar to avoiding busy prints and patterns, large logos and graphic tees can be distracting in images. They tend to draw focus toward the clothing instead of the emotion and connection between you and your family.

Dress for the Season

Dress appropriately for the season. Fall sessions call for cozy sweaters, warm tones, and boots. Summer sessions are perfect for dresses and cooler fabrics. 

Coordinate over Matching

Instead of wearing the exact same outfit, try to coordinate. Pinterest is a great place to explore outfit ideas and color palettes that will make your images feel polished. I also have tons of ideas we can review during our vision call. 

Build from a Must-Have Outfit

If you don’t know where to start, pick a must-have outfit for one family member and build from there. Once you have a starting point, we can work together to create outfits that complement each other. 

Be mindful of loose clothing

While loose clothing is more comfortable, if clothing is too baggy it can make individuals appear shapeless. Trust me that tighter clothing often has a more slimming effect. If you do want to wear a looser fitting piece of clothing, I recommend pairing it with a more structured item like a belt or jacket to bring back some definition to your figure. 

When in Doubt, Wear neutrals

If you are still feeling unsure about what to wear, you can’t go wrong with a nice neutral palette. They complement almost every setting well and are typically pieces you already have around the house. This includes shades of white, cream, beige, grey, and soft pastels. Pro tip: pairing different fabrics can help bring texture to neutral wardrobes!