“What should we wear?”

After a client books a photography session, a frequent question that they ask is “what should we wear?”.

I really love documenting lifestyle sessions because clients can incorporate their home, and their style into the session. Lifestyle sessions are candid, relaxed and you can feel the love between those people naturally by seeing the photos.

Classy or trendy? Colourful or neutral?

I usually don’t put rules on how the family will wear during my sessions, but it is interesting to seek a balance in the outfits in order to get harmonious pictures.

Here are some tips on what to wear when planning a Cupclick lifestyle session:

Whether you choose to go classic or trendy, make sure everyone involved is coordinated with one another.

Harmony

Solid Colours

For a classic portrait, solid colours are generally best as busy patterns can be distracting and will often become outdated sooner than a simpler design.

Pattern prints

To be honest, I don’t recommend patterns for your photoshoot. However, if this kind of clothing is something that you love and that describes your personality, why not use it? Here is a piece of advice if you prefer to wear some kind of pattern:

If someone is using plaid, for example, avoid using another pattern, such as stripes or flower print. Try a simple outfit for the other family members: white tops and jeans or black pants. You can also try to use tops in solid or pastel colours that coordinate with the patterned outfit.

Neutrals

I always suggest a neutral palette.
Neutrals don’t mean only a white T-shirt. Colours such as gray, cream, rosé, soft blue, etc are considered as a palette of likeness. The most important part is that the colours complement one another and I recommend three-four colours (if including denim) maximum.
Men can have a hard time finding shirts without patterns, in which case a sweater overtop is a nice compliment to break it up:

Classy or trendy?

If the mother is dressing casual and the father is dressing formal, it also causes imbalance.

This imbalance is what prevents us from having pleasant images to look at.

Some colour palettes for your inspiration:

Rosé and light blue are perfect together!

Earthy tones are great choices for all Seasons. 

Marsala and the stronger colours: Not everyone take risks wearing bold colours. However, some solid colours can be excellent choices. Marsala or wine tones enhance eyes and light hair.

Still in doubt?

When in doubt, consult a professional stylist. Local boutiques are there to help when deciding what to wear for our photoshoot. A professional can help, even if you aim to work within the wardrobe you already own (which I prefer, because your current clothes show your own style) and don’t plan to purchase more than a piece or two. They can take your styling to the next level.

What matters is being comfortable and in a simpler design. You will show your style and your pictures will always be up to date

Tags: Clothing for portraits, Choosing family photo outfits, Best colours to wear for family pictures, What to wear for a photoshoot