General Advice

The session fee is paid, the date confirmed, and you’re excited about your upcoming session. But then . . . the dreaded question arises: “What are we going to wear?”

Undoubtedly you know the basic portrait rules:

• you can’t go wrong with solid colours,
• long sleeves look best, especially on men
• dominant logos and patterns are usually a no-no
• likewise distracting accessories.

But where to go from here? What traditional portrait wardrobe rules are meant to be bent, if not broken entirely? And what about dressing the entire family?

If you are not sure what to wear for your portraits, this guide is for you. Use the navigation above to help you decide what to wear for your particular type of session.

Newborns

For newborn sessions, two key wardrobe questions significantly affect your resulting images. First, what will the baby wear? And second, what will we wear? That’s right, mum and dad . . . you’ll be in some of the photos as well, even if just as a “backdrop” to the star of the show.

Newborns are absolutely perfect when they wear nothing at all! For variety and some fun colour, I also like to use the swaddling blankets you have at home–this also gives the images a personal touch. If baby has any funky hats be sure to have those on hand too.

There are few things as stunning as skin-on-skin shots of a newborn and the proud parents (or siblings). Dad can be shirtless for some shots, as can Mum, or she could wear a strapless bra or tank top. Images for this type of shot are generally closely cropped. Also, long-sleeved black shirts for Mum and Dad provide a sophisticated, dramatic “backdrop.”

For wider family shots, particularly when older siblings are involved I recommend simple, casual choices. You can read the “family” and “siblings” sections of this guide for inspiration.

Maternity

The simplest wardrobe choice for your maternity session is . . . nothing at all! Mums-to-be are often stunned at the elegant images that result from creative posing and camera angles that show “just enough.”

If you’re not inclined to bare all, you might choose to wear some stylish underwear – the “boy leg” or “french” cut works especially well. If you prefer to wear a little more clothing, there are many options that result in the gorgeous bare belly shots everyone wants. Try a fitted tank top and low-waisted jeans or yoga pants (black looks especially sleek).

Generally the “fitted” part for any wardrobe choice is key, though button up shirts & shrugs or cardigans which can be worn open over the belly work very nicely. A few fun shots with hip tees with clever proclamations on them can be nice as well.

Be sure to keep tightly-fitted elastic waistbands, underwear and socks far far away for a few hours before your shoot so that we avoid indentations in your skin. Wristwatches are also best left off for the session.

Siblings

Wardrobe choices for sibling shots, like those for family images, should be complementary but there is no need for “a matching uniform.”

A tried and true formula for a boy/girl sibling duo includes a patterned dress or skirt for the girl, with the boy in a solid shirt pulled from that pattern. If the little girl is wearing a solid shirt with a patterned skirt, have the boy’s top match a different colour in her skirt, so that their shirts don’t match precisely. Trust me, it works!

While many parents have the urge to put their boys or girls in the exact same outfit, mixing it up a bit–while still creating a pleasing overall combination–creates a considerably more interesting colour palette and image.

Families

White shirts and dresses on the beach. Navy tops and khakis or jeans. It’s a tried and tested formula and it really works. If that sounds right for you then go for it!

But there are other options to, if you think you would like to try something a bit different then read on.

Did you know that coordinated but not “uniform” looks for families create a very pleasing photograph? Moreover, it is not nearly as difficult as you think it is!

The cardinal rule of family dressing for portraits is simple: choose items for the entire family as if you were creating one outfit. If all of your choices were somehow on one person, would the result be pleasing, colour wise?

A handy trick for those who are hesitant to break away from a more uniform look is to choose one patterned item (for example a print dress for your daughter) and then select the rest of the family’s clothing from colours within that pattern.

The Star of the Show!

A wildly-patterned pair of cargo pants and a hipster tee. Her funky hot pink tutu and cowboy boots. His “superhero” cape.

Individual shots give your child a chance to show his or her personality through fashion like no other. Without the concern of clashing or competing patterns that exists in a family shot, the possibilities are limitless!

So break out your daughter’s bright, crazy party dress, a pair of wings or your son’s beloved rain boots, and let’s capture something bold, memorable, and no-holds-barred fun!

And don’t forget, grown ups should be playful to! If vibrant colours and fun outfits are YOUR style then I want to see it!