We’ve all been there: staring into our closets, pulling out this shirt or that dress, these jeans or those leggings, a skirt flying through the air, a tie tossed to the nearest chair, and hangers rocking back and forth as the garments are ripped off of them.

You’ve modeled and spun in the mirror, decided that color makes you look too pale, or this blue really brings out our eyes.  These jeans are too short for the kiddo, but doesn’t he look just so dang cute in the overalls?  Little Miss doesn’t want to wear a fluffy dress, but you manage to get her to put it on with the promise of ice cream if she wears if for just a little while.

Finally, you’ve reached the shining moment: the entire family is dressed, hair done, and ready to go.  And then it strikes you: what if none of what your wearing photographs well?

Have no fear, this blog post is here to help!

Clothing choices for a portrait session can be daunting.  After all, these images are going to be hanging on your wall, both the literal and the virtual kind, for years to come.  You want them to look beautiful, memorable, modern.  You want to look back at them and love them all when your cherub-faced littles aren’t so little any more, or to show them to off when your children have children of their own.

First up on the tip list:

Coordinate, but don’t replicate.  If everyone is wearing the exact same thing, it can be a bit overpowering in the image.  Instead of buying everyone the exact same plain white t-shirt and blue jeans, try picking two or three complimentary colors that look good when mixed together.

Keep the location in mind.  Are you planning a session in the woods?  Throw in some plaid!  But if you’re planning on shooting in a beautiful historic downtown area where a lot of backdrops are going to be brick, avoid the plaid and stripes.  Too many lines can be distracting.

Always wear what fits.  There are SO many options for all body types when it comes to clothing, but one thing that never looks good on anyone: baggy or loose fitting clothing.  If it doesn’t fit right, if you feel like you’re swimming in it, it probably doesn’t look great, either.  Fitted clothes are much more flattering.

Buy something.  Use this as an excuse to get yourself, and your whole family, a new outfit.  Old, worn-out clothing will show, and something fresh and new will look so much better.

If all else fails, solid, neutral colors are always a great choice.  Avoid horizontal stripes; they make even the smallest frame appear wider.  Don’t be afraid to bring an extra outfit; you might change your mind last minute!

When in doubt, reach out to your photographer! We are here to help you bring your vision to life, and are more than happy to help with clothing choices.

Happy shooting!