Five Tips On What to Wear to Your Photo Session

Giving advice on what to wear to your photo session is almost as challenging as choosing the outfits. The unsatisfying answer is that it depends. As a lifestyle photographer I’m going to tell you to dress as you, but maybe with a bit more thought based on the goal for your images, and what you plan to do with them. What you choose to wear is going to vary by the type of session.

Style by Session Type

Family lifestyle sessions are all about coordinating neutrals with complimentary colors and choosing an in-season wardrobe. You might select colors and style based on when you plan to share the images, a holiday card, for example. It may help to choose one inspiration outfit and build complementary outfits for other family members around that one. Avoid large logos, clashing patterns, neon colors, and also tiny black and white patterns, as they lend themselves to chromatic aberration (color shifts) in digital images.

For couples, such as engagement sessions, bring two outfits, one that is dressy and one that is casual. It’s important that both dress in the same level of formality, and again, coordinate but don’t match completely. Stick with complimentary colors, pastels, and avoid fluorescent colors, lettering, and clashing patterns.

For senior sessions, let your personal style show, and consider having your hair and make-up done professionally. You can dress up or dress casually, but you will want to elevate your style a bit more than what you wear everyday, because this session is all about celebrating your momentous occasion.

Maternity sessions are another case where you will want your personal style to shine, as well as your shape. Opt for shirts and dresses that will accentuate and show off your bump. Prioritize your comfort and how beautiful you feel in your outfit.

For in-home newborn sessions keep your clothing neutral, soft, and comfortable. Babies can wear minimal clothing, a diaper cover, and neutral onesies and swaddle blankets.

But also, don’t overthink your photo session style

While it’s important to put thought into what you wear for your photo session, in the end, you’ll see past the clothing to your family laughing, holding each other close, and enjoying your favorite activities together. Most of all, you will have a treasure of images that will become more valuable in time.

After all, you won’t remember you chose the purple shirt over the gray. The bumps in your daughter’s pigtails mark her wild spirit. As your littles become teenagers, college students, parents—they will see the love and character in all those wonderful details that speak to who they were and who they’ve become. There is no perfect planning for this.

Helpful Tips

1) Choose coordination over matching. Keep everyone’s attire in a close color family. Opt for colors that are in season or that you would like to see inside your home if you plan to print and hang, or on a greeting card. Consider a neutral base like beige or gray, with a mix of pastels or gentle shades. Complimentary tones work great too, such as blue and yellow/peach, or minty green and rose.

2) Wear what makes you feel good, which could be anything from shorts and a polo, or chinos and a button-down shirt. Boots and jeans, or a sundress. If purchasing clothing, leave the tags on and wear them a bit around the house. Take pictures with your phone from different angles so you know how the clothing will drape and if the outfit will work for you.

3) Wear something that matches what you are doing: playing at the lake, celebrating with your new fiancé, relaxing at a family picnic, romping in the snow, lounging on the couch with your cozy newborn, or striking a goddess pose with your baby bump.

4) Save patterns and standout colors for your littlest family member or baby to help them shine. In this case, everyone else wears coordinating solids colors, and your child wears a pattern that pops and ties the outfits together.

5) Avoid fluorescents and magenta. These colors vibrate, can look over-saturated, and create unflattering casts on the skin.

Below is some clothing inspo. There are so many different directions you can take when styling your photoshoot!