Choosing What To Wear For Your Portrait Session

Posted on July 11, 2011

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from clients is “What should we wear?!”

Choosing what to wear for your session can sometimes make you feel like the world is on your shoulders, lol!  While it is an important consideration that impacts the overall look and feel of your images, (second only to your choice of photographer, of course!) try not to stress too much over it.  What we want to have shine through in your images is your personalities and connections with those that will be joining you in the session, and you with the camera.  However, I do realize that even having said that… there are still a few pointers that I can give you.  So here we go!

Whether you choose to dress up, make it more casual, or get outrageously funky, it is important that each family member feels good about themselves.  To help each person feel comfortable going into a photo-session, think about what you feel most comfortable in.  For instance, does your daughter prefer pants instead of dresses?  Do you have a son that prefers to wear button down shirts that are untucked instead of having that shirt tucked in with a belt?  The more comfortable and more “real” people are coming to the session, the more fun and relaxed everyone will be during the session…and that equals great images!

Appearing in the same image doesn’t mean you have to completely match, or wear the same outfits.  While we’ve all seen the images of families together on a beach in a white shirt and khakis (and those images have their place), it can also be just as great to showcase your individual styles and personalities through the clothing you select.

When I had images created with my own family, I focused on trying to coordinate us without having us look too “match-y”.  So what I would suggest is that if your daughter loves a blue and white dress, you may want to help your son choose a solid blue shirt that picks up the blue from her dress.  From there you could then opt for a different shade of blue (or a complementary shade) for you, your husband, and so on.

The last suggestion I have today is to think about matching one another in terms of the formality and the style of the clothing (right down to the shoes!)  This means making sure one person doesn’t show up in a tie and dress shirt while the kids wear jeans, T-shirts and sneakers.  When thinking through this… think head-to-toe.  Think about the shoes and even the socks that everyone will be wearing…little girls in cute little dresses look even better paired with a cute pair of sandals or bare feet vs. an older pair of sneakers.  If the boys and men in your life will be wearing a dressier pair of pants and shoes, choose darker socks instead of white ones… you will thank me later!  LOL!  ;)

As I am writing this Blog post, I did a quick internet search for clothing ideas.  I came across a site called Juice Kids Haute Couture that carries baby and children’s clothing that I thought was great for ideas and inspiration.  There is also the ever popular Anthropologie store for women as well.  For men, I’m a sucker for anything from Banana Republic.  Hopefully these sites will get you started!

If you have any questions, or even suggestions on sites that you would suggest looking at for inspiration, please leave a comment or give me a call!  Looking forward to working with you soon!

Nic – 302.602.3508





Friends of a Feather…

Posted on October 18, 2010









These two families decided on a stroll through Old New Castle, DE as their portrait location of choice this fall. The weather is changing, leaves are turning, what a great backdrop for fun! Thanks guys!

Nic





Say "I Love You" with the Gift of Portraits!

Posted on January 12, 2010




Flowers fade, candy is eaten… but capturing special moments in your family’s life is a way to say “I Love You” forever. Think about portrait photography this season!

What better way to say I love you than with the gift of fine art photography. There are so many options for you to take advantage of this year. If you’re looking to give a gift, think about giving a gift certificate. This allows the recipient the flexibility of scheduling where and when to have their session. Or think about planning a portrait session with your entire family when you know they’ll all be in town to visit. With a little advanced wardrobe and location planning, group sessions are a big hit for everyone involved! The session time together is a gift in itself… and, you will have the fine art images to enjoy those memories for years to come too!

And if you’d like to make it easy for your “someone special” to select the perfect gift for you this Valentine’s Day… leave this page open on your pc… right under their nose. =)