What NOT to Wear for Your Family Photo Session
I’m always talking about what to wear for your family photo session, but what about the things to avoid? Sometimes it’s easier to just read what NOT to do, rather than the millions of possibilities of what would look amazing, right?
Also, keep in mind that these are just my opinions, and things I’ve realized I don’t love after photographing families for 8 years. Feel free to ignore any and all of this if you like the opposite!
the wrong shoes
This is applicable to two different scenarios.
The first is wearing uncomfortable shoes. Most of my sessions involve play, so if you’re in heels, it’s going to be really tough to let loose and enjoy your family. I also have some locations that require a bit of walking that would be difficult in heels. If you really want to wear them, I’d suggest bringing another option you like for the more playful images, and save the heels for a few select photos.
The second is athletic shoes. Trust me on this one. Nothing looks worse than classic, timeless outfits with a pair of athletic shoes. Especially ones with neon on them.
the wrong fit
This might seem like an obvious one, but, I assure you it’s not.
Let’s start with the guys, ads will be throwing their kids in the air and lifting their arms a lot, so a shirt that is too short isn’t ideal. Test the shirt out at home! Lift arms above your head and see how it looks.
For moms, consider your bra! Bra rolls and straps don’t look great on anyone and yet we all have them, I don’t care how skinny you are. If you’re paranoid about it or it’s been something you’ve disliked regarding past sessions, consider skipping the bra and wearing pasties so you don’t need to worry about it. Another thing to consider in this same realm is the length of your dress. Don’t wear anything too short for the same reason… arms lifting and bodies swaying.
the wrong pattern
Let’s put it this way:
Good Patterns:
florals
stripes
subtle shapes
Bad Patterns:
dark against light (mainly talking about geometric patterns here)
small, close together stripes (for some reason this looks super trippy in the photos)
the wrong colors
Colors are great, what I don’t want are bright colors. Obviously, no neon, but even more than that. Instead of going for a royal blue, go for navy or pastel blue. Instead of going for bright yellow, go for a mustard yellow, or a pastel one.
matching outifts
I know it was a big thing for a while to wear matching outfits/patterns but I really love when there is a variety of colors and patterns. So if you’re shopping and see mommy and me outfits or matching sibling outfits… just keep looking! The main reason for this is that anyone wearing the same color is going to blend into each other. It looks much better to have separation between people so you can see where one person ends and the next starts. If you want to wear the same color as someone else in your family, just pick a different shade so there is a difference.
turtlenecks
Covering up the neck area is not very flattering and can add bulk, so if you need to add extra warmth in the colder months, wear an extra layer or stylish jacket rather than wearing a turtleneck. This also applies to tightly wrapped scarves. I want to see that neck!
logos, characters, and words
You probably already know this, but it’s super important not to wear any words, logos, or characters of any kind on your clothing. Even that tiny Nike logo in the top corner of your t-shirt is going to draw the eye there rather than the subject of the photo… your family! That’s the entire point of your photo session so let’s keep the attention on you.
check your wrists… and your pockets
Hairties, scrunchies, watches, friendship bracelets, and apple watches are not easy to edit out. So, do us all a solid and remove them ahead of time. In addition to that make sure you empty those pockets. Nothing worse than a giant rectangle outline in all of your photos .