Another part in our series addressing tips for selecting photo session outfits! These are quick but important tips to consider when planning your outfits!
Prioritize comfort and truth
What I mean by this is that you should select clothing pieces that speak to you and your family. Choose pieces that make you feel comfortable and confident! For example, if you don’t feel comfortable in black-tie affair and your house doesn’t have a very formal feel, you probably wouldn’t get all fancied up for your session. If you want to print your photos, consider the vibe of your home.
Ladies, pick your outfit first
I think it is much easier to plan once you select something that makes you feel amazing. Then, you can build everyone else’s outfits around yours. It may sound selfish–but we all know you are coordinating all the pieces anyways, so take care of you first!
Avoid “noise”
Noise is anything that is too graphic, florescent, or saturated. Harsh colors can really affect the color balance of the image and give a weird colorcast to your skin! I recommend avoiding any colors you think of as very hot or bright. Patterns are different than graphics. When I speak about graphics I am thinking more about big logos and branding you won’t want to see in your images down the road. Unless we are doing a branding session–that’s different.
Play when coordinating
I recommend thinking about your outfits using the word coordinating over the word “matching.” You can wear different colors and patterns and still “coordinate.” When you think in the framework of matching, you might limit your palette and risk the family looking like one giant blob of blue. Check out examples of color palettes that are coordinated by clicking here. Look at what your family members have that may compliment your own outfit. Lay out different things on the bed or floor and see how you feel about them. Ideally everyone will stand out as their own unique self, and we have photos that really speak to your family!
Consider location(s)
May sure you have an idea of where your session will be before you start planning! Being in an open field may inspire a different palette than being surrounded by woods, for example. Check with your photographer and then hit up my last tip below if you are stumped. I also recommend thinking about the location of any prints you think you want out of the session! Like I said above, you may have to take into account where your prints will be hung when planning your outfits.
Ask for help when you need it!
Please don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for help! Ask for resources and guidance if you are stumped. You can even just confirm with them if you are nervous about what you have selected. (Although I recommend doing this sooner than the night before a session). When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with soft neutrals. My final word to you is that your family is perfect just as you are, so try not to stress out about your outfits too much!
More tips for selecting photo session outfits
I also have color palette ideas for ya broken down by season! Click the “photo session prep + tips” section of my blog for some binge reading! Click here for fall outfit ideas and here for spring!