Have you ever felt stuck or overwhelmed with choosing family outfits? Then this blog with tips for session outfits is for you!

TIP 1: Say Yes To The Dress!

Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera – which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images.

When considering the length of your dress or skirt, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, I’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. A floor-length dress or skirt, or perhaps a cute midi-skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera too! My favorite online shops for dresses and skirts are http://www.balticborn.com, http://www.morninglavender.com, and http://www.neeseesdresses.com.

TIP 2: Choosing Colors

When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more mutes shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, browns, and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments.

TIP 3: Coordinating Outfits

As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match”. In fact, I recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest and allow each personality to shine through. The goal for coordinating a family is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. I encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominate colors” and “accent colors” in mind.

A dominate color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. For example, if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings, and nude heels (blush being your dominate color), then he could wear a navy coat with a white button-down and gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square (making navy his dominate color). Your daughter could wear a soft blue top with a white tulle skirt (making soft blue her dominate color) while your son wears light beige pants with navy suspenders and a white button-down (making white his dominate color). Now each person has their own dominate color while still incorporating a few touches of the others that will pull all the looks together.

TIP 4: Make a Statement

Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images, and be a nice tie-in when you’re coordinating with others. Big statement necklaces bring a lot of pop to the photos, while the smaller, delicate ones are not as noticeable on camera. Belts, bracelets, and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention. Fresh florals in a crown can be a nice feminine touch for you or your girls as well.

TIP 5: Flattering Your Features

Every woman, regardless of her shape, has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about, so recognizing what area that is in advance is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer, or cardigan along too.

Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so I recommend avoiding these whenever possible if your goal is a set of slimmer-looking arms. Heels elongate women’s legs, making them look fabulous. Closed-toed heels in particular look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your feet show. These little tricks make all the difference!

TIP 6: Styling Men

Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine look for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place that attention on his face. So for your session, it is best to leave the shorts, sandals, and jeans at home as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants or fitted colored pants work best on camera. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. I also recommend staying away from graphics and logos.

I hope these tips for session outfits will be helpful for you and your family and make choosing outfits a breeze! If you’d like to book a session with me, click the following link! https://alyssamariephotography.net/contact