When you have booked your photoshoot the next thing you will think about is what shall we wear? I am always asked what looks best?
Here are a few clothing tips:
• Coordinating colours not matching. Everyone does not have to wear the same colour. Instead, pick a couple of colours and choose clothes that will fit in this colour scheme.
• Start with one piece and build it up. If you have a colour in mind, it helps to plan and build everything around that. Since we moms like our kids to be the focal point, I’d suggest this focus piece be on one of the children (not an adult). That doesn’t mean that they will stand out the most, after accessorizing it will all flow together.
• Wear solid coloured clothing: so that we see all of your faces and no one person stands out. If you wear stripes or flowers, you will stand out from the rest of your group.
• Choose muted tones: that is a bit subdued so that you are the subject not your clothes and you don’t stand out from the group. Bright colours project (especially reds, oranges, and yellows), which also makes you look larger.
• Avoid all white or all black clothing:
Avoid Patterns: A little bit of texture or patterning can be a good thing in one place, but if there are multiple patterns in a photo, it can be distracting.
Pick 3 colours
It’s a good idea to pick 3 colours to work with as your main colours, then consider greys, whites, blacks, or browns as the base colour. Not necessarily all of them together, but one or two that work with the 3 colours you chose.
• Say no to characters: Your little one may love their Marvel or Frozen shirt but you may want to skip it for the family photo session. Just like patterns, characters on shirts can be pretty distracting.
• Comfort Matters: – kids especially – if your child doesn’t like wearing hats then forcing them on the day to wear one probably won’t have a good outcome! We want happy babies and children so the less stress we put them under the better the photographs. But if those kids aren’t comfortable, you are in for one miserable photo shoot. Make sure to keep everyone’s comfort level in mind.
• Think classic: These photos will be hanging on your walls and treasured for years to come. By choosing simple, classic clothes you will help give your images a timeless feel.
• Hair and Makeup: Stick to light/neutral make-up and groom your hair in a way you want it to be remembered in years to come. If you like to use fake tan, please do use it lightly and make sure that it is even. I can not make fake tans even and streaks do not look good! Bear in mind as good as fake tans are nowadays, on camera they tend to look orange which is really not a good look.
· Choose a top with sleeves at least to the elbow because your arms take up more skin area than your face and will draw attention and it may also make your arms look larger.
· Choose long trousers for men/ladies or a skirt below the knee for ladies so that your legs don’t take attention from your faces, and you will be able to sit and bend without showing too much leg.
· Choose dark socks and footwear (unless it’s a barefoot photo) because white or light colours just sticks out like a sore thumb and that’s all you’ll notice in your portrait.
Please check some examples of colour co-ordinating clothes. I recommend you wear colours and clothes that you like as these are your photos. There are lots of helpful tips on Pinterest if you feel these colours are not your preference.