Hampton Roads has SO many gorgeous outdoor options and variety for outdoor family portraits. Grassy fields, beaches, historical buildings, downtowns, vineyards, farms, lakes, gardens, all less than an hour away!
What to Wear for Family Portraits
And with my background as a photojournalist, I love to capture fun and active photos (commonly referred to as candid or lifestyle portraits) along with a few “smiling for the camera” and have perfected a flow to get both to happen without parents needing to offer rewards (or threats) to their kids.
Year after year I hear the same questions, such as what to wear for a family portrait session, and I have been emailing tips to everyone for the last couple of years with a great response. Everyone loves and appreciates the help, I had no idea how stressful it can be to select outfits!!
I truly want EVERYONE to get the photos they want. So here are the top 5 facts & tips that others have found helpful when choosing what to wear & preparing for their family portraits. Hopefully I am able to help relieve a little stress and help you look forward to capturing this precious moment to enjoy for generations!
What to Wear for Family Portrait Sessions
TIP 1 Get the kids excited!
Children of all ages pick up on our emotions so if you are worried about the session they will be too. What I’ve found to work for younger kids is to approach it as an adventure – “We’re going to some place fun ____ and meeting a friend (that’s me 😉 who is going to take a few photos.” You can promise a special treat for afterwards if you know that works best for your kids – it’s always better to offer rewards rather than threats.
TIP 2 Your clothes should compliment, not match, each other and the background.
Solid colors tend to photograph better than bold patterns. (think little dots vs. big ones)
For a 1 Hour Session: Try to layer or add hats, scarves, or sunglasses so you can quickly get 2 looks without the time to change.
For a 2 Hour Session: Have at least 1 timeless, classic look so you will still love the photo 5-10 years later.
TIP 3 Consider dressing up for the occasion!
No one said you have to wear jeans, and if you want a gorgeous piece of art to hang on your wall for a decade or more, you want to look your best. Even for my active sessions where we’re climbing trees, riding bikes, or walking in sand, dressy clothes look just as great – just like wedding photos do!
TIP 4 Lighter Skin Tones: Avoid bright green, yellow, and red (they can add a cast to your skin tone). Darker Skin Tones: Avoid blacks, browns, and green for grassy backgrounds.
Also keep in mind what we’re doing – climbing and sitting is tough to do in short skirts. For the Beach – best to avoid light khaki, white, and yellow (so you don’t blend in 😉 For grassy backgrounds – skip green, black, and brown.
TIP 5 Come prepared.
Most sessions are scheduled for the best light, so if it’s near your normal meal time feel free to bring a few snacks and drinks or have them beforehand. We always have a few min. to take a break and sometimes those make for the best photos so it’s also a good idea to bring a ball, wagon, or favorite stuffed animal or book to play with – and they double as great props!
Portrait Tips
As always, there are exceptions to every rule. If you are planning a sunset or sunrise session a light skin tone can get away with wearing red, and sometimes matching shirts can be really cute. So please use these tips simply as a guide and go with your gut – these are photos you will be enjoying for years and they should reflect your family so it’s always best to go with your personal style and family personalities.
Finally, above all else, try to relax and have fun so we will get the great natural smiles you will want to see everyday on your wall. Don’t worry if the kids keep making faces or are a little shy & not smiling right away.
It’s totally normal!
And I have a few tricks (and take a lot of photos) so I will get the good smiles and laughter in between, and will include the others just in case you want to keep them for a good laugh later. Keeping it lighthearted and relaxed also helps the session feel more natural and fun. Plus, smiles ALWAYS look better when you’re not trying.
If you’re still not sure what to wear for your family portraits, you’re always welcome to text me a photo of your outfits – I’m always available for honest feedback for all of my clients! HERE are more fun family portraits you can check out, and HERE is more about my professional retouching services that I offer.
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To capturing memories!
