One common question that clients ask me before their professional photoshoot is ‘What should I wear?’

The short answer is that it’s completely up to you – but it’s not that simple. Some clothing and accessories look gorgeous in photos, while others can distract or even ruin your photo.

Here are some tips before you rummage through your wardrobe or hit the shops to find the perfect outfit for your shoot.

Feel comfortable

Choose your outfit for comfort first. My clients are always more comfortable and enjoy the session more if they’re wearing clothes they feel confident in. This is especially true for children. They’re more likely to be themselves in comfy clothes.

Don’t buy restrictive clothes that constantly need adjusting, or shoes that are gorgeous but hurt your feet. You’ll be distracted by the clothes (or the pain!) and that will show in the photos.

Feel beautiful

This is your day to feel special, so wear something you feel beautiful in. When you feel beautiful or sexy, your confidence will show on camera.

Loose, flowing fabrics, like linen and cotton, can make any woman feel pretty, and the movement looks great on camera.

Choose your colours wisely

Colour is so important when choosing an outfit. You need to decide whether to complement or contrast with your background. And you need to keep the focus on you – not your outfit.

Make sure your colour choices are simple and look good together. You can choose up to four colours that compliment each other for your family photos or you can also choose one main colour and add softer tones. Use the below colour chart to see whether your palette works together.

But you don’t want to completely match each other either. (Though it can work when it’s done well, such as with twins or bridal parties.) Mix your textures, accessories and colours to make sure each person stands out.

However, be careful with patterns and prints. Subtle small patterns or light floral prints look great. Try to limit to one print at a time and avoid stripes as the pattern may blur on camera.

Neutral and earthy tones such as beige, rust, brown, mustard, grey, white, black, and even denim all beautifully complement the locations I generally shoot at. These colours create a timeless, classic, and visually harmonious effect, allowing the focus to be on the emotions and the beauty of the moment rather than on the clothing. So, when planning your outdoor photoshoot, remember: subtlety and earthy tones often work best for creating timeless and captivating photos.

Please avoid logos and any large graphics or text on shirts and tone down bright colours as bright colours attract attention away from the face and can be reflective.

Accessories

A hat can be fun, as well as scarves and some jewellery. But avoid big or jangly accessories that draw attention away from you. Combining layers and textures also create visually interesting photos.

Hair and makeup

For me, natural, uncomplicated hair always looks great in photos, especially in outdoor shots with the breeze. But, again, do whatever you feel comfortable with.

If this is your first photoshoot, you might not feel confident choosing your outfit. If you’re unsure, you can chat with me before your shoot to get some advice. I’m always happy to chat!

I am also excited to have partnered with Mama rentals to offer my clients an exclusive discount of 15% when you hire from their website. Mama rentals offers a wide range of beautiful outfits that are perfect for any photoshoot.

The process of selecting your outfits for your photoshoot can be an enjoyable one. Get the family involved, get the kids participating and most of all, have fun!!!