What do I wear for photos? | Northern California Photographer

Yuba/Sutter Areas | Sacramento | Roseville | Folsom | Chico

Well…  It’s that time of year!  You’ve found your photographer, and now you’re asking “What do I wear for photos?”  Often times people will just avoid booking family photo sessions so they don’t have to face this problem.  Don’t over think it!  Relax, and here’s some tips to helping you pick your outfits!

•  Choose coordinating colors (not matchy matchy)- Pick colors that flow together.  Not everyone needs to be in a white shirt and blue jeans, in fact this is something you want to completely avoid.  I usually recommend start with one piece and build from there.  You can dress everyone else with coordinating colors from that main piece.  I personally prefer to have one outfit with a fairly busy pattern or print and then go from there.  Not everyone needs to be in a print, it’ll make things too busy and distract from your photos.

• Look at your home decor- Whether you like bright colors or neutrals, we all have a “theme” and a preference when it comes to decorating our homes.  Chances are, you’re going to hang these images on your walls in your home, making them part of your decor.  When selecting your clothing, pick something that will complement your home.

• Accessorize- Don’t forget to add accessories to your outfit.  Little pops of color are fun to add and totally jazz up your look.  A hat, vest, scarf, they are things that can be added for some photos and removed for others, changing up the look for your session.

• Where to shop- When it comes time for me to shop for my family portraits I tend to start in a place that sells clothing for ALL family members.  Old Navy and Gap are great for this.  They often have coordinating outfits and colors throughout the store in all sizes and styles and it can easily be a one stop shop! Look for a store to suit your style that has sizes for the entire family.  At minimum, pick a store where you can dress all the kids from one place.  Then you’ll be sure they have coordinating outfits and you can shop for yourself and your spouse separately to get the styles you love.

• Plan ahead- Don’t wait until the night before your session to pull out that dress you “thought” your daughter was going to wear.  It just may not fit.  You’ll be in a panic and stressed.  Shop ahead, and feel free to send me photos for suggestions and tips 🙂

• Avoid characters and logos- While our littles love their mickey mouse, and our teens love their logos, try to avoid these for your family photos as they can be distracting.

• Add texture and layers- I personally am a simple girl, however, when it comes to photos, texture and layers are your friend.  It adds depth and detail to your images and creates a great look.

I hope you find these tips useful and helpful while planing your family photo session.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.  I’m always happy to assist!

Megan is a photographer based in the Greater Sacramento Area, serving Northern California for all your photography needs. She specializes in family, graduates, engagements, weddings, maternity, birth, and newborn photography.  Call today to book your session! (530)237-7156