What to Wear....

Let's make sure that as all eyes are on you/and-or your beautiful family!! Let's make sure that you are wearing all the beautiful things that make you comfortable in front of the camera!!

Advice on what to wear for your portrait session changes with the yearly trends--but my answer will always be..."What vibe are you going for with your session? What fits YOU? What are you comfortable in? What style fits you and your family? Is it jeans and casual t-shirts, or is it long, flowing cotton dresses with the guys in dress paints and linen shirts?"

I am MORE than happy to discuss your clothing choices and make sure that your clothing coordinates with the location we have chosen for your session. Send me pictures of your selections and let's discuss them and create your style of session together!


A few DON'T's that are sometimes overlooked when preparing for your session.

  1. Say "no thanks" to busy patterns: while they may be fun in person and for certain events, busy patterns can steal the show and overshadow your natural beauty in portraits. Opt for solid colors or subtle patterns that complement your features without overwhelming the frame.
  2. Logo's-no thank you!! Sure we all love our favorite brands, but plastering logos all over your attire can and will distract from the real star...YOU!! Keep it simple and classy, let your confidence shine without the logo distractions.
  3. Avoid Trendy Overload: While it's tempting to rock the latest trends, be mindful of overdoing it. Trends come and go, but timeless portraits last forever. Stick to classic pieces with a touch of personal flair or current trends to ensure that your portraits stand the test of time.

Remember that your portrait session is your time to be comfortable, show off your natural personality and what compliments the vibe of how you want your portraits to display in your home. If you have a modern trendy vibe in your home...wear bolder colors that will represent that style in your portraits! If you have a more laid back/mild colored style or country vibe represent that in your clothing choices for your portraits.

Now for some things that you should do!
  1. Choose your palette first: Pick a palette of 2-4 colors. Think in terms of tones - blue tones, earth tones, neutrals, pastels, etc. are usually family favorites. But again--what is YOUR families comfort zone of colors.
  2. Choose loose, flowy, natural fabrics like linen, cottons etc. that will move freely with you & keep you comfy during your session. You do not all need to match, everyone in white t-shirts and jeans are a thing of the past, but instead coordinate with each other!! It is ideal to complement each other's outfits by choosing colors that work well together. I find that if everyone is wearing the same clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won't be much pop and life to the portraits.
  3. If you do want some sort of a pattern choose smaller ones that won't pull attention away from the main subjects, and only put one person in a pattern (the rule of thumb for families is one person in a pattern per 3 people).
  4. Layering: One of my favorite tips for clothing choices! In the summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off, but during other seasons, definitely layer your outfits. Not only will it provide more visual interest in each portrait but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses.
  5. Keep make-up NATURAL:  Avoid using very heavy makeup, just a bit of color on your lips, eyes, and cheeks goes a long way in portraits. Be sure to bring some lip gloss with you for touch ups as there may be lots of smooches from your partner and little ones!
  6. Accessories give your portraits that needed punch! They lend pops of color, personality, and interest. Everybody wears them well and they work for all ages.

And as always, I am ALWAYS here for questions along the way. There are NO dumb questions, and I LOVE to have you send me pictures of what you are wearing to your session. It definitely helps me plan the locations for your session, as well as posing ideas, and the flow of the session overall.

I have had MANY families and Senior's that have purchased clothing items-worn them for the session and then returned them!! So keep that in mind if you are mindful of finances and not sure you will wear that item again but would really like it for your portraits.

I also have a Pinterest page that I love if you want to check it out! https://www.pinterest.com/jewl06/style-inspiration/