Choosing family wardrobes is one of those things that can overwhelm many of my clients. If you have children, it can feel like you need a professional degree in fashion design to coordinate everyone’s outfits, but I promise, you don’t. There are so many options these days and nearly anything is available online to ship right to your house. This means it’s nearly always possible for you to find something you love. But, there are a few ways that you can avoid a wardrobe crisis on the day of your session. Trust me, it makes it so much more enjoyable and less stressful! Here’s what to avoid:
Tips for footwear: If you have little ones, be sure to have them try on their shoes before hand, about a week prior to your shoot. You’ll be surprised to know how many parents discover that their child’s shoes are too small…on the day of. Kids have growth spurts all the time, and you want to be sure they are comfy and able to move around. I also recommend not choosing brand new shoes in patent leather or stiff material without breaking them in first for a few wears. Also, make sure everyone in your family has BOTH shoes, at least the day before your session, and put them in a safe place. It’s pretty prevalent that at least one shoe inevitably goes missing when you are running late and trying to dig through closets.
Don’t wear something you need to lose weight to fit into: Moms, this one is for you. I know it can be tempting to buy a dress or shirt in hopes of losing weight to fit into it. It seems like a good way to set a goal or achieve it but trust me when I tell you: it only causes stress as the day draws near. If you are in the middle of actively losing weight or exercising more, please do it in a healthy way…crash diets are not helpful for anyone and can also make you feel weak and look more unwell in photos. Instead, you could purchase the top or dress in two sizes, and wear the one that is most appropriate when the day arrives. Please know you are perfect the way you are, and it’s most flattering to wear clothes that fit properly…no matter what the size tag says.
Don’t put everyone in the exact same print: The matchy-matchy look was popular back in the 90’s and 2000’s, but the time has passed. When everyone is in the same exact print or color, you tend to blend into one another in the images and look like a blob of the same fabric! Instead, if you choose to wear the same color (like black, grey, navy, etc), choose items with different textures, like linen, cotton, satin, or with accents like ruffles or buttons to make everyone look unique. If you are going with prints, keep 1-2 family members in prints and put the rest in solids so that it’s not overly busy and distracting. If you can’t figure out how to coordinate everyone, stick with neutral tones in cream, black, grey, light blue, or burgundy because they are universally flattering and always look awesome.
Don’t wear something you hate: This seems obvious, but sometimes clients will choose something at the last minute that they don’t like and don’t want to wear. It always inevitably shows in their facial expressions and body language that they are not feeling confident and happy. I highly encourage parents to choose their own outfits first, and to allow ample time to choose things online and have them shipped, or to have time to return things that don’t work. If you have little ones, it’s much easier to find children’s sizes and styles, so always dress yourselves first and go from there. And start much earlier than you might imagine; you want to have everyone’s outfits fully ready approximately 7 days before your shoot, including undergarments and shoes, if you can. Store all the outfits in a specific place together, if possible, and place them in garment bags to keep little hands or pets away from them.
Don’t wear things that are wrong for the season: If you’re having a fall session, you’ll want to choose appropriate attire. In some parts of the country, you can get away with shorts and tanks in fall, but they always look a little strange with the fall colors. It’s best to try to stick with the more traditional items for a seasonal session (ie: don’t wear shorts in a snow session). Again, this seems more obvious, but it can be more challenging if you book your shoot in an in-between season. Consider too if you are going to be using them for holiday cards or an occasion, and choose what may look best with the theme or invitation.
If you’re ever wondering about what to wear, just reach out to me. I love helping clients choose the right outfits for them, or helping them find the best stores or brands to suit their style. Just let me know when you book your session if you need more ideas!
