So you’ve scheduled your family portraits. Now what? As a mom of 4, I totally understand that picking outfits can be stressful. That’s why I’ve put together this blog post with plenty of tips for what to wear for your Oregon family photos.
What to Wear for Your Oregon Family Photo Session
Be you
First and foremost, be you. Pick clothes that you like and that you’re comfortable in. I’ll share tips in here for clothing that photographs well and will help make your photos timeless. But this is really about you and your family and capturing the connection between you all. Choosing the right clothing can help with that. Your clothing can enhance your photos and the “wrong” clothing (really, there’s no wrong clothing) can be distracting. But at the end of the day, choose what’s best for you and your family.
Start with one outfit and build from there
Let’s pretend we’re chatting over lunch, shall we? I’m assuming mom is the one reading this article. If you’re one of those dads who is involved in planning your family’s photo session, kudos to you! Keep reading and thank you. But back to mom-if you were my girlfriend and asked me about what to wear for your family pictures, the first thing I’d tell you is to make sure you love what you’re wearing. Pick something flattering in colors that look good on you and have your family coordinate their outfits around that.
Coordinate, don’t match
Coordinate rather than match. This is generally good advice.
Colors, prints, and patterns
I love earth tones and neutral colors. They’re timeless and photograph well. Think cream, beige, soft pinks and dusty blues, etc. And pops of color can brighten these up. Think a mustard sweater or green dress. Mixing lots of neutrals with a few coordinating colors is gorgeous.
Avoid loud prints, colors, logos, and patterns. These are very distracting. Neon colors can reflect off your skin and cause odd skin tones.
Dress it up
I love a good dress. A flowy dress gives your images lots of movement and works well for posing. For guys, I also recommend dressing up a little. Think sweaters and button downs (wrinkle-free of course!!). Slacks and khakis in tan, grey, and blue are always a great option. Fitted pants on men and boys will photograph better than baggy. And if you’re a jeans kind of gal, I get you. That looks great, too. Look around my site and the internet and see what styles you’re drawn to for family photos. That can help you decide what you’ll want in your photos. The most important thing to consider is fit. Be sure everyone’s clothes fit them well. Try them on with enough advanced time to adjust if needed.
Joyfolie and Baltic Born are great sites for dress ideas.
Shoes, socks, and undergarments
Lastly, think about the little details. We all know great shoes make an outfit. Remember to check that shoes fit well and are comfortable to walk in. At the beach, shoes can be removed entirely. I recommend avoiding athletic shoes. But if your little one is best in those, try to avoid distracting colors, even on the laces and soles. A pop of neon green can be pretty distracting.
Plan everyone’s socks and be sure they’re laundered at least a day prior. And (especially for women), it’s a good idea to try on all your clothing ahead of time with the undergarments you’re planning to wear to be sure you won’t be constantly tucking and adjusting. And if you don’t need them, take a minute to cut off any of those pesky hanger loops. You know the ones–they’re constantly falling out at the shoulder or under your arm.
Pockets and wrists
Before we start, empty your pockets and check wrists for anything you don’t want in the picture. Cell phones, keys, hair ties, fitness watches, etc. My kid has snuck temporary tattoos into 2 of our photo sessions, so now I always check my family for surprises before we start!
Weather
One last note-don’t forget to think about the weather. Layer up for your fall or winter session! And unless you run cold, avoid chunky sweaters in July.
What To Wear For Your Oregon Family Photos
What you wear will have a big impact on how your images turn out. Hopefully this article helps you decide what to wear for your Oregon family photos If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help.
Ready to schedule your family photos? Reach out here: jenwhitephoto.com/contact
Haven’t picked a location yet? Here are some of my favorites: (recommendations coming soon!)
