Stuck on what you should wear to your family photoshoot? I'm here to help!

While this article is based around what to wear to your family portrait session, many of these tips can apply to pretty much any other session as well.

This is hands down the most common question my clients come to me with, and I am here for it! What you wear to your photo shoot is just as important to me as it is to you. I want to help create the most beautiful photos for you, and this all begins with planning your outfits. Here are some tips and tricks on what to wear to your next family session:

1- Wear something that you feel comfortable in, but also feel CONFIDENT in! One thing I prioritize the most during photo sessions is the comfort of my clients. If you've had me take your photo you've probably heard me ask if you're comfortable in a particular pose and the reason behind this is because if you're uncomfortable, it will show in the end result. Keep in mind that you and your family members will not just be standing there like in the 1930 American Gothic painting by Grant Wood. We will be sitting, standing, striking poses, and having a good ole time, so wear something you can move in. Ladies: rethink wearing that short dress! Save it for a girl's night out or a date night. While I'm sure you look AMAZING in it, it might not be comfortable to move around in.

...And do not wear something that you feel needs to be adjusted constantly. Make sure it covers everything that needs to be covered even when you're moving around!

2- Make sure to dress your children in something you both agree on. I know how grouchy children can be when they're uncomfortable and the last thing we want is an unhappy child in all of your photos. Cut the itchy tags out of your child's clothes before your session! The same goes for the husbands... we want them to be happy as well, so let's just make sure everyone likes what they are wearing!

3- AVOID (most) PATTERNS!!! Small stripes, polka dots, gingham, etc. can cause something called moire in photos, and we absolutely do not want that. It's about impossible to fix in Photoshop. Do not wear dark against light patterns, either. They're distracting. If it hurts your eyes when you look at it, just don't wear it. Acceptable patterns, in my opinion, are florals and flannels (in some cases, depending on color). I usually tell my clients to just dress one person out of the group in an acceptable pattern if they must.

4- NO bright colors!!! Stick to neutrals. Trust me. You'll thank me later. Keep in mind that the eye typically travels to the brightest section of a photo. Wearing bright colors will not only make you the center of attention in your gallery, but you might turn everyone else lime green, yellow, orange, or what ever color it is, as your attire can reflect light from the source back onto another subject (i.e., your child). Neutrals and earthy tones such as muted shades of brown, green, beige, would work phenomenally. I recommend choosing an earthy color palette and base everyone's clothes off of that. Pinterest is your friend!

5- Do not wear graphics on your clothes. Yes, Winnie the Pooh is adorable, but do we really want him staring back at you in your photos? Probably not. Unless you plan on hanging your print in a Winnie the Pooh-themed living room. With that said, when picking your color palette, you might want to go with the color palette of your living room (or wherever you might plan on hanging your photos) as long as the palette is neutral. Just a thought.

6- Don't wear something that will wrinkle easily. Self explanatory. Most of the time, wrinkles are impossible to remove in Photoshop and is one of the most annoying, time consuming things I have ever had to do in Photoshop. Materials that wrinkle easily include cotton, hemp, and flax. Materials that are less likely to wrinkle are polyester, nylon, and acrylic. I know there are more materials out there - but these are just examples. If you're worried about your clothes looking wrinkled just do a little research on the material you plan on wearing. If you have a cotton dress that you just have to wear, consider putting it on after you reach the location of your session as it will wrinkle in the car.

7- Dress for the weather. If you're freezing during your session, chances are you will be able to tell that you're freezing in your photos. This goes back to the comfort thing. Dress in cute layers if you must!

8- Hats. They will produce a shadow on the face. Just something to think about.

9- Watch for things in your pocket, on your wrist, etc. Take that phone out of your front pocket and that wallet out of your back pocket before your session. Leave them in the car or I will gladly hold them for you in my camera bag. This goes for your keys as well! Make sure everyone has unwanted accessories such as hair ties and/or fitness watches off of their wrists.

10- Wear something you feel like yourself in! I know I just gave you an overwhelming list of "rules" when it comes to what to wear, but ultimately it is up to you on how you want your photos to look. Not only do I want you to feel comfortable, but I also want you to be able to feel like yourself during your photo session.

I hope this list helps you! Never be hesitant to reach out to me if you have any questions about what you should wear to your next family session. I'm glad to help!

-Caroline