New Carlisle Indiana Newborn Photographer | What to Wear to Your Session
Often the most difficult part of preparing for your photo session can be deciding what to wear. I want your entire photoshoot process from start to finish to be as easy and stress free as possible, so I would love to give you some helpful tips and pointers to ensure that this happens! Please be sure to check out the guidelines below before your session, and feel free to send me any pictures and ask for my opinion as you are selecting your outfits & accessories!
RULE OF THUMB
The main rule that you want to keep in mind as you begin to plan your outfits is this: COMPLEMENT AND COORDINATE, BUT DON'T GET TOO MATCHY! It's as simple as that! Gone are the days of putting everyone in black t-shirts and jeans. How will people's styles and personalities show through that way? Instead, find a color palette that you love, and choose outfits that complement each otherwithout looking too matchy-matchy. Everyone will have a unique look without clashing in the photos. You can choose to do neutrals with a few pops of colors, or a palette that has different ranges in tone of the same shades with pops of color for accents.
WHERE DO I START?
I always suggest that the woman (especially mom if it's a family session) choose an outfit she feels confident and beautiful in. Then plan the color palette and everyone else's outfits from there. If you have a fun patterned outfit you would like to use, limit the it to one person. That way they will pop and still coordinate with everyone else. Pull solid colors from the pattern for the rest of the family. Multiple patterns can look busy, and this way they won't be competing with each other. If you're having trouble choosing, lay out each option at a time and take a photo of everything together. That way you can decide between the photos and get a second opinion from your friends-or me!
ACCESSORIES, LAYERS, & TEXTURE
Don't be afraid to layer your clothing as this can add dimension to your clothing. This can be a belt, scarf, cardigan, etc. Accessories can pull together an outfit and make it look complete. Plus by switching up accessories and layers, you can get multiple looks without having to do complete outfit changes. They can also be something fun for the person to interact with in the photos. Add dimension and interest by mixing up the texture of the clothing material and accents. This is especially important for black and white images to give interest to the eye. Keep accessories on babies and toddlers to a minimum as it can overwhelm them in the photo.
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Ladies - Use this as an opportunity to pamper yourself by getting your hair styled and makeup done before the session! Makeup should be natural but slightly heavier than normal. Any waxing should be done 3-5 days before your session. Have nails natural or freshly painted Remove hair ties from your wrist.
Men - Don't get your hair cut the day before a session. Instead plan to have it done a week before. Make sure you remove your cell phone, wallet, and keys from your pockets before your session. Baseball caps and sunglasses are fun to wear but they don't make for good pictures!
DO'S & DON'TS
DO: Arrange your outfits ahead of time. Lay them out on a big bed or floor, including accessories.
DO: Make sure all clothes are clean, pressed, and ready to go on hangers a few days before your session.
DO: Be aware of any tan lines and how those will look in your outfits.
DON'T: Put everyone in all black or all white shirts.
DON'T: Wear super busy patterns, neon colors, or shirts with words.
DON'T: Get a spray tan- they can appear more orange in camera.
Pinterest is a great resource for finding beautifully curated color palettes and outfit inspiration. Even better, there are often links to shop the exact outfit if you find something you love! I put together some of my favorites here at this link below: