How To Pick Clothes For Your Outdoor Family Photo Session? Did you know that the wrong outfit can actually take away from your photo and make it distracting? Close your eyes for a second (after reading this section of course) and picture yourself in a beautiful desert, with giant saguaros around you. They are very green and small little pink flowers on the top that just bloomed. You’re right in the center, and you’re wearing a dinosaur costume… I laughed because it’s something I’d do, but you see what I mean? The focus is the costume… This is true for outfits that don’t coordinate with the scenery and for outfits that flow well together. The focus is on you and your clothes! I wrote a few tips on what to wear for your session and what to avoid, in hopes that this prepares you for your portrait session in the future.
1. DON’T NOT MATCH THE BACKGROUND
“Say what?” Let me explain this one. As I mentioned above, your outfit can coordinate with all the elements making for a unique image, or I can create a distraction. You want to make sure your outfit does not blend in with the background because, 1, we don’t want to look like floating heads, and 2, we want to bring out some of the colors of the scenery so our brains move through the photo seamlessly. Remember that scenario above? Imagine yourself in a green outfit, that matches exactly everything around it. Now imagine a pink dress, similar to those small little pink flowers on top of the cacti. I think I’d choose the pink dress so every color blends together!
2. DON’T MATCH OUTFITS
unless it’s a special occasion (like matching Christmas pajamas) you should avoid matching shirts and matching pants at all costs. The goal for coordinating outfits is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. The more you can mix it up, the better! Think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is a color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’ll look great all together.
3. PICK CLOTHES YOU’LL FEEL COMFORTABLE IN
This is the most important aspect when it comes to picking out your clothes. If you’re wearing an itchy sweater or a dress that’s too tight, chances are you’re going to be pulling and tugging at yourself the entire session. Not only that, but your face will tell the story of garments gone bad if you’re anything but completely comfortable in your outfit. To make sure your clothes are comfortable, I suggest wearing them a time or two before your session day arrives. Also, make sure if you have any insecurities, you pick an outfit that hides those. In my experience, every person (regardless of size or shape) has something they’re self-conscious about. Recognizing the areas you’re self-conscious about when selecting your outfits is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.
Lastly, your session is meant to capture you and your personality and this beautiful stage you’re in. The most important thing is to be yourself! Don’t overdo it trying to find outfits that you don’t feel comfortable wearing. Don’t like skirts? don’t wear them! Just be yourself and I’ll take care of the rest!!!
