Consider The Location

Where we shoot is always something to consider when picking outfits that are functional and will look cohesive with the location. For example, when I work at the beach I like to pick out light colors and soft textures that will compliment the wide open scenery. A Flowy linen dress and earthy neutral tones create a casual and dreamy vibe.

I'm a big fan of neutrals

Neutrals are timeless. You just can’t go wrong with neutral and earth-y tones. Add depth with texture, fine prints, layers, and different fabrics, think linen, muslin, knitwear, waffle knit etc.. You will never have to worry about neutrals going out of style as they will outlast any trend no matter the year, plus your photographs will look great on your walls as neutrals work amazingly with any home decor, no matter your style!  

Parents, pick your outfit first

I find that starting with parents outfits first helps selecting the rest of the outfits with ease! So, start with your own clothes, shoes, and accessories, and then you can pick everyone else’s. If not mum’s outfit, choose one outfit you absolutely love and select others’ outfits based around it. Wearing the correct undergarments ensures we keep everything in place and no bra straps etc. pop outside your dress.

Wear a flowy dress

Essentially, you want to feel comfortable in what you wear. I always suggest flowy and maxi dresses for mamas as they’re extremely flattering and they compliment every body. The fact that they photograph beautifully and that they create movement in your photos is a bonus!

The little details

A subtle gold necklace or a set of earrings can add a lot of character to your portraits. Same thing goes for nails! Hands are naturally a major point of focus in family photos and having a clean, manicured set of nails goes a long way!  Think about whether you'd like to include a cozy throw, a sun hat or beanie, a bouquet of flowers or even a ball for the kids that can act as fun props in some of the photos. They’ll add some interest to the images, and they’ll give you and your family something to focus on or play with, rather than feeling the need to “pose.”

Avoid

Logos as they will date a photograph and they tend to distract from the moment.

Unnatural colours such as bright jewels tones and neon colours often fight with each other and are difficult to coordinate cohesively. They can even reflect up into your face and cause discoloration depending on the light conditions. Intense plad and bold patterns can be distracting and will clash with the environment. Subtle plaid in a natural color can look great though! Just use your best judgement.