One of the questions I answer most often before a session is, “What should we wear?” It’s a question we all have when preparing for a photo session…even us photographers! So, here I am to help you. I’m going to walk you through the process I just went through choosing the wardrobe for my family’s holiday photos.
What I typically do first is decide what color scheme I think I want to go with. Now, I’ll be honest, sometimes this changes once I start shopping, but at least I can go into it with some sort of starting point. The colors can be determined by the location, what color I want my Christmas cards to be, or just what colors I have been gravitating towards lately. This year, it’s all about mustard and gray (sort of), and for no other reason than because they are my current obsession. And because i needed an excuse to buy myself a rockin’ new pair of mustard colored cords!
So, during a routine trip to Target, I began the hunt. A quick stop at H&M as well, and here is what I had to start with.
funny, I had no problem finding clothes for me, but was still at a loss for what all my boys were going to wear. a more thorough search at H&M, and straying from my original colors a tad, and I finally found these outfits for my little men.
So far, I’m diggin’ what I have found, and am actually liking incorporating some different colors, rather than being all matchy-matchy. But, still nothing for the big man in the family, and no idea what i am looking for. Next stop…Urban outfitters. I found a handful of plaid shirts that i figured would work, and am heading to the register when i found it! the perfect shirt, with a mix of all our colors.
Now that we have all the pieces, it’s time to put it all together and see how it looks. I do this periodically throughout the process, to make sure I like the direction i am headed. i also find myself purchasing and returning a handful of things that “might” work. it’s much easier to visualize when you can lay it all out on a bed next to each other.
Now, it’s just a matter of accessorizing a bit…my favorite gray boots, and maybe finding a chunky necklace or bracelet, or a gorgeous new scarf (cuz who doesn’t need a new scarf?) to add the finishing touch.
The most important thing, in my mind, is to find clothing that is at least somewhat in line with your family’s normal style, so that nobody feels totally uncomfortable during the shoot. If your kid does’t like hats, don’t try to force him to wear one for your session. Try to use the clothing to bring out your family’s natural style. You also want to try to keep a nice mix of colors, patterns, and textures, and throw in layers and accessories to break things up a bit.
Hope this helps you and yours find the perfect ensemble for your next photo session!
by CMPhoto
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