You've chosen a date.
You've picked a location.
Now there is that question floating around in your head: What do I wear for photos anyway?
If this is your question, don't worry, you are in exactly the right place.
Families
Tip 1: Blend, don't match.
Another way to say this is that your goal is to coordinate, not to match. Matchy-matchy can be fun, but blending gives that put together, beautiful look we are aiming for in a session so that these photos are ones that you want to look at over and over again. Choosing a primary colour can help with this, as well as picking the neutral you are looking for. For casual sessions, blue jeans can be a great neutral. For dressier photos, black and white together look great, or brown and white.
In families, I've found it easiest to pick out the one of you (you know the one) who is a little harder to pick out clothes for. Pick theirs out first, and then blend in the others around that.
Tip 2: Few Patterns, many solids
In the worlds of blending, a great way of doing that is patterning 1/3 of your group. So if there are 3 in your family, than one of you can wear as loud a pattern as they want, and the others should wear solids. If there are 5-6 of you, then maybe 2 of you could swing a pattern, with the rest in solids. By making one person 'pop' in that way, you actually make everyone 'pop'.
As for solids, generally, it's best to stick to larger prints, and if you want stripes or plaid, make those large too. Smaller ones don't often show up well on camera. But large ones tend to flatter, and show up so well adding that flair you need to make your family the best dressed crew on your wall.
Tip 3: Darks and Lights for Mom and Dad
In family sessions, it's usually the parents that want the absolute most to look their best for your pictures. So here is a tip that mostly for them.
As a rule, wearing a dark colour, like black, navy or burgundy is going to have a lovely, slimming affect, making it a powerful punch for helping you feel confidant and look your best, and make you that level part of the picture to help all of you blend together. I generally advise one of the parents to be the dark colour, and then the other to be either the pattern, or the lighter colour, but solids work too! Mom, if you have that amazing dress you've been waning to wear that has just the right silhouette, pull it out and lets see it!
On the otherside of darks, lights tend to have a 'lightening' effect, meaning that they make you appear lighter. I advise just about every family to have 1 person at the least who is wearing a light colour to brighten the scene and draw the attention in to make the darks, patterns, solids and brights all look their very best. If there are 4 or less of you though, wearing that solid color may cover this base, but having a lighter colour in there, whether it be light pink, light gray, white, tan or that pale peach, it helps to make your family come together and stand out at once.
For mom, light or dark dresses are often a huge win.
Tip 4: Dress it up
Everyone wants to feel confidant going into their session. A great way of doing that is to dress up! This will make it fun, help you feel your very best and make these photos you will be proud to show off ("See how snazzy we look?") Ladies, now is the time to pull out that dress you've been eyeing, and that tule skirt you've wanted to wear for so long. Gents, button downs can dress it up easily without having to pull out your suit (unless you want to). But generally, for family sessions, it much easier to have fun all together if your in something that borders dressy, but stays in the button up thread.
For children, generally simpler things can look dressy, like solid coloured dresses and shirts, or lighter materials. Paired with a basic pair of sandals or Mary Janes, and you have a winning outfit.
Tip 5: Accessories--Minimize to Maximum Impact.
When it comes to accessories, having them there can add a huge beautiful layer to your session. One of the simplest ways of doing that for a woman is simply to add a necklace. For a man, adding a hat or vest may be the impact you want. Having 1-2 accessories each, maximum will be the way to ensure this, and not everyone has to have one.
Ways to accessorize: --Add a hat. ---Add a bouquet. ---Add a book. ---Add a picnic blanket. ---Add a necklace. --Have fun with your shoes: Adding those cowboy boots or leather sandals can be a great way to accessorize. For kids, it may be that pair of suspenders, or that cute little bow.
Tip 6: Comfort
Make sure, that whatever you are wearing, you are comfortable in it. In the long run, this is the most important part, because a comfortable outfit means that YOU will be comfortable, and that opens you up to spending some real time with your loved ones in from of this camera lens.
Pick something you like wearing, and feel good in, and make sure you can move to chase that child. For children, make sure they are happy in it, so no itchy tights, and that it won't be a crime to their closet if they stain it (avoid heirlooms).