What To Wear To a Photography Session | Melbourne Family Photographer

You’ve booked your photography session…YAY!

But now, you start to panic.

What are you going to wear??? What looks best in photographs? Do you need to go shopping? How do you coordinate everyone?

Relax, I’ve got you covered!

My number one advice for my clients is to just be YOU!

So for example, if you never wear dresses in real life, don’t wear them for your session!

If we're shooting a documentary session, then please wear whatever you'd like and what you would normally wear for the activity we're documenting (active wear, pjs, slippers, apron, art smock, suit and tie...anything goes!).

If we're shooting a lifestyle session and you'd like a bit of guidance here are a few tips to help:

Gone are the days of photos of white matching t-shirts and jeans. Instead of matching, try and complement each other. Even having two people in teal and two people in mustard, or mum wearing a mustard scarf to match her daughter's mustard dress will look too matchy. Instead of matching, try and stick with general buckets of colours: dark brown, khaki, cream, mustard, burgundy, OR teal, burgundy, navy, dark jeans. The easiest way to do this is to choose one outfit first (either a favourite outfit or one for the most difficult family member to dress), and then add in everyone else’s outfits. Neutrals with pops of colours (red and yellow!) photograph beautifully.

I’d advise that you avoid logos or tops with words or pictures on them that will distract from your faces and date your photos. You don’t want your family and friends looking at your images trying to work out what the words on your shirt say instead of looking at the beautiful moment captured.

HOWEVER, ignore this rule if little Timmy just loves his Spidey top and refuses to wear anything else (this could be Spidey, Peppa, Thomas, or a favourite sports top, etc). Your session will run much more smoothly if you just let him wear his favourite top than force him into something he doesn’t want to be in. If he’s up for it, you could always try a bribe to compromise and let him wear it for the start/end of the session with a sweater or cardigan on top. I promise though you’ll look back at your images with him as a Spiderman and smile and love that you have that memory captured.

I love stripes, but they don’t photograph in the most flattering way for women so I would avoid them for a shoot.

Plain white and plain black tops and dresses can get a bit lost in the details of the photos. If you really want to wear one though, try and add an accessory on top of it or look for one with an interesting neckline, buttons or zips.

You can add texture with accessories - scarves, chunky cardigans, necklaces, beanies, etc. BUT don’t go crazy and add too many. You don’t need to wear a scarf, hat and statement earrings. Less is more!

If your session is taking place outdoors and it’s cold, leave the puffer jackets behind. Instead, stay warm in a knit sweater, cardigan, blazer, denim jacket, etc. Throw on a scarf, hat or beanie, and a tall pair of boots. You could even bring a blanket for your whole family to wrap up in together.

For newborns and babies, make sure they are dressed in clothes that fit them! Any clothes that are too big will drown them in photographs, so stick to their size or even a little bit smaller. Little outfits for babes are cute, but dress them how you want to remember them or in what they typically wear - in the nude, in a nappy, a onesie, or a sleep suit.

The best advice I can give you is not to stress. If none of these tips sound like you, then feel free to ignore them, don’t overthink it and as I’ve already said, just dress like YOU!

If you’re struggling and need a bit of help, don’t hesitate to send me a few pictures of your options as I’m always happy to help!

Jenny Rusby is a natural light, lifestyle and documentary photographer and specialised newborn photographer, maternity photographer and family photographer. She services all areas of Victoria, including inner Melbourne suburbs such as Richmond, Northcote, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Malvern East, South Melbourne, Elwood, as well as outer south eastern subrubs, bayside areas such as Morntington, Sorrento and Red Hill. She also services the west of Melbourne and will travel to Geelong on request.