WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR PHOTOSESSION
Without the Stress, the Arguments, or the Last Minute Panic
Because getting dressed shouldn’t be the hardest part of the day.
By Richard Hill Studio | North Texas Family Portrait Photography
WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR PHOTOSESSION
If there is one question we get asked more than any other at Richard Hill Studio, it’s this one. What do we wear? And honestly, we get it. You’ve booked the session, you’re excited, and then you open the wardrobe and suddenly the whole thing feels a lot more complicated than it did five minutes ago. The good news? It really doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together our guide on what to wear for your photosession, to take the guesswork completely out of it, so you can spend less time stressing about outfits and more time looking forward to the fun part.
LET ONE OUTFIT LEAD THE WAY
This is the single most useful piece of advice we can give you and it works every single time. Instead of trying to coordinate everyone at once, which, let’s be honest, is a recipe for a headache, start with one person’s outfit. Usually this is the person whose style you find easiest to dress, or the one with the most specific taste.
Once you have that outfit sorted, use it as your starting point and build everyone else’s look around it. Pull one colour from that outfit for someone else, echo a pattern in a subtle accessory, match a tone rather than an exact shade. Suddenly the whole family looks beautifully put together without looking like you all got dressed in the same shop.
WHILST WE LOVE A PAIR OF JEANS AND A COMFY HOODY AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON, THERE IS NOTHING NICER THAN GETTING ALL FANCY FOR YOUR FAMILY PHOTOSESSION.
CO-ORDINATE, DON’T MATCH
Matching outfits, everyone in the same colour, the same style, the same everything, can look a little flat in portraits. It tends to draw the eye to the clothes rather than the people wearing them, which is absolutely the opposite of what you want. Coordinating, on the other hand, is where the magic happens. Think tones and palettes rather than identical outfits.
Warm neutrals (cream, ivory, soft whites), soft blues, earthy greens, dusty pinks, colours that sit comfortably next to each other without competing for attention. Grey and black are always timeless. Mix textures. Layer pieces. Let everyone’s personality come through in what they’re wearing while still feeling like a cohesive, pulled together group. Trust us, it photographs beautifully every single time.
LEAVE THE LOGO AT HOME
We love a good brand as much as the next person, but your session portraits really aren’t the place for them. Large logos, slogans, and heavily branded clothing have a sneaky habit of pulling the eye away from the thing that actually matters – the faces of the people you love.
The same goes for very busy patterns. Small, dense prints and bold all-over designs can look visually chaotic in portraits, create a distracting background noise in the image, and sometimes cause a flickering effect in photography that no amount of editing can fully fix. The goal is for every eye that lands on your portrait to go straight to your family, not spend thirty seconds reading someone’s chest. Keep it clean, keep it simple, and let the people do the talking. Your portraits will be all the better for it.
Dont forget the details
The little things make a bigger difference than you think.
Accessories, shoes, and the finer details of an outfit can really elevate a portrait, or quietly let it down. Here are a few things worth thinking about:
SHOES – Yes, shoes matter. Even if feet aren’t the focus of every shot, shoes can appear in more images than you’d expect. Make sure everyone’s shoes feel considered and in keeping with the overall look. Scruffy trainers with an otherwise polished outfit can be a little jarring, unless scruffy trainers are absolutely part of your vibe, in which case lean into it completely.
JEWELLERY – Keep it simple and meaningful. A few carefully chosen pieces work far better than lots of competing accessories. Sentimental jewellery (a necklace you always wear, a bracelet from someone special) always photographs beautifully because it carries real meaning.
HAIR & MAKE-UP – You want to look like yourself, just your best self. We’d always encourage clients to keep hair and makeup in keeping with how they normally look – this isn’t the day to try a bold new look you’ve never worn before! Familiar and confident always beats adventurous and uncertain. But feel free to glam it up a little bit if you’re feeling fancy and your outfit reflects that.
IRON EVERYTHING – Seriously. Creases photograph far more visibly than they look in real life. Give everything a good iron or steam before the session and you’ll thank yourself later.
DRESS FOR COMFORT AS WELL AS STYLE
This one is especially important for children. If your little one is itchy, restricted, or generally unhappy in their outfit, no amount of beautiful styling is going to make them relax and enjoy the session. Choose outfits that feel good to wear as well as look good to wear. Soft fabrics, comfortable fits, and shoes they can actually move in will make a huge difference to how everyone feels on the day and how everyone looks in the portraits. For adults too, if you feel good in what you’re wearing, that confidence shows. Don’t squeeze into something too tight, wear heels that are going to make you miserable, or put on something that feels nothing like you just because you think it looks good in theory. Wear something that makes you feel like the best version of yourself and you will absolutely photograph that way.
BRING A CHANGE OF OUTFIT
If you’d like a little variety in your portrait collection, bringing a change of outfit for some or all of the family is a great idea. It doesn’t need to be a full wardrobe change, even swapping a top layer or changing the kids into something more casual for a second look can give your portrait collection a lovely range of feels. Just let us know in advance and we’ll build a little extra time into your session to accommodate it.
WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?
Children who have had some say in what they’re wearing tend to feel more confident and comfortable during the session and that absolutely comes through in the portraits. Within the boundaries of your overall colour palette and coordination plan, let them choose between a couple of options. Do they want to wear their favourite colour? Their comfiest jeans? Their beloved pair of trainers? Pick your battles, give a little where you can, and you’ll have a much happier, more relaxed child in front of the camera. And a much more enjoyable session for everyone.
STILL NOT SURE?
Every Richard Hill Studio session includes a pre-shoot consultation where we talk through everything, including what to wear. We’re always happy to look at outfit photos, give honest feedback, and help you pull everything together in a way that feels right for your family and your home. You don’t need to figure this out on your own. That’s what we’re here for.
Now that the wardrobe is sorted, let’s get the date in the diary.
BOOK YOUR FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION
At Richard Hill Studio we create luxury fine art family portraits for North Texas families who want something genuinely beautiful to hang on their walls and treasure for generations. If you’re ready to book your session, or you just want to have a chat about what’s involved, we’d love to hear from you.
For the joy givers, the imperfectionists, the lovers of life and the artists.
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