What to Wear for a Photography Session

What Should We Wear?

This is probably one of the most common questions I get asked after a client has secured their session date. I get it, it's just another item to check off the list, so let's make it a bit easier for you. Here are my tips and suggestions for you to make your decision making a bit easier!

Fresh 48 Sessions:

Listen, after you give birth to your baby the last thing on your mind should be what you're going to wear for a photo session. It's hard to gauge how you're going to be feeling. Your emotions will be all over the place, your body will be in recovery mode so until you are at that stage you won't know what you'll be comfortable with. You have so many options for what to wear for your session and there really is no wrong option, trust me!

My advice is to give yourself an option or two so if one doesn't pan out it's not a big deal. If you are comfortable making an outfit change or two, have at it! You may just end up being the most comfortable in the hospital gown (like I was) or even just topless in your beautiful mesh underwear (IYKYK). Here are what some of my clients have been photographed in:

Hospital Gown
Nursing Bra
Cotton or Satin Robes over a nursing bra
Comfy Pyjamas
Your going home outfit

As for what you should dress baby in, I love simplicity, so having baby in just their diaper and swaddled up when I arrive, that is perfection. I like to get outfits on baby near the end of the session so we don't disturb them too much with too many changes. Solid earth tones are timeless ( I say this all the time) but if you have a pattern you love, I'm down!

Newborn Home Sessions:

Again, your comfort is my number one priority for home sessions. We have a bit more flexibility vs a Fresh 48 session where you have the time and wardrobe at hand to make multiple changes (for yourselves and for baby) if you choose to. Dress in something comfortable, that you feel good in, and something that will go well with your home as the backdrop. Do you have a super fun multicolour space that screams joy? Then dress to compliment that!

Solid earth tones are timeless (see, here I go again!) I want your photos to be natural and timeless and most of all reflect you as you are at this time in your lives.

Outdoor Family Sessions:

Keep in mind where you will be for your outdoor session. Are we in a field, a trail between trees, a beach, or downtown between buildings?

Some colours to wear that compliment any backdrop are:

beiges, tans, and browns
dark muted tones like navy, rust, darker greens
soft pastels (great for spring/summer photos)

Some tips:

Wear complimentary colour tones; mix and match solids with patterns. Have one pattern for every 2 solid colours.
Take note of the patterns in your outfit: if you have florals on your outfit try not to have florals in everyone else's outfits.
Matching colours and patterns is not a necessity and can sometimes take attention away from each individual (dressing everyone in all black or all white can dull the image, but again, if you are going for an all black or white look, have at it!)
My one no no has to be very bright or neon coloured outfits. They tend to clash with any backdrop. The first thing that should pop out in a photo is your and your family's emotion, not their outfits!

Finally, if you're still asking yourself what the heck are complimentary colours, some common ones to layer up amongst a group can be: