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WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR FAMILY OR NEWBORN PHOTO SESSION

I get this question a lot…what should we wear for our family or newborn photo session? This is such a fun and crucial part of your photo shoot, and after 20 years of photographing Los Angeles families and newborns, I have some things to share!

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Steps for choosing what to wear for your family photo session

Choose Timeless Clothing
Appropriate Attire for the Location
Base it Around Mama
Coordinate, Don’t Match
Pop: Stand Out
Limit Patterns
Select for the Season
Pick a Color Palette

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Tip ONE: THINK TIMELESS!

My number one tip is to think timeless, you still want to love what you wore in your photos in 20 years! Stay true to your personality and that of your family as a whole. Think about hanging a large print on the wall, will you still like it in 5, 10, or 15 years or will you cringe at that trendy outfit you wore or the colors you liked at the time? If you aren’t sure, neutrals are a good bet, and classic fabrics like denim, cotton, and chambray. Scroll to the bottom for color palette suggestions.

Diana Henderson Photography, Best Los Angeles Family Photographer, What to wear for a family photography session, How to dress my family for a photo shoot, Los Angeles Family Photographer, Arlington Garden Pasadena

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Tip TWO: APPROPRIATE ATTIRE

PLEASE, I am begging you, wear appropriate clothing for the location. I have seen this ruin a shoot more than once. For the beach: wear flowy pretty dresses and light and bright colors, a suit and tie and a formal gown with heels are going to look out of place and be incredibly hard to move in. For the nature trail: wear shoes that are going to be comfortable, leave those heels and wedges at home! For the kiddos, make sure they are wearing shoes that are not going to stop them every couple of minutes because a “there’s something in my shoe!” LOL! This is sure to frustrate them and stress the parents out. Cute simple tennis shoes work, think Keds, not Nikes. Please dress for the weather, there is nothing worse than a child who is freezing cold for the entire session, this does not make for happy and carefree photos for everyone involved.

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Tip THREE: ALL ABOUT THE LADIES

Not to make it all about us but…this one is for you ladies! Probably the most important thing is to start with you, Mama!! Pick what you like best on you and what makes you feel like a million bucks right now and build the rest of the family photo wardrobe around you. Our bodies go through so many transitions, pre and post-pregnancy and everything in between, wear what you are comfortable in. My favorite shops are listed below!

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Tip FOUR: COORDINATING NOT MATCHING

Coordinate and compliment rather than match the whole group. Everyone has their own personality and style and your clothing should show off that personality. So rather than everyone wearing the same color, find a palette of colors that all work well together and let each person express themselves.

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Tip FIVE: POP

Think about how your clothing will work with the environment. Will you “pop” or blend in? If you are in a green field, the green dress or shirt might not be the best plan, go for khaki, soft gray, pink, yellow, something that stands away.

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Tip SIX: LIMIT PATTERNS

I love a great pattern, it can be so visually interesting and add great movement to an image. It’s important, especially when you are dealing with multiple subjects, to limit patterns. Texture is always a great thing to add so look for solids with great texture. Layering and accessories are a beautiful way to add visual interest as well, bring on the jackets and a beautiful scarf! Accessories are a great way to add personality as well with jewelry or maybe a hat for a few shots.

Tip SEVEN: SEASONAL

This one is important and sometimes gets overlooked. You should all be dressed for the same season, a thick sweater on one person and spaghetti straps and shorts on another looks strange photographically.

Tip EIGHT: THINK IN COLOR PALETTES

SOFT PASTELS

MUTED GREENS

CLASSIC WHITES & CREAMS

FALL FAVORITES

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LIGHT AND BRIGHT NEWBORNS

For Newborn Sessions specifically, I really do prefer a light and bright palette. This way the focus goes to the baby and looks so bright and fresh and pure…just as they are!

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A FEW LAST THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…

Things I love: light flowy dresses, pastels, muted natural colors, shades of white, big textures, solids, layers, and accessories.

Things I don’t love: text, logos, neon, and too many patterns in one photo.

One last thing to think about is what you are doing with these images and if the clothing will coordinate with the final destination: your walls, a frame in your living room, an announcement, a holiday card etc.

Check out these links for great shops for light and colorful flowy dresses: