How to Choose Your Outfits.
Your outfits play a significant role in the overall look and feel of your photos. My advice when starting to plan your session, is to begin with your Key Person. Whether that's Mum, or it's a session for Grandad's birthday - plan the outfit for your central person, first. This will set the tone for how to build out the rest of your wardrobe to ensure all the outfits are complimenting each other and not competing, giving you images that won’t look dated in five years.
Coordinate with your kids to choose outfits that complement each other without being too matchy-matchy. Consider the location and theme of your shoot when selecting your attire. Remember, comfort is key – you'll want to feel confident and relaxed in what you're wearing. I’ll always keep an eye on hair in faces and if clothing needs a straighten, I’m like the style bestie we all need. And don’t forget, you’re welcome to borrow any pieces you like from my client closet. You’ll find all my items pinned as a highlight in my Instagram stories. Drop me a line if you’re not on IG and want to see what I’ve got for you.
A Step‑by‑Step Guide
1) Think about your location & mood
Before you even open the wardrobe, picture where your session will be. Is it at the beach, in the hinterland, somewhere urban, or in soft golden‑hour light? The setting sets the tone — it’ll help guide your fabric choices and the kind of colour palette that will feel most natural.
2) Mum goes first
Mum, you’re the anchor. Choose something you truly love and feel comfortable in — cameras pick up confidence. Start with a hero piece like a dress, a textured blouse, or a statement knit. Solid colours or very subtle patterns always photograph best. Think about shapes too: a flattering neckline or silhouette keeps the focus where you want it in close‑ups. Natural fabrics like linen, cotton, wool, or knits look beautiful on camera and add texture. One more tip — skip bold logos or licensed characters, they tend to distract and date your photos quickly.
3) Build a palette from mum’s outfit
Once you’ve chosen your piece, pull out 3–5 colours to form your palette: one main colour, 1–2 neutrals, and 1–2 accents. Jot them down or snap a photo so you can refer back when choosing the rest. A good balance is the 60/30/10 rule — 60% base neutrals, 30% supporting tones, and 10% accent. This creates harmony across the group without looking overly “matchy.”
4) Dress everyone else around the palette
From there, it’s about layering in the rest of the family:
- Partner: pick a neutral or a slightly lighter/darker shade than mum.
- Kids: mix in solids with one or two subtle patterns, as long as the colours sit in the palette.
- Tip: accessories like scarves, hats, or belts are a great way to sprinkle in accent tones without overwhelming.
5) Patterns & textures (with purpose)
Patterns aren’t off‑limits, but less is more. Stick to one patterned outfit, or make sure they’re very subtle. Keep the colours consistent with the palette.
Textures are your best friend here — knits, linen, denim, lace. They add depth, interest, and timelessness to your images.
6) Do a comfort & fit check
Before the big day, have everyone try on their outfits together and take a quick phone photo outside in natural light. You’ll instantly see how the colours work in camera.
Move around a little — sit, hug, walk. You want clothes that allow natural movement, especially for kids.
7) Pack a simple day‑of kit
A few small things make a big difference: lint roller, safety pins, a spare shirt or top, neutral shoes, hair ties, wipes, snacks, and water. If you can, bring along a steamer or wrinkle‑release spray too, but this is only if you're really concerned about creases.
8) Editing‑friendly choices for timeless photos
Certain colours make my job smoother as your photographer, and your photos more cohesive:
- Avoid ultra‑bright neons and high‑contrast logos — they pull focus.
- Skip pure white if possible; opt for cream or off‑white instead.
- Swap out heavy black for deep navy or charcoal to keep detail visible.
- Stick with muted tones, mid‑tones, and grounded neutrals for timeless images.
9) Hair & Make-up
Professional hair and makeup can make a big difference in how you feel and look during your photoshoot, but this is not essential for our time together! A natural look that enhances your features will be perfect for our session. For your hair, again I want you to be comfortable. So whether you wear it up or down is completely your call, but I will say that a relaxed style will suit our shoot beautifully. And I’m always happy for a bit of a breeze to blow your hair around, movement in images is what gives an authentic and genuine feel.
A quick “what to avoid” checklist
To get the most out of your session and ensure timeless captures (not to mention, help me out with my editing process), please do your best to avoid these things below.
They will date your photos quicker than you can say "Elsa, Let It Go!"
- Big branded logos or licensed characters 🚫
- Ultra‑neon or overly saturated colours 🚫
- Too many competing patterns 🚫
- Outfits or shoes that are uncomfortable to move in 🚫
Keep it simple, cohesive, and comfortable — and your photos will thank you!
