So you’ve finally taken the plunge, you’ve decided to capture some beautiful moments of everyday magic at Kingshill Studios but have no idea what to wear for your family photoshoot. Don’t worry, here’s some handy information for you!
But then excitement turns to trepidation. A familiar dread creeps in. You fling open your wardrobe doors, look at the chaos within and cry, ‘What on EARTH are we going to wear?!’
First of all, let me say that it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious. A family photoshoot can feel pretty high stakes and everyone wants to ‘get it right’. Plus, rest assured that agonising over an outfit isn’t an affliction that only affects teenagers – oh no. I’ve had emails and phonecalls from every member of a family group, from macho dads to effortlessly stylish grannies, all asking the same thing: ‘What do you think we should wear?’
So in order to help, we’ll invite you to attend a design consultation at the photography studio where we can talk through any concerns or questions you have about your clothing for the day.
Plus, we’ve come up with a selection of our top tips for foolproof family photoshoot outfits which we’re sharing here. Ready? Let’s go…
Go for classic rather than trendy: You don’t need to dress like a Victorian, but try to avoid anything too trendy. An example would be last summer’s mania for ladies’ ‘cold shoulder’ tops for ladies – although they looked fabulous, they were more of a flash-in-the-pan rather than a perennial style and will instantly date your photographs. And remember, classic doesn’t need to mean boring: chinos, skinny jeans, a leather jacket, stylish knit or a beautiful scarf are all classics and look wonderful on camera.
Colour: Too often we’re drawn to black because it makes us feel safe but, depending on your complexion, it can have a draining effect. Our session will usually begin in the studio here in Kingswells, and here darker shades work really well – think grey, navy, maroons or dark green. Then weather permitting, we’ll head outside. Try to avoid black coats or jackets – tricky, I know, but lines of clothing tends to ‘disappear’ with black – and white can create an overpowering contrast. However, an injection of bright colour can work brilliantly outside, especially in winter, and almost all colours look fabulous in the sunnier months. I always ask folk to bring a couple of changes of clothes so that we can mix things up a bit for the outdoor part of the shoot, so don’t worry – we can look at some options together on the day if you want a second opinion!
Dress for comfort: Our time together won’t be a sterile magazine shoot – even in the studio part of the session we often get down on the floor and try out different poses. Our ideal shoot is split between indoors and out so, as long as things aren’t too dreich, you’ll be tramping along muddy paths, making yourself comfy on picnic blankets and leaning up against trees. Go for clothes you can move easily in and make sure you’ve got a sturdy pair of shoes, or even bung some wellies in the boot.
Complement rather than clash: Try to plan what you’re going to wear together and avoid obvious clashes. While kids can look great in contrasting colours, one family member turning up in neon pink and another in forest green might look a little…well, odd. Try to create a colour palette that works together across all of your outfits. Need some specific ideas? Check out our helpful Pinterest board!
Reflecting Nature: We’ll hopefully be heading outside to make the most of Kingshill Studios’ beautiful surroundings, so you might want to consider reflecting nature or the seasons in your clothes. Tan, mustard and maroon, for example, look stunning in Autumn and pops of pastel colours reflect the energy and growth of Spring beautifully.
What To Wear For Your Family Photoshoot
Makeup and hair: And speaking of nature, our advice here is to keep things natural. It can be tempting to layer on the warpaint when you know a camera’s going to be pointed at you, but heavy makeup in a relaxed, outdoor setting can present a bit of a visual conflict. Go for a light daytime look and leave me to work my magic…
Even though I’ve been taking photos professionally for over a decade, I still get such a thrill from seeing a family through my lens. I’ve seen families grow and lose loved ones, and feel so privileged to have photographed long-term love as well as beautiful, fleeting details.
So now you know what to wear for your family photoshoot, do you fancy capturing your family’s everyday magic? Let’s talk.
