What To Wear For Picture Day
As professional family photographers, Bella Essence has excellent tips and ideas about what to wear for your family photographs to ensure the most appealing images possible. Starting with the basics, we have advice on what to wear, what not to wear, what to expect, and what to do, so that we are able to obtain the best, most flattering photographs while having a great time!
It’s important to remember to dress right down to your family’s feet. You’ll want to avoid scuffed or unattractive shoes, such as crocs or worn-out tennis shoes. Fun shoes like Converse, boat shoes, Mary Janes and boots always work well. You’ll want to coordinate your outfits without matching perfectly. You can get creative by having one family member wearing stripes or plaids, with the rest wearing solids. The result is amazing textures for your photographs, while keeping colors coordinated. Everyone in solid colors really makes your family photos pop.
If you are having trouble with styling for family photos, you can head to your local GAP store, or a similar clothing retailer, where they will happily assist you free of charge. No need to pay a stylist when you have knowledgeable fashion advice right there in the store. You may want to choose two outfit ideas, one dressy and one casual. Don’t forget about hair, makeup, nails, and shoes!
We want your kids to feel comfortable around their photographer, and to have a blast! Please ensure children use the bathroom before leaving for the photoshoot; and limit their fluid intake beforehand. This allows us uninterrupted shooting time. Bribes are great, but please keep any goodies in your bag or the car until after we finish shooting. Many snacks have dye in them, which can end up on and in your children’s mouths. Often, children will be focused on eating instead of having their attention on their photographer.
Sessions with children typically last for an hour or so. If possible, please adjust your nap schedule to accommodate the time of day we’ve scheduled your family photoshoot. Sunset offers delightful colors and shadows, so if you’ve scheduled a photo session during the “magic hour”, it’s helpful for little ones to have an earlier nap if possible.
As you focus on your children, don’t forget about yourself! Try to maintain good posture, and ensure your chin doesn’t pull in. You are in the photo as well, so be watchful of your own expression when trying to get your baby to smile! Your photographer will be watching for the most flattering images, and will let you know if anything is looking off or out of place.
Lastly, weather can change rapidly in Michigan, so please adjust your outfits to accommodate warmer or cooler weather than expected. If kids are too cold or overheated, they are not going to look comfortable or have any fun. We’ll be watching the weather in case of rain. At the first sign your children are not well, please let us know so that we can reschedule.
At Bella Essence Photography, we are available for professional family and senior portrait photography, as well as wedding, maternity, and newborn photoshoots. It is our pleasure to capture priceless memories of your family, and we look forward to working with you!
