What to Wear for your Orlando Photo Session

If you are wondering what you should wear to your professional photo session you are in the right place! As an Orlando family & maternity photographer I work together with you to create the beautiful artwork that you want to display in your home and share with your family and friends it's no secret that wardrobe is such a vital part of the experience. It's a proven fact that when you look good you feel even better! Choosing the right outfits and color palettes for your portraits can help bring the vision you have in mind to the walls of your beautiful home. The clothing that you choose has a huge impact on the look of your final images.

For timeless portraits that you plan to hang on your walls I strongly suggest avoiding large logos, very thin stripes that are close together, characters, words on clothing, and yes even light up character shoes (sorry little Johnny). Depending on the purpose and theme of your session some of these things may be okay.

When choosing outfits for your children stick to neutral styles and colors. If you are choosing a dress with a pattern choose solids for the kids and if one of the kids is wearing a pattern choose solids for everyone else. This is to avoid too many busy patterns, that being said multiple dresses in soft florals are usually not distracting and can work together.

As a rule of thumb, err on the side of being too dressy, because truth be told you will never be overdressed for your portrait session. During the planning stages of your session I am here to help you achieve the look you desire so feel free to reach out.

Couples, Families, & Children

Women usually have the hardest time picking out what to wear and for that reason I think this is a great starting point. So ladies, you get to pick out something that you love and feel beautiful in and that is what you will use to build the rest of the outfits from. This item may already be in your closet and that would certainly be a win! If you need or just want to go shopping I will link some great stores at the end. Midi and Maxi dresses in general are very flattering and tend to photograph just amazing!

Picking an outfit that is flattering to your body will make you feel like a million bucks. Off the shoulder styles or dresses with sleeves of any length will take focus off of your arms. Dresses with a sheer skirt layer or slit helps the fabric to flow beautifully and capture motion. Dresses that have a defined waist and a loose flowy skirt will accentuate your figure. That being said you want something that fits you properly, not too snug so it will not dig into your skin.

Exciting news, I am now offering complimentary use of my client closet for women/moms/expectant moms for your scheduled full portrait session. Contact me for more information!

Once you have your outfit chosen think about what other colors you want to include and build your color palette of about 3-4 colors. Coordinating colors rather than matching is the way to go. What this means is you don't need to have everyone in the same color pants and shirt to get a cohesive look (unless that is what you want). Pick a few colors that you love and base your outfits around those colors.

If you've been following my work you will also notice the brighter aesthetic. To keep that theme going it's a great idea for most of your colors to be in the family of neutrals. Neutral tones photograph best for outdoor natural light photos. Colors I recommend: Any tones of creams & ivory, khaki, muted pinks, rose, soft blues, soft greens, grays. Different textures in similar tones also make for points of interest. Neutral colors also help your photos to have a light and airy feel to them. I love the clean look of solid colors but when you use a color scheme it makes it easier to mix in some simple patterns that draws from your chosen colors. Now that you have your color palette chosen it makes it easier to shop and pick outfits for the rest of your family.

What kind of pants for men and young boys? Shades of Khaki, beige, cream. Shades of olive green or brown. If you they must wear jeans stick to lighter shades.

Don't be afraid to incorporate accessories. Sometimes a necklace, hat, scarf, suspenders etc really help take the look to the next level! That being said the best accessory you can wear is your smile and confidence. Leave all stresses behind and come ready to enjoy a lovely care-free evening and be in the moment.

Make sure young kiddos have had naps and a meal prior to your session time. I also encourage you to bring some things they like to help them relax.

Hair and Makeup

You can do your own hair and makeup or get it done professionally. If you need to DIY your portrait session beauty I have some tips for that! Make sure your nails are clean and groomed. If you are able to paint your nails that is always a nice touch that looks great in photos. Even a clear coat will help to give you a nice polished look.

Use products in your hair for hold or humidity depending on the weather. If you are doing your own makeup make sure your foundation is a good match to your skin-tone and is applied evenly. Thankfully, nowadays there are so many resources such as YouTube to help you do this on your own.