What to Wear for Your Photo session: Shop Curated Outfit Picks
SHOP photo-friendly Outfits
ORGANIC OPTIONS
Photography-Friendly Fashion
If figuring out what everyone should wear is already stressing you out, start here.
You're in good hands...
HANDPICKED WITH YOU IN MIND
These are pieces I've personally picked because I know they'll photograph well. But you don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for family pictures. Start with what you already own & love, use these picks to fill in what's missing, and (if you are already a client)
PLEASE feel free to text me photos along the way! I'll help you make sure everything works together.
Etsy Knit RomperS
Sweater Knit Romper & Hat Set
NEWBORN KNOT GOWN & HAT
Newborn + Kids' Photoshoot Outfits
Beige Long Sleeve
Maternity Gown
Indie Back Tie Dress
(multiple colors)
Julian Loves Diamonds Necklace
Women's Outfits & Maternity Gowns
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Why does what I wear matter so much for a photoshoot?
Your session was scheduled for a reason, so your wardrobe should have a reason too. Photos mark a specific moment in time, document an event, celebrate a season of life, or help tell the story of your brand. The right outfit supports that purpose instead of distracting from it. Clothing helps shape the mood, message, and overall feeling of your final images.
Q. Why do colors matter so much in photos?
Color is one of the first things people notice in an image. It affects the mood of the photo, how the group looks together, how your skin tone photographs, and where the viewer’s eye goes first. The right color palette can make your images feel soft, warm, polished, playful, bold, or timeless.
Q. Should my family wear matching outfits?
Coordinating photographs better than matching. When everyone wears the exact same outfit, the image can feel flat or dated. Start with one person's outfit. Let's say you have a floral dress with cream, dusty blue & rust in it. You wear the pattern. Dad might wear a cream henley with denim. Your daughter could wear dusty blue. Your son could wear a rust knit.
Nobody "matches" but everyone coordinates in a way that makes sense together.
Q. What colors usually photograph well for family, maternity, and newborn sessions?
Soft neutrals, earth tones, and muted colors are often beautiful choices. Cream, ivory, camel, taupe, soft gray, sage, dusty blue, blush, rust, olive, and warm brown can photograph especially well depending on the location and season. These colors to keep the focus on people and connection rather than on the clothing itself.
But please don't read that list and think everyone needs to show up in cream, beige & sage. If your family wears color, wear color. If you love black, wear black. If your daughter has a dress she's obsessed with, show it to me. The goal is for your family to coordinate without looking like I dressed you as a family-photo starter pack.
Q. Will you help us choose our outfits?
Yes, and this is exactly why this page exists! Styling guidance is part of every Studio 29 session because my clients are busy and would rather not spend a weekend researching what photographs well! I put this page together to help you shop for outfits, find styling tips, text me fitting room photos - - I love supporting and confirming everything works together before our session.
Q. Are there certain styles and fabrics that photograph better if I want more shape?
Yes. Wrap dresses, empire waists, high-rise bottoms, tucked tops, belts, tailored jackets, and pieces with a defined waist can help create shape on camera.
Fabrics with a little structure often photograph better than very thin or clingy materials.
Read More About This: Fitted vs Loose Clothing for Photos
family photo outfit checklist: A few things to keep in mind while you’re shopping:
Over and over, clients tell me the hardest part of getting ready for family photos is figuring out what everyone should wear.
So let me make this easier; the outfits you choose should first and foremost feel like you. The key is choosing pieces your eyes are not immediately drawn to the clothes… it’s drawn to you and your family’s faces and laughter.
• Start with one anchor outfit first. Usually your dress, baby’s romper, or the piece you already love. Do not try to shop for everyone at once. That is how we end up spiraling.
• Pull 3–5 colors from that anchor outfit and use those colors for everyone else.
• Choose colors that complement each other and your season/backdrop. A fall field, beach session, in-home newborn session, and downtown shoot will not all call for the same palette.
• Lighter, softer colors usually make skin tones look fab because they don’t reflect weird colors onto you or your family. Please, with love, no neons.
• One pattern can add interest without competing. Five patterns usually want to fight each other.
• You don’t need a fitted outfit from head to toe. Instead, look for one detail that gives shape: a defined waist, open neckline, structured shoulder, tucked top, cropped jacket over a dress, or belted jumpsuit.
• Texture is your friend. Lace, ribbing, knits, linens, buttons, eyelet, gauze, denim, and corduroy all add depth without needing a ton of styling.
• I LOVE layers. They can add shape, movement, warmth, and a little interest.
• Before you commit, film a quick phone video of yourself walking, sitting, turning, and holding your kiddos. If it rides up, clings, pulls, or needs constant adjusting on camera in your bedroom, it will do the same thing in front of mine. 😉
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