What to Wear for Your Photoshoot: A Complete Styling Guide

One of the most common questions I get is: "What should we wear?" The answer matters more than most people expect — your clothing can take photos from good to beautiful, or at worst, pull attention away from the people in them.

The Most Important Principle: Harmony, Not Uniformity

The most common mistake is dressing a family in matching outfits — everyone in white, everyone in black. It looks unnatural and stiff. The goal is harmony: colours and styles that go together but aren't identical.

Colour Palettes That Always Work

Earth tones — my personal favourite: cream, beige, terracotta, mustard, olive, rust. Works in almost any setting, timeless and flattering on every skin tone.

Soft pastels: Light blue, lavender, mint, pale rose — lovely for spring sessions and families with young children.

White and cream: White reads as classic but is tricky — it reflects too much light. Cream (off-white) works significantly better.

Blues: Navy, mid-blue, and soft blue — particularly beautiful by water and in the city.

What to Avoid

Large logos and text, neon and very bright colours, busy small patterns that create visual noise in photos.

Tips for Families

Choose the most distinctive outfit first — often a child's. Then coordinate everyone else around it. Children can be slightly brighter than adults.

Fabrics and Practicalities

Choose natural fabrics: linen, cotton, viscose. Iron or steam before the session. Comfort above all — if you don't feel good in your outfit, it shows.

Not sure what to wear? Send me a photo of your outfit ideas and I'll give you specific feedback. That's part of my service. Get in touch and we'll prepare your look together.