A few important things to remember:

So you can’t wear your favorite sports shirt, your go-to political sweatshirt, or your most comfortable pair of sweatpants. What does that leave to wear? Fortunately, you still have a lot of options!

What you wear will depend on the time of year, the setting, the occasion, and ultimately your unique personality. It’s always a safe bet to be in touch with your photographer about your photo shoot outfits, but if no direction is specifically given, here are some general ideas about what to wear to a photoshoot:

• Keep accessories and jewelry simple, or skip it altogether.
• Stick to solid, muted colors–earthy tones, muted gem tones, monochrome, beige, and taupe are great examples.
• Low contrast outfits (if your shirt is pure white, go for lighter color bottom pieces.)
• Flatter your figure–don’t wear clothes that are entirely too tight or loose, or clothes that accentuate your insecurities. Wear something you feel beautiful in.
• Wear sleeves or quarter-sleeves if weather permits. In my experience, the women I photograph are most insecure about the way their arms appear. Covering your arms may take the focus away from them and flatter their shape at the same time.
• Dress in long skirts, pants, or dresses. There is just something about a long flowy dress that photographs so beautifully, and you will have so much fun wearing one!
• Wear your hair how you like it, but typically stay away from ponytails. Typically, the looser and more flexible the style, the better!
• Coordinate your clothing–in group photos, try to keep everyone on the same page and color palette of 2-4 colors. The best tip I recommend for a place to start your family outfit planning is to pick one item of clothing with a few colors (like mom or daughter’s dress) and pull colors from that for everyone else to wear. Dress like you go together.

What NOT to wear to a photoshoot:

• FOR THE LOVE OF ALL! STICK TO BOLD SOLID PRINTS! Do not wear PLAID, loud prints, giant logos. For men a simple black t-shirt is PERFECTION!!

Needless to say, your photos will outlast your current obsession with “PINK” sweatshirts, or your favorite ice cream parlor in Myrtle Beach. PLEASE skip the baseball caps and hoodies with logos, brands, cartoons, or public figures. This goes for children as well–your little princess might look incredibly adorable in her Frozen shirt, but do you really want to memorialize a free advertisement for a disney movie above your mantle? Do you want to look back on that time in your child’s life and see not only your child’s smiling face, but the animated face of her fleeting disney idol just 5 inches below hers?



Other than obvious brands, logos, or advertisements, a big no-no for your attire is a busy pattern or color. Your favorite everyday shirt might be one with every color in the rainbow in a plaid pattern, but I can guarantee that won’t look as amazing in a family photo as it does in your full-length mirror. Certain photographers might recommend plaid, stripes, or bright colors for the occasional shoot. Even still, your photographer will take into consideration how all of the pieces of clothing will compliment each other. Photographers plan the theme and style of the shoot to ultimately reflect their brand (yes, photographers have a brand). Leave behind your small stripes, high contrast patterns, and safety orange hoodie.  These types of patterns can create a dizzying and unflattering pattern in photos.

The final piece of clothing faux pas for you is clothing that is simply too casual. I’m not saying you should show up in your best tuxedo and evening gown, although there certainly shoots where that is appropriate. But if you’re paying for professional photos you may as well dress up at least a little bit as opposed to what you might wear while you marathon Netflix in your bedroom. Specifically, stay away from tank tops with bra straps showing, white tees with subtle pit stains, strapless tops, sweatpants, hats, and jerseys. Sure, there are exceptions to every rule. But unless you’ve specifically discussed/planned otherwise, you can rule these types of clothing out. And definitely don’t wear all matching white tee shirts with jeans. Not only does it border on too casual, but it’s just downright unoriginal and overplayed at this point.

TL;DR visual guides!