What to wear for family photos at home
HOORAY - you’ve decided to capture memories in your home! This is the best choice because it means everyone will feel free to be themselves. But with that important detail settled, the next question on your mind is probably “what should we wear for family photos at home!?” I’m sharing my favorite tricks that will make dressing for your lifestyle photo session a breeze, so you can stop worrying about your outfits and focus on having fun with the people you love!
1. Prioritize comfort for everyone
Nothing shows more glaringly in photos than kids (or parents) who hate their outfits! Choose familiar outfits that you love and feel confident in. When you feel comfortable, you look comfortable, and your final photo result will be better! Remember: you don’t need to overthink it for photos at home! That’s the beauty of it.
Here are some choices that work great:
Comfortable, non-itchy fabrics like cotton & linen
Cozy sweaters
Bare feet or fun socks
Loose-fitting outfits you can play in
2. Choose lighter colors
Your house isn’t too dark for photos… but your outfits might be. Dark colors like solid black or navy can be problematic in low light situations because they absorb light vs. reflect it. Dark colors can also make fuzzies and pet hair very noticeable, which isn’t something you want to see in your printed photos!
Dressing in light colors will brighten the overall look and feel of your photographs. Soft neutrals like off-white, cream, light gray are the most reflective and will bounce beautiful neutral light onto your faces. This is especially beneficial if you have a darker aesthetic in your home like dark furniture, dark walls, dark wood accents, etc. Lighter outfits will draw focus to your family & your beautiful connections, helping the background simply fade away.
If light colors aren’t your jam, you can still get a great result by sticking with more muted earthy tones. These colors will still compliment your natural skin tones and won’t create any harsh color reflections. We can utilize other light fabrics around your home - like your bed linens and furniture - to brighten up your images and bounce light where we need it.
3. Keep accessories on the simple side
Family photos usually warrant some fun accessories for mom like long beaded earrings and crafty necklaces. I’m a fan! But when we shoot in your home, I’m a firm believer that less is more. Extra accessories can get in the way when you’re playing with your kiddos and get tangled in someone’s hair, or just become pesky and distracting. If you’re looking for a way to “pop” some personality into your wardrobe, try an interesting pattern for your clothes or a colorful bracelet that won’t move around too much when you play.
4. Let the kids have some say in what they wear
This is more of an opinion, but I think the kiddos should be allowed to pick at least one component of their outfit for family photos! You’ll never regret capturing exactly what their personality was like at this age. You certainly don’t have to let them have free reign if you’re not comfortable with that… you could let them pick one option from your pre-selections, or let them pick an accessory like a favorite hair clip. Just giving kids some choice in general will drastically increase their excitement about their photos and willingness to participate. And if they absolutely MUST wear their favorite tu-tu or halloween costume, we can capture some photos in that too, with the added relief that we have back-up outfits in the next room! This is just one of the extra perks of a session at home.
Bonus Tip!
We all know socks can be extremely slippery. Get some of those grippy socks so you won’t be sliding around the house and potentially having a slip & fall injury during your family photos… you’ll be SO thankful you did (and so will I!)
Psssst… are you considering booking a session at home this winter? Now is actually the perfect time to book. Read more below:
Hi there. Thanks for stopping by! I’m Daisy, owner of Daisy Zimmer Photography, a Columbus Ohio photographer specializing in documenting young + playful families in their homes. I hope you loved What to wear for family photos at home, and if you are interested in talking with me more about a lifestyle family session, let’s connect. Not quite ready, but wanna keep me in your back pocket? No problem! Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Daisy Zimmer is an award winning Columbus, Ohio family photographer. She offers lifestyle family, lifestyle newborn, and outdoor family photography in her relaxed, fun, and uplifting style. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. Be sure to check out the July ‘22 issue of Voyage Ohio Magazine to see a feature on Daisy.
Daisy serves the greater Columbus, Ohio area including: Clintonville | Worthington | Bexley | Upper Arlington | Powell | Dublin | Westerville | New Albany | Hilliard | Gahanna | Grandview Heights | Canal Winchester | Reynoldsburg
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Today’s post is authored by Gwendolyn, a Columbus mom and music teacher who emphasizes fun in all she does. Give this one a read — it might surprise you!