I am so excited to help plan our session together — including your outfits! Coordinating an entire family for photos can often be stressful, so in this guide, I’ll break it down into bite-sized pieces for you to reference during our planning period.

As we discuss outfit options, my goal is to inspire you to think outside the box, spark a few ideas that you may already have in your closet (which will save you an extra shopping trip!), and avoid outfits that might look great in real life but could be distracting in photos.

The attention we invest now in your outfits will lead to photos you’ll cherish for generations to come. It allows our focus on the day of your session to be on you and your family, as we capture the beautiful emotions and bonds you share together.

Now, let’s talk about a few guidelines to help make this more approachable and less stressful! :)

This is one of the most important things to consider! When planning what to wear, you have complete creative freedom with your outfits. I want you to feel like yourself and for the photos to reflect YOU — and clothing is one of the best ways to do just that.

With that said, feel free to email or text me your options beforehand if you need help choosing what might photograph best.

You are more than welcome to change outfits during your session.* Even if you don’t plan on changing, I recommend bringing an extra outfit for each family member — it’s always good to have options. You can leave the extra outfits in your car and we’ll go get them if they’re needed.

Also, keep in mind that we may not have a restroom nearby to change in, so be prepared to change in your car if necessary.

*During mini-sessions, note that we only have time for one outfit.

I always aim to keep the focus on my clients’ faces, since my style is so heavily grounded in emotion and storytelling. Part of the way I do this is by choosing outfits that either compliment or stand out from the environment.

On our discovery call, we will choose a location together and then discuss how it could affect outfit options — both what might look best and what might be better to avoid. The goal is for your outfits to not only compliment you, but also the location’s tones, colors, shapes, and textures.

For me, location and outfits go hand in hand. Together, they play a starring role in how I shoot and edit, and they influence how the mood and focus of the entire collection of images will be perceived by the viewer.

I often recommend leaning towards neutrals and muted colors, as they offer minimal distraction and are what will typically prove to be the most timeless over the years. I suggest choosing colors that are complementary to your skin tones, and if you have a lighter skin tone, it’s generally best to steer clear of bright reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks.

Avoiding bold colors and busy patterns will help bring all the attention to your faces and keep the focus on the moments captured with your family. The camera loves shades of white and pops of subtle color, such as sophisticated shades of heather gray, cream, and navy, and a monochromatic color palette like the one pictured above is an especially fun option to explore.

During a session, I prefer to use movement and prompts over fixed poses, as I find they create a sense of energy that translates into authentic images you’ll treasure for years to come.

Knowing this, I recommend choosing outfits that allow everyone to be as comfortable as possible, made from materials that allow for ease of movement. That way, you’ll be more focused on each other and less worried about how your shirt may ride up, etc.

This also applies to your choice in shoes! I would try to avoid heels unless you are very comfortable in them.

This might come as a surprise, but I suggest that the person planning the session choose their own outfit first and then coordinate everyone else’s look around them.

A helpful guideline I like to follow is choosing one main pattern + one subdued/supporting pattern + solid colors for all additional outfits. For those wearing solid colors, a textured top or item (think a jean jacket, Sherpa jacket, etc.) is a great way to add visual interest without crowding the photos with too many patterns.

Bottom line? Focus on coordinating with each other, not perfectly matching, and you’ll be golden.

All that being said, at the end of the day, these are only guidelines I’ve found to be helpful in past sessions, but that doesn’t mean you won’t love your photos if you don’t follow them.

Above all, I want you to be yourself and feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, because the more comfortable you are, the more at ease you’ll be during our session. Some of my favorite photos are of my clients who “broke the rules.” You are the center of your photos and will shine regardless.

If you’d like to share any outfit ideas with me beforehand, please feel free to send them via email to brookejvg@gmail.com or via text to 757-404-4806.

When it comes to shopping for your session, I’m always going to recommend shopping from your own closet first to support #slowfashion, but if you’re wanting a fresh look in your photos, here are a few places I would recommend checking out:

Women:

Zara
H&M
Everlane
Summersalt
Madewell
Rent the Runway
Carly Jean Los Angeles
J Crew
Reformation
Vetta Capsule
Tiny Cottons
Frank + Oak
Z Supply

Men:
Zara
H&M
Everlane
Cotton On
J Crew
Frank + Oak
Target
Lululemon (ABC Pant)
Mack Weldon (Pants)

Children:

Zara (don’t forget about the sale section!)
H&M
North of West
Cotton On
Old Navy
Tiny Cottons
Target
Cotton On
Roux
Nature Baby
Little Urban Apparel
Les gamins

Finally, for some fun color palette inspiration, take a look below at the following mood boards as you put together your family’s outfits! :)