What to Wear for Studio Family Photos

What to wear for family photos is the thing most mums get stuck on, usually at 10pm the night before. Outfits change how the photos feel more than almost anything else you can control, so they're worth ten minutes of proper thought. Here's how I'd approach it, after 23 years of doing this and roughly 2,500 families through my studio in Gordon.

Start With Mum, Then Build Around Her

Pick your outfit first. Everyone else coordinates around you.

I say this to every mum who asks, and the reason is simple. You're the one most likely to feel awkward in front of a camera, and if you're not comfortable in what you're wearing, it shows in every single frame. Your kids will be fine. Your husband will be fine. You're the one I want to get right.

So choose something you already own and already love. Something you've worn before and know you look good in. Not the thing you bought last week that you're not quite sure about, and not the thing that only works if you stand a certain way. You'll be sitting on the floor, holding a toddler, leaning into your husband, laughing at something one of your kids has said. Comfortable matters more than clever.

If you're between two options, go with the one that's softer and has a bit of movement in it. Stiff, structured fabric photographs stiff. Fabric that moves reads as relaxed, which is what you want.

I've had mums turn up with three outfits in a bag because they couldn't decide. Nine times out of ten we go with the one she's worn before and already knows she feels good in.

Takeaway: choose yours first, build everyone else around it.

Think of the Whole Family as One Outfit

Coordinated, not matching. There's a big difference.

Matching outfits, everyone in white shirts and jeans, means everyone blends into everyone else. You lose the individual people. What you actually want is a family that clearly belongs together but where each person still looks like themselves.

The test I use is this. If every item of clothing you've chosen was somehow on one person, would that outfit work? If the answer is yes, you've got it. If it's a mess, something needs to change.

In practice that means picking two or three colours plus a neutral, then varying the tone within them. One person in a deeper shade, another in a lighter one. Let one person wear a pattern if they want to, then keep everyone else fairly plain so the pattern doesn't have to compete.

Texture is your friend, especially in the studio. Knits, linen, denim, corduroy. They give the images depth without adding visual noise. A chunky jumper does more for a photo than a busy print does.

Have a look through my family portrait gallery and you'll see the same principle in most of them. Nobody matches. Everybody goes together.

Takeaway: if it would work as one outfit, it'll work as a family.

Four Colour Palettes That Work in the Studio

My studio light is controlled, which means colours behave predictably. These four are the ones I come back to.

Blues and greys. Endlessly versatile and easy to shop for from what's already in the wardrobe. Mix the shades rather than using one flat blue across everyone, and throw in one small hit of a different colour if you want some lift.

Neutrals. Creams, oatmeal, tan, soft white, warm beige. This palette gives a very natural, calm feel and it's lovely if you want to put the little girls in something floral. It also ages well, which matters if the photos are going on the wall for the next fifteen years.

Black and grey. Black is flattering and a lot of parents feel more confident in it, so I'd never tell you to avoid it. It works particularly well in the studio where I can control the light and keep the shapes separate. Add grey and white for the kids so you're not looking at one solid block of dark.

Your own palette. Pick any three or four colours you actually like and coordinate around them. Cohesive without being matchy. Nobody standing out more than anyone else.

Takeaway: pick a palette before you pick the clothes.

Blues and greys

What to Skip

A short list, because there really aren't many rules.

Big logos and slogans. A small logo on a pocket is fine. What I mean is the brand name running right across the chest, or the slogan T-shirt. Your eye goes straight to the writing instead of the faces, and in ten years the logo will date the photo more than anything else in it.

Loud character prints. Your five-year-old loves that dinosaur shirt. I understand. But a big cartoon print pulls focus off your child's face, which is the whole reason you're here.

Anything brand new and untested. New clothes are stiff, sometimes itchy, and nobody knows yet whether they're comfortable. A child tugging at a scratchy collar for an hour is not a good look for anyone.

Too many competing patterns. One pattern in a group is interesting. Four patterns is busy.

Very bright single colours in large amounts. Strong fluoro or saturated brights can throw colour up onto skin under studio lighting. Fine in small doses, tricky as a whole outfit.

Takeaway: anything that pulls attention away from faces is the thing to change.

The Practical Bits Nobody Thinks About

Lay everything out two or three days before, not the night before. This is the single thing that reduces stress most and it costs you nothing. You'll spot the missing button, the stain or the pair of trousers that no longer fit while there's still time to do something about it.

Bare feet are my default in the studio. It means shoes are one less thing to organise, and bare feet look softer and more natural than socks or school shoes.

Bring a spare top for yourself if you're torn. It takes two minutes to change and you'll feel better knowing there's an option.

Hair the way you normally wear it, not a style you've never tried before. And take the hair ties off your wrists, they turn up in more photos than you'd think.

If your dog is coming, and dogs are genuinely welcome here, give them a brush beforehand and swap a bulky harness for a plain collar or nothing at all. They photograph better without a lead across the frame.

One last thing. All of the above is for studio sessions. If you're booked for an outdoor session, the advice shifts a fair bit, mostly around layers, footwear and the fact that you'll be sitting on grass.

Takeaway: sort it early and the day itself becomes easy.

And If You're Still Not Sure

Whether you've got a newborn, three kids under ten or teenagers who need bribing to be there, the same approach works. Get the outfits decided early, then turn up and let me handle the rest. Nobody has ever failed a family session on clothing.

I photograph families at every stage. If you've been thinking about booking a session, now is the time. You can see what's included and what families usually spend on my pricing page, or just send me a message and tell me what you're thinking.

Kate x

How to get dad to enjoy a family photo session

I can't tell you how often I get dads arriving for a session with a frown on their face, totally stressed about what's about to happen.

No one really loves having their photo taken, but dads in particular seem to dread it the most. The good news is there are some easy things you can do to make the whole experience something he actually enjoys. Maybe even enough that next time you suggest updating the family portraits, he's happy to go.

1. Don't fuss too much over outfits

As mums, we tend to overanalyse what everyone is going to wear. But for dads, being told what to put on is one of the worst parts of the whole thing.

My advice is to pick a colour. It can be grey, blue, black, white. Whatever suits your family best. Then find tops that roughly coordinate around that choice. The bottoms don't matter as much. Jeans work well, or a simple skirt for you, but don't overthink it.

Most importantly, pick something dad is going to feel comfortable in. There is nothing worse than seeing a dad arrive in a button-up shirt and tie when I can tell he's the kind of guy who normally walks around in shorts and thongs. Pick something that reflects him.

This goes for the kids too. So many mums want to dress their kids up in that outfit they don't actually like, and then the kids look miserable the whole session.

2. Reassure him it won't take long

I often get people really focused on how long the session is going to go for. My advice is don't pick your photographer based on the number of hours they offer. Pick them based on the style of their photography.

My sessions never go over an hour. I find with young kids they've had enough after 30 to 40 minutes, and the dads have definitely had enough by then too.

You don't need hours to get great photos. You just need a photographer who can connect with your kids and capture real moments with them.

Check with your photographer beforehand how long the session will take and give dad a rough idea so he knows what to expect. It's always easier for a guy to have a timeframe rather than getting there and finding out he's going to be there for hours.

3. Relax and let your kids have fun

Once you're at the session, relax and let your kids be themselves. The real smiles that come from kids bouncing around and having fun are the ones that make the best photos. Dads love watching the kids enjoy themselves and having a joke with them.

When dad looks back at the photos and sees real smiles from real moments with his kids, he'll treasure those memories. And next time you ask him to come in for a session, he won't hesitate.

4. Talk to him about what you're thinking of buying

So often mums are the decision makers at home, but I really think it's important to involve dad in the process.

Have a look around your home and think about where you'd like to put something. Then have a chat with him about the kind of size he likes. If you like the idea of an album, look at the different options together and make sure there's something that suits you both.

Sometimes I get families arriving to their ordering session and mum hasn't even shown dad the pricing. There is nothing more awkward than that moment when he has no idea of the budget you're expecting to spend. Have an honest conversation beforehand. Talk about the kinds of things you love and what you'd like to buy from the session. It makes the whole process less stressful for everyone.

It also really helps me as your photographer to know what you're aiming for, so I can focus on getting exactly what's going to suit your home.

5. Book a time when you're not racing to get there

Life with kids is busy. But my advice is to pick a time for your session where there isn't going to be a lot of stress around getting there.

If you have little kids, see if dad can take the morning off work. It's so much easier to come in during the week when he's fresh and hasn't been working all week. You could make a day of it. Do the session in the morning and then head out for a nice lunch together.

If you have teenagers, a Saturday is going to be the best option, but try to work it around sporting commitments. So often I have families race from a sporting match, throw the kids in the shower and then race to get to me. Everyone arrives stressed out.

If your Saturdays are always full of sport, look for a time in the school holidays. Sports are off, there's more time, and maybe dad can take a morning or a day off work and spend time with the kids as well.