How to Prepare for your Family Portraits | Maine Family Photographer
Welcome to Family Portraits with Two Adventurous Souls
So you’ve booked your session with us, now what?
We are here to help you along the way! From planning your location, if we haven’t already done that, to working with you to coordinate outfits. Remember the 80’s? Yea, you probably wouldn’t want that hanging on your walls now - but maybe that’s why you’ve booked your session with us? We have a guide below to help you pick outfits that will give your images a timeless feel so you can keep them hanging on the wall for years!
If you haven’t done so already, please fill out our Family Session Questionnaire. It will help us learn more about your family, the photos you’re looking for, and help everyone ease into the session!
->Family Portrait Questionnaire <-
Check out below for some do’s and don’ts for picking out your clothes!
What to Wear? The Do’s and The Don’ts
What to wear for your family portraits is probably the number one question we get asked before family portraits. As a Maine family photographer, the answer can vary greatly depending on where you've selected to have your portraits taken. It can be pretty confusing and stressful trying to decide what outfits work best. But don't worry! We are here to help all the way through the planning process with styling tips and tricks to select clothing and accessory options that are perfectly tailored to your family portraits.
I recommend to our families to pull from their closet already or shop around at a few places to pick up pieces that you’ll use for your session, but hopefully in your daily life. Our goal is the channel your family vibe into the session, not make you fit a cookie cutter look that’s on trend. A lot of our more recent sessions do seem to follow trends, but don’t be afraid to deviate! These are YOUR images and memories.
A lot of the time stores like J Crew, Target, Old Navy, etc (at the very bottom is a list of our favorite stores!) will carry a similar theme throughout their departments for the season. You'll likely be able to find coordinating colors or even matching patterns in the adults and kids sections. And as a bonus, they have a great return policy so you can grab a bunch of options and bring them home for everyone to try on there and return what doesn't work. As a mom of two littles I know the challenges of getting even a moment in a changing room!
Do avoid outfits that are "matchy matchy". We love coordinating, not matching. Choose a color palette and let everyone have their own take on it. This will create a photo that is coordinated and classy. A good way to start planning a photo session is a color scheme with one main color and different variations of that color with a pop of accenting color. Pick accessories that coordinate - if you decide navy is your main color, accessorize with a bright pop like kelly green or magenta and sprinkle that throughout with your accessories such as belts, jewelry, etc.
Don't have more than one person in each immediate family grouping wear a pattern. Mixing patterns may be all the rage in fashion these days, but for a timeless look don't put mom in a floral dress and dad in a plaid shirt. In person it will look great, however in a photograph those patterns will not be pleasing to your eyes later on.
Do let the kids choose! To ensure that the children are happy and at ease during photos, let them pick their own clothing. They’ll pick something that shows off what their preferences and interests are. If you are worried about what they’ll choose, try selecting three or four main outfits that you would be happy with your child wearing for a photo and let them pick a favorite. Bring along a favorite costume/dress-up outfit for the end of the session!
Don’t choose clothing that has large pictures, labels, logos, or words on it. This often looks too casual for a photo shoot and detracts from the overall feel of a photo.
Do be prepared to kick off your shoes! Most of our sessions take place on the beach and our families like to take off their shoes and walk in the water and play in the sand. Make sure your pedicures are fresh! In fact, I highly encourage you to go without shoes! Just wear them to get you to where you need to go and then everyone can kick them off.
Don't be afraid to get dirty - at the end of your session of course! We love candid images of everyone so be prepared to play a little at the end, you might even get a little wet (Ok, A LOT wet). If you plan on going out to dinner after your session just make sure to have a spare set of clothes in the car.
Don't worry! It’s going to be fun. We also have a few pieces in our growing client closet so if you’re stumped, we might have something for you! Everything from girls dresses to a few adjustable dresses for moms, and maternity gowns.
Our Favorite Shops
Men
Tommy Bahama
Jcrew
H&M
Target
Bonobos
Children
Joyfolie
Zara
Target
Rylee + Cru
Smallable
Amazon
Etsy
Jamie Kay
Of One Sea
Tea Princess
Indie Blue
Lacey Lane
Women
Joyfolie
Free People
Spell by Byronaby
Jen's Pirate Booty
Lane Bryant
Chasing Unicorns
Vici
Revolve
Reformation
Three Birds Nest
Torrid
Auguste the Label
Altar'd State
H&M
Forever 21
ASOS
Brittany and Dean are creative Maine Family Photographers who loving having fun with our families. We work to capture every emotion and angle that makes your family unique. Two Adventurous Souls uses a mix of posed portraits along with candids and game playing to bring you variety. Brittany and Dean photograph families separate from Boston all the way to Bar Harbor! For more info please contact us about your family photography!