One of the most asked questions I receive from clients planning a portrait session with their family is... What should we wear?  

This can be overwhelming for many!  Here are a few tips to help with choosing your outfit.

The first thing you will want to consider, whether for a group of people or if it is just you and your dog, casual dress or formal dress?  To keep things cohesive it helps to chose the theme you want.

Once you have decided on whether you're formal or casual you will then want to chose a tone.  Light, mid-tone or dark?  This can be a choice that also fits with the season.  For example pastel tones have a more spring and summer feel and mid to darker tones have more a an autumn vibe.  After you select a tone you will want to chose a color palette.  If you are part of a larger group is it sometimes best to select a couple of colors so that you can make it easier for everyone in the group.  Making one of those colors a neutral can make things even easier as everyone usually has a gray, black or denim in their closest.  And when it comes to solids vs patterns it is best to chose clothes that are solid in color and accent with little bits of pattern.  It is about keeping things simple.  That way your eyes go to the faces  and the connection in the images and not bounce around from shirt to shirt.  Your eye will always go to the lightest or busiest part of an image first.  I hope that makes sense. 

If you are lover of black or white then things can be pretty easy to plan.  Unless your dog is white or black.  Now I'm not saying you shouldn't coordinate exactly with your dog.  That can be a great effect in the studio resulting in a beautiful artistic image.  But this can also result in an image that makes it difficult to separate your white dog from your white shirt or your black dog from your black jeans. You know what I mean.

Whatever you plan, whether you all co-ordinate perfectly or you keep it subtle, the important thing is to feel comfortable in what you wear.  If you are comfortable you are confident and that will show in your portrait. And I am here if you need a hand!

Jill