Lots of colours make this image pop.
One of the questions I get asked most often before a family photoshoot is, “What should we wear?”
And honestly, I completely understand why. You've organised the photoshoot, you've managed to get everyone home at the same time, you've probably negotiated with a toddler who absolutely does not want to wear the outfit you've chosen, and now you're wondering whether everyone needs to be dressed in matching beige linen.
The answer is no.
In fact, please don't feel like you need to dress your family in a colour palette you've chosen solely because Pinterest told you that it photographs well.
Your family photos should look like your family, and what you wear is a big part of that.
Start with what you actually like
The best place to start is with the clothes you already love wearing.
If your daughter has a favourite colourful dress, let her wear it. If your son practically lives in shorts and a T-shirt, there's probably no reason to put him in something uncomfortable and completely unlike him for the sake of photographs.
The same goes for you.
I want you to feel comfortable and confident during your in-home family photography session, because we're going to be moving around, sitting on the floor, cuddling, playing with the kids and probably heading outside at some point.
If you're constantly worrying about whether your outfit is sitting properly, you're not going to be able to relax and enjoy your family.
And that matters far more to me than whether your outfits perfectly match.
Clothes that the kids are comfortable to move in.
Coordinate, don't match
You don't need everyone wearing the same colour or the same style of clothing. Instead, think about choosing colours and textures that work nicely together.
Maybe Mum is wearing a patterned dress with a few different colours in it, Dad wears a simple top that picks up one of those colours, and the kids wear complementary colours. Or perhaps everyone is wearing different shades of the same few colours, with a mix of denim, knits, cotton and other textures.
The aim isn't to make everyone look identical. It's to make the outfits feel connected without looking like you've dressed your entire family in a uniform.
And if your family loves colour, please use it.
Colour looks fantastic in family photographs, particularly when we're photographing you in your own home. Bright artwork, colourful toys, patterned clothes, beautiful bedding and flowers in the backyard can all become part of the photographs and help tell the story of your family.
All different colours, but they all compliment eachother.
Think about your home too
Because we're photographing your family at home, your surroundings are going to become part of the images.
This doesn't mean your house needs to look like a magazine. Quite the opposite. I love homes that actually look like families live in them.
But it can be helpful to think about the colours that already exist in your home when choosing your outfits.
If your living room is full of warm colours and natural textures, clothing that works with those tones will sit beautifully in the photographs. If your home has lots of colour, patterns and personality, your outfits can absolutely have personality too.
You don't need to create a completely neutral backdrop just so your family photographs look “timeless”. Your home is part of your family's story, and I want the photographs to reflect that.
Comfort is more important than looking perfect
This is particularly important when you're dressing young children.
If your child hates stiff clothes, uncomfortable shoes or anything with an itchy tag, don't put them in it for a photoshoot. We're trying to capture your child being themselves, and that's much easier when they're comfortable (and I say barefoot is best).
The same goes for babies. Soft, simple clothing often works beautifully, but there is no need to overthink it.
For babies and younger children, I generally love simple pieces that allow them to move easily and let their little personalities come through. Bare feet are also very welcome, especially for an in-home session.
And Mum, don't save your most uncomfortable outfit for the photoshoot just because you think it looks good in photographs.
Choose something you can actually move in, because I will absolutely be asking you to get down on the floor, pick up your children and have a cuddle.
Cool colours for a relaxed family.
Don't forget Mum
This deserves its own section because mums are so often the last person to think about what they're wearing.
You spend so much time organising what the kids are going to wear that you end up grabbing whatever is clean five minutes before I arrive.
Please don't do that.
Choose something that makes you feel good. It doesn't have to be fancy, and it certainly doesn't have to be something you would normally wear for a formal family portrait.
A favourite dress, a pair of jeans and a beautiful top, or something soft and relaxed can all work beautifully. The most important thing is that you feel like you.
These photographs are about your whole family, and you deserve to feel just as comfortable being in them as everyone else.
And please don't stress about getting it “right”
There really isn't one perfect outfit combination for family photos.
Your family might be a neutral-loving family, or you might be the family who turns up in every colour of the rainbow. You might all live in denim and sneakers, or perhaps you love dresses, linen and bare feet.
Whatever feels like you is the right place to start.
My job isn't to make your family look like someone else's photographs. It's to photograph your family, in your home, in this particular season of your life.
So wear the clothes you love, choose things you can move in, let the kids be comfortable and don't be afraid of a little bit of colour.
And if you're still completely stuck, don't worry. We can talk about it before your Melbourne family photography session and work out what will look and feel best for your family. I also send you a pre session guide which gives you lots of tips for choosing the right clothes.
Because the goal isn't for everyone to look perfectly coordinated.
The goal is for you to look back at your photographs years from now and think, “Yep. That's us.”
A good mix of patterns, textures and colours.