The sun is shining, the days are getting longer, sandals will be dusted off soon, and my second cup of coffee of the day is iced! And it’s time for outdoor spring (and summer!) portrait sessions. Bring on the sunshine and flowers and the bright colors (Think: Aqua, Coral, Lavender!) I always get asked “what should we wear?” I know it seems daunting to coordinate outfits for your entire family. However, you don’t need to stress.  Take a look at some of our spring wardrobe tips and ideas below. You can use these to think about how to style your own family.

Top Tips for What to Wear for Outdoor Spring Sessions:

  1. Start with one outfit that you really like. Maybe Mom has a killer pair of shoes and dress she wants to wear.  Go with it! From there, build around it so colors coordinate but don’t match exactly.
  2. Add a pop of color. Some of my favorite accent colors for the spring are aqua, coral, orange, and navy. Pair your chosen color or colors with neutrals to tie it all together.
  3. Stay away from wearing a lot of green when having photos taken in grassy or wooded areas. Avoid fluorescent colors or logos on clothing that will age a portrait. (remember, no Elmo on shirts!) And avoid words on clothing – when your kid is moving, sitting, running, we won’t be able to read those words and it’ll look like a mush of letters.
  4. Layer! Layers add dimension and depth. Don’t be afraid of texture or mixing patterns. If it’s chilly, bring a sweater.
  5. Be careful wearing white. If you have fair skin or blonde hair, white tends to wash out skin tones. White is fine as an accent color.
  6. Dress your kids in clothes that fit perfectly, not with room to grow.
  7. Add accessories. A hat, vest, or suspenders for boys are adorable. If your girl likes to dress up, find a headband, bow or hat that she might not normally wear so a few pictures are extra special.  Mom can have fun with accessories too! Layering a necklace overtop a dress is a great way to get more color and depth to your outfit.
  8. Don’t forget about nice shoes for everyone. (I lost count the amount of times people asked me to please crop out their crocs.)

Remember, have fun with it! You want your family’s personality to shine through.

Pinterest is a great resource for finding clothing ideas. Visit our ‘What to Wear’ board for more inspiration.  If you have any questions, want to send pictures for advise, or need some extra help planning your outfits for your fall portrait sessions – please contact me!