5 TIPS ON WHAT TO WEAR TO YOUR FAMILY PHOTO SESSION - SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHER

The number one thing I get asked by clients is - what should I wear to my family photo session? The simplest and easiest answer to that  is - whatever feels good and is authentically you. It’s often helpful to dress yourself first and once you feel great you can have everyone complement you. A lot of the time we can leave ourselves til last and end up panic buying something that we actually regret. So this time, for the photos with you in them, start with you. In the carousel of images you’ll see I’ve selected different family photography sessions - none of them the same style - they have all dressed to suit their style, but simply, and that’s what works.

Here are my top 5 tips on what to wear:

1. Choose 3 or 4 colours that look good together and use that as your base. Think about where you will be - in-home, in a green park (avoid red - it’s very easy to look Christmas themed wearing red in a very green park), or at a beach when picking your colours. Think about colours you actually like. Another thing to consider if you’re planning on printing and displaying your photographs in your home is what will work well with your interior. The colour chart below is a great guide to choosing a palette, it’s from a brilliant article by Geneva Vanderzeil on Collective Gen.

2. Don’t match. Unless you’re recreating a family photo from the 80s or 90s then jeans and white tees are no longer recommended for family photos. Be yourselves, show some personality. Your family photographs will be much more vibrant and engaging if you have pops of colour and different looks.

3. Limit patterns & avoid logos. While I do love prints, heavy plaid or patterns can distract the eye. Avoid slogans, cartoon characters or logos on t-shirts. They can be distracting to the eye and also means your photos won’t be timeless.

4. Add texture, layers and movement. Wearing textured clothing can add depth to your images and especially in winter and autumn chunky knits and fabrics look wonderful when paired with neutrals and pops of colour. Layering is a great idea too and can give you variety through your gallery. We can do some with jumpers and jackets and some without. Dresses or skirts are wonderful because they flow and add movement. A little breeze or moving from room to room and the photograph takes on a little magic.

5. Plan ahead and avoid last minute hair cuts! Life is busy and it’s easy to forget about planning but family photographs will last a lifetime and are an investment so do take the time to consider how you want to be captured. Treat yourself to a new dress or something that makes you feel great. Maybe wear your old faithful but get a blow dry the morning of your photographs, you don’t need to do make up but a blow dry always makes you feel great. Avoid last minute hair cuts, they are almost always regretted! Don’t worry about bumps, grazes, pimples. We can take care of those.

Most important of all is to be yourself and have fun. Some of my clients like to take photos of their clothing options laid out on the bed and send it to me for advice. I’m no stylist but as a family photographer I am happy to help and have a good idea what will look good on camera.

For more inspiration of some of my favourite outfits from sessions, and mood boards, you can check out my Pinterest board.

Colour chart via Collective Gen article by Geneva Vanderzeil on choosing a colour palette for your wardrobe.

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SYDNEY PHOTOGRAPHER

Beautiful, relaxed and natural portraits of home.

I wanted to share some favourites from this beautiful in-home family photography session from earlier in the year. When Lucy contacted me she said we’ve been talking about family photographs and I was thinking it had to be a studio, but then I saw your work and I thought of course it doesn’t have to be! That’s very much music to my ears and I knew right away that I would love meeting this family. 

It was a relaxed and easy morning, albeit rainy and cold, and I was delighted to find when I arrived that hair still needed drying and brushing and socks needed to be found. I often recommend that people leave some of the getting ready for when I arrive, it means we can capture some more documentary style images, as well as the portraits, and it also takes the pressure off having to be camera ready by a certain time. I love when I arrive to find mum’s drying their hair or still getting ready, children half dressed or even some still asleep! When I know the family is relaxed and natural I know we will get some beautifully authentic shots which will capture true reflections of their family. True portraits of home.

We spent some time in the front room cuddling up on the couch and chatting, a little time in the kitchen while we grabbed a quick handful of crackers and then we spent some time playing records and dancing in the garden room. Beautiful, relaxed and natural captures of home. I’m so glad we were able to create this keepsake of home together.

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WHY IN-HOME FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY IS SPECIAL - PORTRAITS OF HOME

I love portraits of home. When I am contacted for a family photography session I often recommend home as the location, especially for families with young children. There are 2 reasons why I recommend in-home family photography.

Firstly, in-home family photography is convenient for families with very young children. There is no getting dressed and out the door on time bringing snacks and jackets. No traffic, parking or dealing with weather. There is just me popping by at a time that suits your routine. For very young families this is mostly 8am, sometimes 7am, and other times a more modest 10 or 11am. I recommend that families leave some of the getting ready for when I am there. It takes the pressure off and also helps if you’re feeling nervous to have something to busy yourself with. We also have easy access to the kitchen for snacks and it’s a perfect way to break up the session and capture some candid shots of real family life.

Portraits of home

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, not only does family photography at home make it so easy for families it creates a keepsake of how your life looked at this time. Years from now these photographs will become a part of your family history. When you have family photographs you are preserving a piece of your story that your children, and your grandchildren, will spend time staring at them - searching those faces for reflections of their own. They will soak up the details of each room for links to their own story. They will take in each room to understand a home they’ve perhaps forgotten having since moved. The blanket on the bed that was a wedding gift perhaps passed down and is there in the photos with everyone cuddled up on. I love capturing in-home family photography because they are some of the most real and authentic sessions. To be invited into a home is special and allows me to observe and capture true portraits of home.

If you’ve been thinking about creating a natural and joyful family keepsake that captures true reflections of you and your family in a relaxed way, I’d love to help you. Each session is as unique as every home. Let’s plan your session.