Planning Your family
Portrait Session
tips for what to wear
Hi there! I’m so excited to be working with your family and can’t wait to see you soon! If we haven’t met before, I’m Karla Vacek, the photographer and owner of Brittany Avenue Photography. This is a recent picture of me with my family… My boys are 11 and 13 now (when did that happen?!?). So I not only have 10+ years of experience of being a photographer, but also 13 years of experience as a mom planning our own annual family pictures. I know for moms it can be a little (or a lot?!?) over whelming planning everyone’s outfits for your session, but I’m here to help!
I hope this guide will help make this as stress free as possible for you, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any additional help picking out outfits. I’m more than happy to send over some links to outfits that will work for your family if you need help!
- karla
WHAT TO WEAR
Here are a few general tips to keep in mind…
01
BE PREPARED
It’s never too early to start shopping! Have outfits picked out well in advance and make sure everyone tries them on to make sure they fit. Give yourself plenty of time in case you need to exchange for a different size, etc.
COLOR palette
When you think about the color palette for everyone’s outfits, pick colors that go with the decor in your home so that when you hang the pictures on your walls it will go with your home decor. Neutrals are my favorite because they are timeless and they’ll go with anything as you change home decor in the future.
The colors from everyone’s outfits should coordinate, not be matchy-matchy. Light neutral colors and pastels are my favorite. Avoid bright colors– The light will bounce off your clothing and create color casts on your skin that are unflattering.
02
03
WHERE TO START
I always recommend picking mom’s outfit first and then picking out all of the other outfits to coordinate with mom’s dress.
FABRIC CHOICES
Pick one outfit with a subtle pattern (think subtle floral pattern) and then all other outfits should be in neutrals and colors that go with that pattern. Choose fabrics such as cotton, linen and gauze; avoid satin and shiny or heavy fabrics.
04
INSPIRATION…
what to wear...
moms
A maxi dress is most flattering for moms. Keep in mind that if you have little ones that are active or that you’ll be holding in the pictures, you may want to wear a cami or bralette underneath your dress if it’s low cut. If you want to add a pattern, a subtle floral pattern works great.
dads
A neutral colored henley or lightweight sweater with khaki chinos work great for dads. Some dads prefer to wear a collared button up shirt, and that is fine too. Chnios are a great option since they’re casual but look nicer than jeans.
girls
A dress in a lightweight fabric works great for girls. For younger girls, make sure it’s easy for them to move in (avoid a-line dresses). For babies that aren’t walking yet, a romper works best since they’ll be held for most of the session. At the very least, make sure if little ones are wearing a dress that they’re wearing a coordinating diaper cover.
boys
Linen overalls are a favorite for baby boys. For toddlers and older boys, a simple t-shirt or henley in a neutral color with khaki chinos works great. For young boys, toddlers and babies, avoid collared shirts since they tend to hide part of their face when they’re moving around.
for the ladies
Favorite Shops
Rent the Runway
ASOS
Morning Lavender
J. Crew
Anthropologie
Free People
Jessakae
Petal & Pup
Pink Blush (Maternity)
H&M
Vici Dolls
Virginia Dare Dress Co.
Baltic Born Clothing
Madewell
Kate + Grace Boutique
Able
Zara
Mango
Nothing Fits But
Sezane
Hill House Home
Reformation
Rachel Pally
Nuuly
Christy Dawn
Rylee & Cru
Clad & Cloth
Ivy City
Shopbop
Everlane
for the boys
what to wear
Linen overalls are a favorite for baby boys. Khaki pants and a neutral henley or t-shirt are also nice choices. For toddlers and older boys, khaki chinos with a simple henley or lightweight sweater works great. Avoid collared shirts for young boys and toddlers since the collar can hide part of their face when they’re moving around.
for the gents
Wardrobe
You can’t go wrong with crisp button up. Or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans with this look. Bowties are always a good idea.
Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small – it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors – especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.
for the gents
Wardrobe
Rent the Runway
ASOS
Suit Supply
J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton
Jack Threads
Frank & Oak
Nordstrom
Cuts
H&M
Urban Outfitters
Madewell
Lululemon
Everlane
Banana Republic
Mango
Reiss
Alex Mill
Untuckit
Amazon – GoodThreads
Bonobos
Abercrombie
Rag & Bone
for the kids
Favorite Shops
Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Noralee
Target – Cat & Jack, Art Class, Q by Quincy Mae
H&M Kids
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Roolee
Alice & Ames
Smallable
Fin and Vance
Little & Co.
Briar Baby
Jaime Kay
Childhoods Clothing
Spearmint Love
Gap
Old Navy
Boden
Hanna Andersson
TOP PICKS
Click on the link below to see some of my favorite picks for the Fall and links on where to buy them… (*I’ll update with more links soon so be sure to check back!)
CHECKLIST
- Mom's Dress
- Outfits for Kids
- Outfit for Dad
- Jewlery- none or minimal (nothing that draws attention)
- Shoes- neutral colored (no tennis shoes, babies can be barefoot)
- Hair appointment for mom for hair cut/ touch up roots in advance
- Hair appointment for Dad and kids
- Hair and make up appointment- Pink Palette Artists
- Nail appointment for Mom- light colored neutral nail polish
Thank You!
Thanks for taking the time to read through this! If you haven’t already, be sure to click on the link above with my Top Picks for Fall 2022.
I hope this guide helps you get started planning your outfits for your session. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed or stuck on what to wear, please send me an e-mail. I’m happy to put together a personalized sytle board for you and your family!
BRITTANYAVENUEPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM
