WHAT TO WEAR

What to wear on your photo shoot can make a huge difference to the final photos, but there really is no absolute right or wrong as different families will have different ideas about how they'd like the finished photos to look in terms of styling. Some families will opt for casual clothing in anticipation that their children will be the kind to play in the mud, whereas others will opt for a much smarter look. Every family is different so please go with your own instinct! But as I'm often asked for advice, here are a few pointers that might help give you some ideas, starting with the question everyone asks...

"WHAT COLOURS WORK BEST?"

This is the question that I'm most often asked, and quite rightly as it can be really important. Please keep in mind that it is very subjective so you should definitely go with your own instinct, but my advice is that colour schemes based around light colours generally work best for my style of photography and are the easiest to coordinate. Pastels and other light colours and neutrals always look great and really help give that light and airy look that I aim for in my photos. You can also add in a couple of brighter colour pops in amongst the lighter colours if you want to. Or if you're a family that prefers bolder colours then that's great too - it would be really boring if every family always turned up dressed the same! Below are some general pointers that should help give you some ideas no matter what sort of colour scheme you opt for, and further down the page are some examples of both pale and brighter colour schemes that have all worked well and may give you some ideas...

AVOID LARGE LABELS/CHARACTERS

These can distract the eye from what should be the main focus of the photo, and they also date quickly. While your children's favourite film character might look cute on a t shirt now, in a few years it won't give that timeless look that most people are hoping for.

THINK coordinating not matching

The days when everyone wears completely identical clothes to photo shoots are no more!  Instead think of a few coordinating colours and each of you select your outfits from those.

THINK ABOUT YOUR HOME DECOR

This can be a useful starting point for deciding on a colour scheme. Do you like bright colours on your walls at home? Or more neutrals and pastels? Perhaps pick one or two colours from your home in rooms where the photos are likely to be displayed and use these as a starting point to build a scheme around.

TEXTURE and LAYERS

Adding texture and layers to outfits has lots of benefits. Firstly the texture looks great on photos, but it also means you can mix things up by removing or adding a layer for some photos to change the look a bit.

DRESS FOR THE WEATHER

​For photo shoots during the colder months my most important tip is to please ensure that the children will be warm enough. Yorkshire can get cold! Nice hats, scarves and gloves can look really lovely on photo shoots, and we don't have to include them in every photo but having them as an option is always a great plan. Equally, if it's a bit muddy then sensible shoes or wellies are a great help and won't be on many photos anyway.

AVOID TOO MANY BOLD PATTERNS

A splash of bold colour in a pattern can work really well but I would advise that you should limit patterns to one or two people or it can become distracting if there are too many, especially if they are quite different.

ACCESSORISE!

Hats, scarves, necklaces or even a cute tie for your well dressed young man can all help add a sense of fun to the photos, as well as providing some variety.

FEEL FREE tO BRING CHOICES!

Some clients ask if they can bring a change of clothes and of course please feel free but don't feel you have to! If you want to then it can be a great way of getting a nice variety of photos - even just a different top or coat!

SOME EXAMPLES...

For girls then a light coloured dress is simple and timeless whilst also really helping to achieve that gorgeous light and airy look. It's perfect for warmer days but if it's a bit cooler then a cardigan over the top works well too. The motion in the dress really adds to the look and feel of the photos.
Here the family chose a lovely theme around light blues and white, with mum opting for a gorgeous dress complimenting the colour scheme whilst at the same time injecting a bit of pop into the photo with the tasteful pattern on her dress.
Here the family knew that it was likely to be muddy at Bolton Abbey as it was very autumnal and this suited them as they are a very active, outdoorsy type family. Knowing that the children would be off exploring in the mud they chose appropriate clothing for them to do so comfortably whilst still sticking to their chosen colour scheme of red, blue and white. The scarf is great as it's both warm but also adds some texture.
With larger groups of children it's easy to mix in a few different colours and patterns whilst still keeping a lovely overall theme. Here the family chose yellows, blues and whites as well as a few other colour pops and patterns thrown in. The yellows worked especially well as it was spring time and equally in the autumn then deeper colours such a burnt oranges can work beautifully with the surroundings. 
Here a simple and timeless white shirt compliments the little girl's patterned dress really nicely. And the matching hat was a fun accessory to include in a few photos to change the look a bit, as well as being practical as it was a very hot day!
For this autumnal Bolton Abbey photo shoot the family chose a lovely colour scheme around blues and yellows which looked great together but also worked well with the backdrop at that time of year. Lots of layers and texture were used with scarves, jackets and gillets meaning everyone was warm but also very stylish!