As I was getting ready to write this What To Wear Post, I thought about scouring the internet for clothing suggestions from current items for sale at the stores. Then I figured, what better than to show real client examples of some great Fall outfits that everyday people have put together for their portrait sessions. I pulled a few of my favorite outfits from past clients, to give you an idea of how to coordinate your own clothing.

Be sure to refer to my original What To Wear post for family photo sessions. It has a lot of great tips to help coordinate the best look for you and your spouse, kids or families.

And some more ideas for preparing for your photographs:

Find Inspiration
A quick search on Pinterest or Polyvore can be your best friend. There are a million inspiration boards out there for coordinating outfits. Once you find some inspiration, dig through your family’s closets and see what you already have to make similar looks in those colors or styles.

Accessories
I love accessories! What better way to express your personal style in photos than using hats, scarves, chunky necklaces or fun shoes. Accessories are also a great way to add those finishing touches to your images. Use accent colors to take those average clothes into wow clothes and tie everyone’s look together.

Layers
Layers are the best way to easily change looks without complete clothing changes. Layering your clothing with jackets, sweaters, shrugs, tights, etc.  also adds depth and dimension to your look.

Shoes
Save the tennis shoes for hiking in the park. The right shoes can take your ensemble to a whole new level. While the family may all be wearing jeans and sweaters for a casual look, dress it up with fun shoes, boots or even heals.

Patterns & Colors
I suggest only using a pattern on one family member and coordinating everyone else’s outfit around that pattern. Too many patterns and colors can be overwhelming in the final photograph. Stick with a color pallet that uses 3-4 colors for visual consistency without being overly matchy.

Location
Keep in mind your session location. Sessions in Downtown Youngstown call for a fun, urban look. While photographs at Mill Creek Park work best with sweaters and a more timeless look. I offer portrait session in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania and there is a variety of locations to choose from to suit your style.

Hair & Makeup
Do not overdo it with your hair or makeup and don’t try any new styles the day of your session, just in case it doesn’t work out. Have your hair trimmed or a color touch-up two weeks ahead of time. I always suggest professional makeup application for your photographs. I had professional makeup for my headshots and not only did it give me more confidence in front of the camera, but it also made my skin look a hundred times better than if I had done my own makeup. A flawless face can do wonders and it is one less thing you will have to worry about on the day of your photographs.

I pulled out the major colors that coordinate the outfits below and you can see those in the color blocks on the photograph.

 

 

 

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