Working with children is one of the great parts of my job – I get to play for a living! However, many parents worry about what their child should wear and think that they will need to go out and buy whole new outfits for the session. Please don’t (unless you really want to)!
Here are a few tips:
- Bright colours photograph beautifully at any age
- Matching outfits (i.e. jeans and white shirts) are not necessary and are not recommended unless you typically dress your children the same on a regular basis. Please feel free to let your children dress in vibrant, complementary colours (primary colours with primary colours; jewel tones with jewel tones; etc).
Newborns and Infants:
Is there anything cuter than a bare baby? Unless specifically requested, I usually undress newborns for their sessions, but I have a number of blankets and other items designed to keep your baby warm throughout the shoot. The heat gets cranked up during these sessions, so it’s strongly advised that parents wear lightweight clothing.
- Go for: simple accompanying items – I have a selection of simple and neutral headbands, wraps, blankets and clothing that work nicely for photos. I have also worked with clients’ baby blankets, headbands and even a rubber inner tube, so feel free to bring your special items along. We all know that accidents happen, so please bring a few outfits and expect to use two of them.
- Best avoided: overalls. I love them! However, overalls don’t work well in photographs for very young children because they tend to rise up in front of the face and conceal the neck, chin and/or mouth of the child. If your child is not yet able to sit up, please avoid the overalls in the interest of getting the best results.
Toddlers/Big Kids
- Go for: natural fabrics, color, fuss-free clothing, hats, simple hair bows or headbands, rompers, light patterns.
- Best avoided: logos, cartoon characters and anything not age appropriate. Layering looks nice on big kids – don’t be afraid of fun polka dots, florals or even stripes in small doses. Barefoot looks sweet for this age group as well.
If you’re feeling uninspired and need some ideas to get you going, try going online and looking at children’s clothing websites. Old Navy, Gymboree, and Carter’s/OshKosh are great places to start. You can also have a look at the treasures available through Etsy.com, which is a great place to find handmade accessories.
Remember that you want your kids to look natural. Your photos should reflect your family and their style. If you’re not big on layers or accessories, leave them out!
