Forget Matching Outfits – Just Be Yourselves!
When families ask me what they should wear for their photo session, my answer is always the same: just come as you are!
You see, I’m not your typical polished photographer. I’m the messy Mum’s photographer – the one who celebrates the joy in the chaos, not the one who waits for everything to be perfectly coordinated.
The different seasons in family photos
Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter, the outfits aren’t what I’m watching out for. As long as you’re warm enough in winter to stop whinging kids, and cool enough in summer to do the same then I’m good with it. So whether it’s beautifully coordinated outfits or wearing your comfiest weekend clothes you have done a great job getting yourselves dressed! In fact, I’d much rather see your family in your natural habitat than trying to force a “Pinterest-perfect” look.
Your kiddos want to wear their superhero capes? Brilliant! Mum feeling a bit frazzled and skipped the makeup today? Perfect. Dad’s favourite t-shirt has a questionable mark on it? Bring it on, I say! My husband still insists on wearing shirts that are older (and more worn!) than our marriage and I just roll with it at this point… My son’s favourite shirt now shows his midriff and has a taco stain on it. Will he part with it? Nope.
How you get real family photos
The photos I capture aren’t about showcasing posed perfection. They’re about preserving the real, messy, brilliant moments that make your family uniquely you. The belly laughs, the mischief, the upside-down silliness – that’s where the magic lies. None of those things need matching white shirts. The only thing outcome there is you’re so worried about the shirts getting dirty that YOU won’t get down and dirty!
A silly story about inauthentic family photos
I have vivid memories of my own family’s awkward “professional” photo session back in the day. My poor Dad had lost a finger in an accident a few years prior, but the photographer photoshopped it back in… cringe. And somehow, they managed to get my eye colour wrong thanks to the dreaded flash related red-eye. Needless to say, those photos never even looked like us, let alone felt like us!
So, what should we actually wear then?
That’s why I’m on a mission to give you photos that are 100% real. No pretending, no performing; just your family being exactly who you are. When you look back on your album in years to come, I want you to be transported right back to that moment, not cringing at how uncomfortable you felt.
So, forget about matching outfits or feeling “camera ready.” Just bring your beautiful, messy, brilliant selves, and let’s create some memories that will make you laugh out loud for years to come. Sound good?
If you’re still wondering about the logistics – like what’s the best season or what to do if the kids are grumpy – head over to my FAQ blog posts. Then get in touch, and let’s get planning your relaxed, playful family photo adventure!
