6 What to Wear Tips: Winter Family Photos in BC
The majority of my clients after booking their session immediately think — “Kaeli, BUT WHAT DO I WEAR?” That’s why I made this list of 6 tips for helping you choose your winter outfit, so you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll feel like yourself at our session. PLUS: when you book with me, you’ll get a session guide with additional info and outfit inspiration. Let’s talk about what to wear to make your photos timeless and genuinely you.
Be comfortable and be yourself.
I want your photos to genuinely reflect you. If you’re a “jeans and a cute top” type of girl, rock it! If you love your joggers and cable knit sweater, wear it. Don’t squeeze yourself into an outfit just because you feel you should. You need to be comfortable and most importantly, you want to feel like yourself so your images reflect that.
Accessorize with warmth.
If we chose an outdoor location for your winter portrait session keep in mind that it could be pretty chilly, so consider bringing a nice jacket or wearing fall accessories such as a hat or scarf. Scarves work really well to both keep you warm and add to your outfit, and who doesn’t love a cute boho hat or beanie?
Dressier is always better! I always say dress like you're going out on the town for date night, whatever that looks like to you.
Coordinate with your partner/family.
Gone are the days when everyone wears matching white polos and khakis for family photos on the beach. When choosing what to wear for your winter photos, choose colours that complement each other but are not overly matchy-matchy. These images will hopefully have a spot the walls of your home for years to come, so we want your photos to be timeless and coordinated.
If these photos are going on your Christmas/Holiday cards, consider the colour scheme you’re wanting for those too and dress accordingly.
Choose neutral colours.
First things first, choose a colour palette. Choose neutral colours that work well together and make you feel good. I recommend choosing 1 to 3 colours and dressing in various shades. All the colors that you love for fall tend to work well in the winter too! Think burnt orange, mustard yellow, navy blue, or burgundy. Chunky kits and layers also look so good in the winter. If you only have mismatched coloured jackets that maybe aren’t the prettiest, choose warm (and coordinated) clothing underneath so you’re able to ditch the jacket during your session.
Because there is likely snow on the ground, stark whites and light creams tend to blend in with the background so it's best to avoid those. If you want to opt for lighter colours, try beige or grey instead!
Here are a couple palettes for reference — notice how the colours complement each other but aren’t matchy-matchy. However, monochromatic outfits are totally in right now and can look super cute and trendy! Pinterest is a great tool if you need more inspiration.
Try some texture.
One of the most important elements of your winter outfit will be your clothing’s texture. Texture will stand out in photos and bring more life and movement to your images. Make sure you are consistent in what you wear and consider the vibe you’re going after. For example, if you are going for a structured look, make sure that no one shows up in super loosely-fitted clothing. If you’re going for a cozy vibe, large knit patterns and cashmere-like materials that’ll look extra soft are always my go-to.
What to avoid:
Avoid those vivid ‘unnatural’ bright colours. Wearing too bright of colors will draw the eye away from you and instead to the colours. Colours such as lime green, bright blue, or hot pink should be avoided. If you’re someone who loves colour, opt for more muted or pastel tones.
Avoid loud prints, graphics, and large logos as these can be distracting in the photos and take away from the real beauty - you! The simpler the better in my opinion.
Solids, stripes, and other patterns such as plaids are all fine and dandy, but try to steer away from mixing prints to avoid making the images too 'busy' (i.e. if one of you is in a print, such as a flannel, the other should wear a solid color.)
Extra tip: when choosing what to wear for your fall photoshoot, be sure to wear comfortable shoes! We will likely be doing some walking and a whole lot of standing. Make sure you wear something you'll be comfortable in for up to 2 hours.
Bottom line: wear what makes YOU FEEL GOOD! You want to be able to look back at your images and know your love story and personalities were perfectly captured. Pinterest and my website are both great tools for outfit inspiration!
Want to get a feel of how rad it is to work with me? Download my free what to wear guide for winter!
