'What should I wear?' is absolutely my number one frequently asked question and what you all wear does really affect the end result of your images so here goes...
First and foremost I want you to feel comfortable and confident, so choose an outfit that makes you feel your best (and remember - perfection doesn't exist!).
My newborn sessions always take place indoors (in my home studio or your home) so bear in mind when choosing your outfits we will be keeping the temperature very warm for your baby.
Colour & Fabric
Neutral colours like beige, brown, grey, navy and black create beautiful natural tones in your photographs and are wonderfully timeless. A little bit of colour contrast between each other’s outfits can work well rather than trying to get everyone to match perfectly, although if you want to match/co-ordinate then you could do that too! If you prefer something more colourful then earthy tones work really well e.g. orange/rust, sage, khaki etc. It can be a good idea to lay everyone's clothes out together to check that the colours you have chosen for each person look good next to each other. Detailed textures like crochet and lace, and fabrics with interesting textures like linen and corduroy look great in close-up shots. If you like prints, stick to something that isn't multicoloured or super bright and steer away from logos and graphics as these can be really distracting in your images.
Women
Loose and flowy dresses, tops and skirts are always a win as they are flattering on all body shapes, they are wonderful to photograph because of the movement in the fabric and they make you feel feminine and fantastic! They are also great at hiding a postpartum bump (if you would like to hide it!) I have some beautiful options in my client wardrobe that you can borrow for the shoot - just ask (style guide and client wardrobe photographs coming soon...). Equally, if you feel confident in body-con then do it! Or, if you are more casual stick to jeans/leggings.
Men
A plain t-shirt, a casual shirt or a shirt unbuttoned and layered over a plain t-shirt worn with jeans, chinos or shorts is simple and looks great. It's nice to look a little smarter than your everyday wear for your photoshoot, but not wedding/event smart.
Your Newborn Baby
Dress your newborn baby in something plain, without eye-catching prints, as we want all the attention to be on their natural features rather than their outfit. Even a plain onesie is fine! If you have a winter baby you could embrace the time of year by dressing both you and them in some cosy knitwear. Aim to start the shoot with them already dressed in their outfit and then have one back-up in case of a messy accident (from either end!). During the shoot, if they are happy to do so, we will undress them and wrap them in cosy blankets, so we can get some beautiful exposed skin photographs. I especially like to make sure I get close-ups of fingers and toes :) I have some plain newborn clothing in my client wardrobe in light, neutral colours that is always available to borrow on the day.
Siblings
Although children love unicorns and dinosaurs, picking something plain for siblings gives a classic and timeless look. I love recommending H&M or Zara for finding neutral clothing options (if you enjoy second hand shopping then search on Vinted). Girls look beautiful in dresses and skirts but only once they are walking. Pre-walking baby girls are better in all in one outfits/rompers otherwise its very difficult to stop nappies from showing when they are sitting and crawling. Baby boys also look adorable in rompers or dungarees and older boys look handsome in a casual shirt or a plain t-shirt with an open, unbuttoned shirt layered over the top. If it is cold opt for cosy, fluffy knitwear over outfits.
Once you have figured out everyone's outfits I highly recommend hanging the clothes together the week before and then not wearing them again until the shoot - that way there will be no last minute panic washing, ironing or searching!
Close-up details
A quick note on nails - they will be in the photos! I like to take close-ups of tiny little hands and feet as well as photographs of your hands holding your newborn. So remember to clean under everyone’s nails (I know how easily dirt and grime seems to find itself under children's nails!) and stick to no nail varnish or a very plain neutral colour nail varnish for yourself.
Client Wardrobe
Here's a shot of the current items in my client wardrobe available for mums (I also have newborn clothing). if you are interested in what I have that you can borrow send me an email/message and I can explain more/answer questions about the items :)
