So you booked a photoshoot!

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve booked a photoshoot with me! Yay! First off, HI, I’m Aly—your photographer! I am so, so, SO excited to meet you and capture photos you’ll cherish forever. When planning a family photoshoot, the most common concern clients have is what to wear to your photoshoot, so this guide is here to help!

What you should know about me: Most importantly, I am a cinematic and fine art photographer. That’s a fancy way of saying I aim to capture images that look like they belong in film and TV. While your shoot will include some traditional photos, I am not going to spend our whole appointment posing you like a barbie doll. Instead I will focus on giving you fun little prompts that create a dynamism and visual aesthetic that compliment our session. This will often mean walking around and exploring the environment together.

Other fun facts:

• I’m an American and originally from Tennessee, so don’t be too surpised by my southern accent.
• I moved to Scotland nearly three years ago when I married my partner Ben (a native to Oban).
• I’m third generation Scottish-American and my Granddad moved to the States from Inverness.
• I have an unhealthy obsession with highland cows 🤣
  
  

What to Wear for Family Photos

When planning a family photoshoot, the most common question I hear is, “What should we wear?” Coordinating outfits for everyone can be a bit overwhelming for busy parents, and often the wardrobe gets pushed to the last minute. But don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be this way! With a few helpful guidelines, you can easily narrow down your options and bring clarity to your wardrobe choices, making the process simple and stress-free.

Consider the location

Where we shoot is always an important factor when choosing outfits that are both functional and cohesive with the setting. For example, when we’re at the beach, I love to go for light colours and soft textures that complement the wide-open scenery. A flowy linen dress and earthy neutral tones create a casual yet luxurious vibe.

• Weather: Since we’ll be outdoors, the weather is a major player in your photoshoot. Keep an eye on the forecast before your appointment. If there’s light rain, we’ll embrace it—after all, Scotland’s known for its gorgeous moody landscapes, not tropical weather, and that’s what we want to capture. PRO TIP: Bring a black umbrella and leave those North Face and Columbia rain jackets at home—they don’t translate well in visual images. If you need a jacket or coat, go for something with no logos and in neutral or earthy colours. This way, you’ll stay comfy and look fabulous in your photos!
• Season: Ideally, September will still be fairly green and to avoid blending into the background, choose outfits in neutral colours like creams, beige, and browns, or opt for earthy or royal tones like ochre, crimson, and navy blue. This will help you stand out beautifully against the vibrant scenery and make your photos truly stunning!

Choose a Colour Palette

When selecting outfits for your session, colour is the first thing to consider. Like I said above! You just can’t go wrong with neutral and earthy tones. Most of my shoots take place in natural settings, so it’s important that your colours don’t clash with the scenery. White, beige, brown, crimson, navy, and subtle pastels all work well, no matter what. These tones will ensure you look fantastic and harmonious with the beautiful landscape around you! PRO TIP: You and your family don’t all have to match exactly. For example, if you’re wearing a pastel purple dress, your partner could wear a cream polo, brown or navy chinos, and pastel purple socks. This way, we can sprinkle your primary colour into the accessories, creating a coordinated yet natural look.

Texture & Pattern

I LOVE textures! I am a texture fiend! Natural textures found in linen, knitwear, high-quality denim pieces can really elevate an outfit and bring a unique style to each family member. Subtle floral patterns are a great way to break up solid colours, however, It’s best to have just one person wearing a patterned piece to avoid too much visual noise. 

Shape and Fit

The flow or drape of an outfit can be a great way to highlight our best attributes. A flowy dress can add a lot of movement and beauty to an outdoor session. Loose fitting clothing suggests a relaxed, romantic mood while form fitting outfits evoke a chicness and sophistication. Personally, I always tend to go for the more relaxed and romantic feel, so flowy dresses are my absolute FAVE! But this is totally up to you. Just make sure you are comfortable and feel confident!

Coordinating Outfits

Okay, you’ve read the basic guidelines and now you’re wondering where to start. Let’s break down the steps I take when I do a wardrobe consultation with a family. 

Parents Outfits First

 If you have younger kids, I always start with the parents first so we can build an outfit for everyone else based on their look. Mums and Dads are usually the biggest people in the frame and we want to make sure their outfits coordinate before adding outfits for the kiddos. Once we choose one outfit it’s so easy to make choices for everyone else.

If however, you’re kiddos aren’t so little or you have extended family, pick two people to build the outfits from. That might mean grandma and grandpa, Mom and Dad, or an Aunt and Uncle. Then expand from there.

Don’t Forget The Shoes

It’s true that shoes can make an outfit. This can often be overlooked, but shoes are SO important to the overall look of your family photos. Since this is summer everyone can wear shoes made from natural materials (i.e. leather-like sandals or clogs). FUN FACT: Did you know that first impressions are highly influenced by your shoes!

A Few Quick Tips

Dress It Up

Don’t be afraid to wear something you normally wouldn’t. I encourage you to embrace a flowy dress or wear those fashionable linen pants. Think of pieces and accessories that are a bit more elevated than your everyday wardrobe.

The Little Details

Adding a subtle gold necklace or sweet, simple set of earrings can add a lot of character to your portraits. Same thing goes for nails! Hands are naturally a major point of focus in family photos and having a clean, manicured set of nails goes a long way! 

How Will This Look On Your Walls?

Most families I work with come to me because they want to frame photos from our session on the walls of their home. It may sound silly to “coordinate with the couch” but it really does make a big difference if you’re planning on creating a statement piece for your living room! PRO TIP: I also offer fine art pritning and ship internationally. If you’d like to learn more about this process and how these are more than photos, they are heirloom pieces, check out my printing guide here.

A Few Things To Avoid

Logos

I love to create a timeless aesthetic within my photography. Logos will instantly date a photograph and they tend to distract from the moment. 

Unnatural Colors

As stated before, always stick with natural colours. Bright jewels tones often fight with each other and are difficult to coordinate cohesively. They can even reflect up into your face and cause discolorations depending on the light conditions.

Intense Plaid And Bold Patterns

I know many families love wearing matching plaid shirts, and I’ll admit its cute for a Christmas card but we’re not aiming for Christmas cards at this appointment. Especially not in the hight of Summer in Scotland. When you are looking for an elevated family portrait, plaid and large patterns can be distracting and will clash with the environment. Just use your best judgement.