We have great tips, ideas and lots of photos of what to wear for your Outer Banks family portrait session! As a photographer, we get a lot of questions about family portraits. What should we wear? What should we bring and what should we expect? We often say bring laughter and happiness, wear what’s comfortable and a smile and expect to have fun! Sometimes that isn’t enough of an answer. I have some great tips below to make your beach portrait experience amazing and fun!
Please click here for our updated article on what to wear and lots of photo examples!
What to wear:
Often khaki pants or blue jeans with a white or blue shirt look great. But you are not limited to this. It is ok to be creative. Keep the size of your group in mind when choosing what to wear.
Here are some ideas for what to wear:
-Have a different color for each family. This is great for group photos that involve more than one family.
-Females wear one color and the males wear another.
-Just coordinate the shirt color and wear the bottoms you would like.
-Coordinate the men in the family and allow the women to dress in dresses or outfits that compliment them.
-Wear a special family vacation shirt.
-Bring a change of clothes for the individual family portraits sessions. You can change after the group photo is taken. Make sure it is something that you can quick change into in case there are no places to change at the shoot and so you don’t lose a lot of time.
-Dress in your best casual wear (try to avoid competing patterns). Wear colors that look good on you. Choose colors from the same color palette. Example choose from blues or greens but don’t state a specific tone. Also choose something easy to pose in.
– Wear the same colors
-Not all the pictures need to be formal. Add some fun to your shots. Cowboy hats, sunglasses, feather boas and funny glasses are a few suggestions.
-Wear Santa hats for that Christmas card in the winter 🙂
-Bring props- football, musical instrument, surfboards, etc…
-Bring a change of clothes. Large groups should try to be as efficient as possible so you don’t lose a lot of time.
Babies and children:
Change of clothes- dressy and casual or a princess outfit, costumes, etc…
Blanket- for hot sand and those who don’t like sand as well as for infants.
Babies/infants- Cute baskets to sit in (large), sit on toys (rocking horse, etc…)
*Toys- shovel & bucket, dump truck, special toys, etc… Also, bring a small toy for a family member or the photographer to shake for the small children so they will focus in the direction of the camera.
A favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal
Beach chair-kid size
Hat and sunglasses
Santa hats
Be creative!
Next:
Read more on how your portrait session works.
Or click here to contact us and book your date!
.jpg "0007")
This is a group shot of several families that all decided to show each family with its own beautiful colors.
.jpg "0047")
This family decided to go for simple and comfortable.
.jpg "0158")
Although patterns are not always recommended, this family really found a happy mix and found patterns that were rather large and easy to photograph.
.jpg "0112")
Just a fun head ornament and a simple stuffed animal made this shot an instant classic.
.jpg "0251")
We do not see this very often but this family decided to use color to make a wonderful portrait!
.jpg "0004")
This group works together. The shirts and hats are from their company. They then changed clothing for their individual family portraits.
.jpg "0311")
A perfect example of classic family portrait attire! And they were very happy to change and get back into their bathing suits!
.jpg "0171")
If you are really casual, here is a great example of what to wear.
.jpg "0008")
You just can’t go wrong with super fun and beachy colors!
.jpg "0113")
Hat, $10.00. Blanket, $15.00, photo on the beach with seagulls too? Priceless!
.jpg "0201")
Classic is classic for a reason. You just can never go wrong with this clothing scheme.
.jpg "0366")
You tell me how cool the surfboard prop is?
.jpg "0018")
This creative family went with a lighter blue for the men and navy blue for the women. The children had white with blue accents and this was a perfect portrait!
.jpg "0136")
A simple hat, vest-like top, and good old teddy bear.
.jpg "0246")
Child portrait with an adorable hat.
.jpg "0249")
Do you now agree that a hat can change everything?
.jpg "0385")
This is the way to go when the subjects are classy and casual!
.jpg "0089")
With some really good thought, this family went with a mix of colors and accented the youngest children. Totally beautiful and timeless!
.jpg "0251-2")
This family went above and beyond and brought out an Adirondack chair to the beach for a simple and loving portrait.
.jpg "0279")
Classic white family portrait.
.jpg "0286")
This group did it so simple and it turned out wonderful!
.jpg "0006")
This is a multi-family group wanted a group photo on the stairs of the house and a repeat on the beach. They were color coordinated per family.
.jpg "0392")
You just can’t go wrong with white for family portraits!
.jpg "0413")
If you have young children, bring nice, new colorful props. You won’t regret it!
.jpg "0875")
If you have young children, bring nice, new colorful props. You won’t regret it!
.jpg "1115")
If you have young children, bring nice, new colorful props. You won’t regret it!
.jpg "1116")
If you have young children, bring nice, new colorful props. You won’t regret it!
.jpg "0002")
This family added the blue bow-ties for fun. They took them off and then took more images without the blue accents.
.jpg "0103")
This family had fun bringing hats. Yeehaw!!!
.jpg "00028")
This couple had their images done in the winter. They both enjoy the outdoors. They were able to coordinate colors very nicely.