A few minutes after a family books a session with me, I can almost guarantee the outfit question is coming.
“What are we supposed to wear?”
I completely understand why you ask.
These aren't photos you're planning to look at once and forget. You may print them, frame them, put them in an album, and still have them years from now.
You want to look at them and love what you see.
The good news is that choosing outfits doesn't have to become a whole project.
A lot of the stress comes down to color.
Once you know how your colors work together, choosing the actual clothes becomes much easier.
Before anything else, though, I want you to remember this: please don't overthink your session.
Your photoshoot should be something you enjoy. It shouldn't become another thing on your to-do list that makes you anxious.
If you're unsure about your clothes, ask me. I'm happy to help.
Start with how your clothes interact with your skin
Your outfit doesn't just sit there looking pretty in a photograph.
The colors can actually affect the way your skin looks.
Light reflects off clothing and can bounce color back onto your skin. Very strong colors can make this more noticeable.
Think about bright lime green or an intense hot pink.
Those colors can reflect onto the skin and create a color cast.
Softer shades are usually easier because they are less likely to compete with your face.
That doesn't mean I want every family wearing beige, though.
My first recommendation is much simpler.
Wear something you like. Wear something that feels comfortable. Wear something that feels like you.
For families, I prefer outfits that coordinate instead of matching from head to toe.
You want everyone to look connected without looking like you went shopping for identical outfits.
The location matters too.
If we're photographing outside, I look at what surrounds you.
You probably don't want everyone dressed in green while standing deep in a sea of greenery. Some of you may start disappearing into the background.
That's one reason I pay attention to the entire setting during a North York Toronto family photography session.
As a North York Toronto family photographer, I'm looking at the flowers, trees, paths, architecture, greenery, and the overall setting around you.
For example, Edwards Gardens in Toronto has a very different feel from an open field or a more urban location. The gardens and natural surroundings can become part of the photograph.
I also photograph families in places such as Earl Bales Park, Sunnybrook Park, Humber Bay Park, and G. Ross Lord Park. High Park is another option when you want a different Toronto setting.
Each location gives us something different to work with.
That means I don't want you choosing an outfit based on a generic photography rule.
I want us to think about your family, your clothing, your location, and the kind of photographs you want together.
Still wondering what I would put your family in?
This is probably the question you're really asking.
“Okay, Blessing. What would you actually recommend for us?”
Let's say we're planning your family session at Edwards Gardens and Mom wants to wear a cream or oatmeal dress.
I might use that as our starting point.
Dad could wear medium-wash jeans with a warm brown, beige, or another neutral top.
One child could wear sage green.
Another could wear cream, dusty blue, or a soft neutral.
Now everyone is wearing something different, but the outfits still feel connected.
That's the idea.
I also wouldn't choose those colors without considering where we're shooting.
Maybe we're surrounded by trees.
Maybe we're closer to the flowers.
Maybe we're using a pathway or another part of the gardens as the background.
The surroundings can change what I recommend.
So if you're standing in front of your closet wondering whether your choices work, send me a photo.
Seriously.
You can ask me, “Do these outfits work together?”
I'll look at the whole picture with you.
You don't need to know what photographs well.
You don't need to become a stylist before your family session.
That's one of the things I'm here to help with.
Sometimes the outfit you are unsure about photographs beautifully
I learned this all over again during a 16th birthday session at my studio in Toronto.
My client came with several outfits.
One of them was a white 2-piece set that she really didn't like.
She wasn't convinced it was the right choice.
I remember telling her that it wasn't bad at all and encouraging her to give it a chance.
I had a feeling it was going to photograph well.
But honestly, even I didn't expect the final images to turn out that beautiful.
The outfit looked incredible against the shade of pink we used for the backdrop.
It completely changed the way she saw the outfit.
And that is something I want you to take away from this.
There aren't always strict “good” and “bad” colors.
Context matters.
The person wearing it matters.
The backdrop matters.
The lighting matters.
The location matters.
Something you don't love hanging in your closet can sometimes look completely different once everything comes together in front of the camera.
So don't immediately rule something out just because you've heard that a certain color is “bad for photos.”
Show me what you're considering.
Let's look at it in context.
You probably already own what you need
Just last week, I photographed a family at Taylor Creek Park, Toronto and I have to tell you, they came so well coordinated.
Before the session, Mom had been worried about what everyone should wear. She asked me several times because she really wanted to get it right.
I gave her some recommendations, but because the session was coming up quickly, she couldn't get everything I had suggested.
So she went through her own wardrobe.
Using the recommendations we had already discussed, she pulled together pieces she already had and wore them.
She also brought an extra outfit for the baby, so I photographed the baby in that one too.
This was a three-generation family, including Grandma, and everyone arrived looking beautiful.
Their outfits worked together so well.
And the photographs?
They came out amazing.
That session reminded me of something I tell my clients all the time: you don't need to buy a completely new wardrobe for family photos.
Sometimes, the clothes you already own are more than enough.
As a North York family photographer who has photographed families all around the GTA, I would much rather help you work with what you have than make you feel pressured to shop for an entirely new wardrobe.
Look through your closet first.
You may already have everything you need.
A few thoughts on black, white, and denim
These three come up a lot, so let's talk about them.
Black can sometimes look a little flat in photographs.
I usually prefer it in smaller amounts instead of putting everyone in black from head to toe.
Bright white can also catch a lot of light.
Depending on the lighting, it can appear very bright in the final images.
Cream and ivory can give you that clean, fresh feeling without being quite as harsh.
Then there's denim.
Honestly, denim is one of the easiest pieces to work with.
A medium wash can fit beautifully with many of the softer colors we've already talked about.
But none of these suggestions are rules.
If you love something that isn't on my list, don't automatically put it back in the closet.
Show me.
We can look at it together and figure out whether it works with the rest of your family's clothing and the location.
Your favorite outfit might still be the right one
Sometimes the best choice has nothing to do with a color chart.
Maybe your daughter refuses to wear anything except her purple dinosaur shirt.
Let her wear it.
A comfortable, happy child is much easier to photograph than a child who feels miserable in an outfit you chose for them.
And years from now, that silly purple dinosaur shirt might be one of the details that makes the photograph feel even more special.
The same goes for a favorite dress, a meaningful color, or something connected to your family.
Those things have value too.
I care about color because it helps create a beautiful photograph.
But your people matter more than your color palette.
I also ask about clothing in my questionnaire.
I'll ask whether you already know what everyone is wearing or whether you would like some help.
If you've got it figured out, great.
You don't need me sending you outfit ideas just for the sake of it.
But if you're stuck, tell me.
I'll help you.
You don't have to arrive knowing how to do everything
This is something I really want my clients to understand.
You don't need to have the entire session figured out before you book.
Tell me what you want your photographs to feel like.
Show me the clothes you're considering.
Tell me if there's anything you're nervous about.
We can work through those things together.
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need to know where everyone should stand.
You don't need to know which angles photograph best.
You don't need to know what your children are supposed to do.
That part is my job.
Your job is to show up and be present with your family.
The clothes are not the reason we're taking the photos
Your family photoshoot session in North York, Toronto, isn't a fashion competition.
It's about preserving this particular version of your family.
Your children will grow.
Their little personalities will change.
The way they fit into your arms will change too.
One day, you'll look back at these photographs and remember things you had forgotten.
That's why I don't want your outfit to become the biggest thing you remember about the session.
Choose colors that work well together.
Lay everything out on the bed.
Look at the outfits as a group.
Then stop worrying about it.
Most importantly, don't panic.
Your session should feel like a chance to slow down and enjoy your people.
For me, photography can feel like self-care.
It's a reason to pause, spend time together, and create something you'll keep.
So if you're looking for North York Toronto family photography, find someone who understands what you're actually hoping to get from your session.
Maybe you want beautiful photographs surrounded by the gardens at Edwards Gardens.
Maybe you prefer the trails and greenery at Earl Bales Park.
Maybe Sunnybrook Park or G. Ross Lord Park feels more like your family.
Or perhaps you've always pictured your family photos at High Park.
The location matters, but it should work for your family and the feeling you want your photographs to have.
Tell your photographer what you want.
If your outfit is stressing you out, ask for help.
You don't need to arrive knowing how to pose.
You don't need to know what to do with your hands.
You don't need perfectly behaved children.
And you don't need a perfect wardrobe.
Relax. Enjoy your people. Let me handle the parts you don't know how to handle.
That's what I'm here for.
I hope reading this blog post has given you some solid ideas! If you're still looking for a Family Photographer in North York and the whole of Toronto
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