5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos

when it comes to dressing kids for photos, photographers know exactly what works and what doesn’t work.  when i am shopping for clothes for my daughter, i am constantly thinking of photography in mind and rarely buy things that wouldn’t photograph well.  to be honest, clothing can make or break a photo.  i am in no way saying that the clothing you choose for your children has to be expensive because it doesn’t.  in fact, dressing kids for photos isn’t about where you shop, it is about what you shop for.  when choosing clothing for your kids to wear for photos, whether it be while looking through their current closet or shopping for some new pieces, here are 5 things for you to keep in mind when selecting their wardrobe.

when i became a mom, i became a better photographer.  read more about how motherhood strengthened my photography.

5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos

this post is to serve as basic rules for dressing kids, not wear to shop.  but since many of you will email me asking where i buy my baby girl’s clothes i will just mention it.  i really like buying things at target (janie & jack is darling), as well as marshals and tj maxx.  from time to time, i really like carters items.

ok, now that we have answered that inevitable question, let’s talk about the 5 secrets.

1.  No Logos

absolutely not.  no, not even a tiny logo.  resist the urge to buy clothing with logos on it, it is so distracting in an image and will take the focus away from where it should be, on your child.  do not dress your child in anything that has writing on it, it forces the viewer to read the shirt which just ruins the photo in it’s entirety.  think, plain jane.  less is more.  simple.  timeless.  make sense?

2.  Avoid Harsh Colors

while fun, loud colors should be avoided because they can place color casts on your child’s skin and create inaccurate skin tones.  this is because the color is so vibrant that it reflects on the skin, turning the skin into a similar hue.  think : bright red shirt = red tint on skin.  it makes editing a nightmare, and who wants that!?  don’t get me wrong, color is fine but avoid bright colors such as neons and hot pink.  you will be thankful you did.

3.  Keep The Tone of Your Photo in Mind

when dressing kids for photos, photographers usually have a photo in mind that they are going for and dress their child accordingly.  in my images, you will often see my little girl dressed in very soft whites, cream, or soft florals.  this is because, not only is that my style, but because i want the viewer to notice her before they notice her clothes.  for me, the photo is about my little girl and not about what she is wearing.  that being said, i am very thoughtful about what clothes she does wear so that they will go unnoticed.

in the image above, i wanted the viewer to focus on the moment and not our clothing so i picked very basic neutrals so the clothing didn’t overshadow the moment between my daughter and i.  in the photo below, i knew i wanted to place my daughter on our unmade bed that had white sheets and a cream headboard backdrop.  because i knew the scene in itself was going to be very plain, i intentionally dressed her in a soft floral onesie so she wouldn’t get lost in the background.

4.  No Shoes or Socks

if you are photographing your child at home, please take off their shoes and socks.  there is something so innocent and childlike about bare feet that really makes for an honest image.  please don’t overthink footwear when dressing kids for photos and, instead, disregard putting anything on their feet at all.  shoes tend to be noisy and dirty, so they can be distracting in an image.  of course, there are some really lovely shoes out there that are just plain adorable, but for the most part skip the shoes.  (unless you are photographing outdoors in an area that obviously calls for footwear, of course or if the shoes help to tell the story in the image better, such as a worn pair of favorite shoes.)

5.  Only Choose Low Maintenance Items

there is nothing worse than having to interrupt a moment to situate a child’s outfit, for the fortieth time.  if the pants need to constantly be pulled back up, don’t dress your child in them.  if the shirt has a collar that won’t stay put, choose a different shirt.  please do yourself and your photographer (if not you) a favor and dress your kids in clothing that is low maintenance and doesn’t need fussing.  it will only frustrate you and your child as you try to keep the outfit intact.

easy, right?  it is all about choices.  this doesn’t mean throwing out everything that your child currently has, but to be mindful about the items you add to their closet by keeping photos in mind.  i am not saying that a completely adorable photo of your child with a logo’d shirt shouldn’t be cherished, but for the purpose of getting better photos of your children keep these tips in mind when dressing kids for photos.

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