What to wear for family photos

What to Wear for
Family + Newborn Photos

Figuring out what to wear and coordinating everyone's outfits together for family photos can be a daunting process. What colors look best for photos? Should  someone wear a pattern? Do I have to wear a dress? Do these colors look good together? And the list goes on...

The good news is that there's actually a way to make this all come together beautifully that will not keep you up at night.

Let's walk through the process together, shall we?




Family + Newborn Photo Outfit Guide

Family + Newborn Photo Outfit Guide

What should mom wear for photos?

What should mom wear for photos?

Mom gets to pick her outfit first! And then we make all other wardrobe choices based on that.

Texture and clothes that move are the camera’s best friend (think linen, silk, knit, velvet, sequins, flowy dresses, etc.). You can feel these in a photograph in a way that a cotton dress can't achieve.

Don’t be afraid of print and color, but opt for smaller prints rather than larger prints. 

Especially for in-home photos, you do not have to wear a dress, Mom! If that's what feels good, go for it. It's definitely a safe choice, but it's not the only choice.

Less formal looks lend themselves to more comfort and more authenticity for everyone to move, snuggle, run and let loose! We can get as unconventional as you want here, especially if your session is taking place in your home! You can go with the dress, but you can also get away with a pair of jeans and a cute top since you are in your home, after all. I've even photographed families in pajamas in their homes, and it's so cozy and fun!

Lastly, makeup photographs a few shades duller, so feel free to go a little bolder than you usually would.
Mom gets to pick her outfit first! And then we make all other wardrobe choices based on that.

Texture and clothes that move are the camera’s best friend (think linen, silk, knit, velvet, sequins, flowy dresses, etc.). You can feel these in a photograph in a way that a cotton dress can't achieve.

Don’t be afraid of print and color, but opt for smaller prints rather than larger prints. 

Especially for in-home photos, you do not have to wear a dress, Mom! If that's what feels good, go for it. It's definitely a safe choice, but it's not the only choice.

Less formal looks lend themselves to more comfort and more authenticity for everyone to move, snuggle, run and let loose! We can get as unconventional as you want here, especially if your session is taking place in your home! You can go with the dress, but you can also get away with a pair of jeans and a cute top since you are in your home, after all. I've even photographed families in pajamas in their homes, and it's so cozy and fun!

Lastly, makeup photographs a few shades duller, so feel free to go a little bolder than you usually would.

Family Photo Outfits for Babies and Toddlers

Babies look best in diapers or diaper covers if we're photographing in and around your home. Clothes end up getting bunched up when you pick them up and snuggle them, and most babies would prefer to ditch the clothes anyway! If clothes are a must for you, remember SIMPLE is best. Go for a one piece romper that won't bunch or a simple dress for your baby girl.

Babies

Once again, keep it simple and be mindful of clothes that bunch up! Less really is more, especially with little ones. A cute dress with good texture paired with a small bow or headband is always a good choice for girls. For boys, you can choose a button down, a henley, v-neck with a pocket or even a one piece outfit. The one clothing item I recommend avoiding with toddler boys are polos. They seem like a logical choice, but they don't photograph well!

TODDLERS

Wardrobe Options for Dad

For the men, I always suggest pants rather than shorts, and a pair of close-toed shoes that are NOT sneakers! And bare feet are always fair game as well. In fact, I 100% recommend bare feet if we're in your home!

He can go with a crew neck, v-neck, quarter zip, henley or button down. Things to avoid that may not be so obvious would be dri-fit material and polos - yes that means his favorite dri-fit polo is not game here unfortunately.


General Wardrobe Rules

  • There are a variety of colors that photograph well, and contrary to popular belief, you don't have to wear something overly neutral! Yes, neutrals are nice, but so is COLOR!

  • The only colors I'll tell you to avoid are neons and sometimes black. If the piece is an interesting texture, then black is fair game. But don't opt for a black cotton dress or t-shirt. It won't translate well in photos!

  • Whatever palette you choose, it all needs to coordinate together. So if mom is wearing a multi-colored dress with pink, pale yellow and mint green, then you pull from those colors for everyone else's outfits!

  • Texture is your friend! Pick something interesting and watch it jump off of the page when you see your photos! 

The DO NOT Wear List

  • Apple Watch or fitness tracker
  • Anything neon
  • Polos
  • Exact matching outfits or colors
  • Too many accessories--less is more here.
  • Anything with words or large logos
  • The “safe” option. Don’t go boring for photos just because you’re scared to “make a mistake.” You are not boring, and your outfit shouldn't be either. Express yourself!
  • Something that's not "you"!


If you have at least one window in your home with good natural light that streams through it, we can make magical photos of your family happen in your home! Your home doesn't need to look like a page straight out of a Pottery Barn magazine or have an updated kitchen with all of the bells and whistles. One good window and a home full of people who love each other is all I need!

I want to do an in-home session, but i'm not confident my home will photograph well. how can i tell if it will work or not?

Newborn Photo Sessions take place on weekday mornings around 10 AM when the light is most beautiful inside. I recommend prioritizing scheduling your session while both parents are still on leave from work to avoid any potential conflicts! I photograph newborn sessions at any point within the first month after birth.

When are Newborn sessions photographed?

I give you all of the tips to make it more likely that your baby will sleep through your session. But if he or she doesn't, it's ok! The beautiful thing about a lifestyle newborn session is that I don't need your baby totally asleep the entire time, so don't sweat it.

And as for uncooperative older siblings, I have great news. I've never photographed a session with 100 percent perfect behavior from all of the kids the entire time. And I in NO WAY expect it either! I actually need your kids to be kids - that's what makes for the best photos. And we'll be in your home, so if your kids need a break to play, it's totally fine!

What if I invest in the newborn photography experience and my kids don't cooperate or my baby doesn't sleep?

I believe in providing a full service experience until the very end, which means I don’t want to leave you with tons of digital files from your session and zero direction as to what to do with them. Throughout our time together, we'll discuss your options for artwork so that you can ensure these images will be passed down for generations to come. You do have the option to purchase all digital files as well.

DO WE GET ALL OF THE DIGITAL FILES, AND CAN WE PRINT THE IMAGES OURSELVES?

Fantastic! To reserve a date on my calendar, I’ll need a completed contract and payment for the session fee. The remainder will not be due until after you view your final images and choose a collection or a la carte selection that best suits your needs.

WE LOVE YOUR WORK AND WE’RE READY TO BOOK! WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

Newborn Photography Facts

Still Have Questions?

reg + kala

"Every single capture has so much truth and emotion behind it"

"I booked Morgan for newborn photos as soon as I found out I was pregnant, literally 7 weeks pregnant! There was absolutely no one else to capture this season of our lives. We have a 5 year old, 3 year old, and newborn twins so you can imagine the struggle getting everyone to participate and coordinate. Morgan, being a twin mom herself, helped me navigate every single detail up until our session together, making sure she understood what was important to us. She is so patient, kind, and passionate about the images she creates. Every single capture has so much truth and emotion behind it which is something I really appreciated about our gallery. I feel like I’m right back in those moments when I’m looking through our gallery. Even though it felt like complete and utter chaos during our shoot, Morgan captured our family so perfectly. I am so grateful for the memories created during our shoot and I know our children will one day too."

"Every single capture has so much truth and emotion behind it"

"I booked Morgan for newborn photos as soon as I found out I was pregnant, literally 7 weeks pregnant! There was absolutely no one else to capture this season of our lives. We have a 5 year old, 3 year old, and newborn twins so you can imagine the struggle getting everyone to participate and coordinate. Morgan, being a twin mom herself, helped me navigate every single detail up until our session together, making sure she understood what was important to us. She is so patient, kind, and passionate about the images she creates. Every single capture has so much truth and emotion behind it which is something I really appreciated about our gallery. I feel like I’m right back in those moments when I’m looking through our gallery. Even though it felt like complete and utter chaos during our shoot, Morgan captured our family so perfectly. I am so grateful for the memories created during our shoot and I know our children will one day too."

richard + corinne

"My husband and I felt like we were hosting a friend who just happened to take pictures of our baby. The entire session was relaxed and joyful."

"I met Morgan at the Raleigh Bloom event in spring 2019 when I was barely through my first trimester of pregnancy. Although newborn photography was not at the forefront of my mind at the time, I never forgot Morgan - I kept her brochure on my kitchen table (along with all other important papers) throughout my pregnancy. About two months before my daughter was expected to arrive, I reached out to Morgan to officially book her as our family’s newborn photographer. Booking with her was so easy! And it was obvious from the first time I communicated with Morgan that she prioritizes client relationships. As my daughter’s due date approached, Morgan would reach out to check in with me and send advice on how to get our house ready for pictures as well as wardrobe tips. This guidance was enormously helpful and made the day of our session stress-free. During the newborn shoot, Morgan was just incredible! My husband and I felt like we were hosting a friend who just happened to take pictures of our baby. The entire session was relaxed and joyful. A couple weeks later, Morgan returned to our home to go through the pictures, finalize our album, and watch the video of our daughter; I did not expect it - but the video was by far my favorite product of our session. Morgan is very passionate about her work, she loves photographing families and it shows in her pictures. I look forward to having Morgan photograph me and my family in the future!"

"My husband and I felt like we were hosting a friend who just happened to take pictures of our baby. The entire session was relaxed and joyful."

I met Morgan at the Raleigh Bloom event in spring 2019 when I was barely through my first trimester of pregnancy. Although newborn photography was not at the forefront of my mind at the time, I never forgot Morgan - I kept her brochure on my kitchen table (along with all other important papers) throughout my pregnancy. About two months before my daughter was expected to arrive, I reached out to Morgan to officially book her as our family’s newborn photographer. Booking with her was so easy! And it was obvious from the first time I communicated with Morgan that she prioritizes client relationships. As my daughter’s due date approached, Morgan would reach out to check in with me and send advice on how to get our house ready for pictures as well as wardrobe tips. This guidance was enormously helpful and made the day of our session stress-free. During the newborn shoot, Morgan was just incredible! My husband and I felt like we were hosting a friend who just happened to take pictures of our baby. The entire session was relaxed and joyful. A couple weeks later, Morgan returned to our home to go through the pictures, finalize our album, and watch the video of our daughter; I did not expect it - but the video was by far my favorite product of our session. Morgan is very passionate about her work, she loves photographing families and it shows in her pictures. I look forward to having Morgan photograph me and my family in the future!

taryn

"The pictures were amazing and the prints we got look perfect in our house. We have gotten so many compliments from family and friends."

"I met Morgan at a new and expecting mom event when I was 5 months pregnant and I knew right from the very beginning I wanted her to take our newborn pictures. She was so easy to talk to and had gorgeous examples of the work she had done. We ended up having our daughter a few weeks early and Morgan was so accommodating to work with in terms of scheduling and helping us prepare. We texted about outfits and Morgan made sure we had something we felt comfortable wearing. I could not wait to see the pictures and sure enough Morgan did not disappoint. One of many things I think that Morgan does that goes above and beyond is scheduling a viewing with you to go through the pictures when they are ready. She doesn’t just send a link, but really sits down with you and shows you the pictures after she has done her work on them. This to me shows her dedication and desire to make the experience the best it possibly can be. The pictures were amazing and the prints we got look perfect in our house. We have gotten so many compliments from family and friends. Prior to our photoshoot, Morgan asked if we would mind if she could record some for a new project she was working on. I said of course, we didn’t mind at all. During the photos I didn’t even realize Morgan was taking videos. The video we got from the experience may be one of my favorite things ever. I still can’t believe how much our daughter has grown and that video is something we will cherish forever. I can’t recommend Morgan enough for anyone looking for a newborn photographer. Her work is beautiful, she is a sweet and genuine mom herself, and the video she created is so special!"

"The pictures were amazing and the prints we got look perfect in our house. We have gotten so many compliments from family and friends."

I met Morgan at a new and expecting mom event when I was 5 months pregnant and I knew right from the very beginning I wanted her to take our newborn pictures. She was so easy to talk to and had gorgeous examples of the work she had done. We ended up having our daughter a few weeks early and Morgan was so accommodating to work with in terms of scheduling and helping us prepare. We texted about outfits and Morgan made sure we had something we felt comfortable wearing. I could not wait to see the pictures and sure enough Morgan did not disappoint. One of many things I think that Morgan does that goes above and beyond is scheduling a viewing with you to go through the pictures when they are ready. She doesn’t just send a link, but really sits down with you and shows you the pictures after she has done her work on them. This to me shows her dedication and desire to make the experience the best it possibly can be. The pictures were amazing and the prints we got look perfect in our house. We have gotten so many compliments from family and friends. Prior to our photoshoot, Morgan asked if we would mind if she could record some for a new project she was working on. I said of course, we didn’t mind at all. During the photos I didn’t even realize Morgan was taking videos. The video we got from the experience may be one of my favorite things ever. I still can’t believe how much our daughter has grown and that video is something we will cherish forever. I can’t recommend Morgan enough for anyone looking for a newborn photographer. Her work is beautiful, she is a sweet and genuine mom herself, and the video she created is so special!

DON’T TAKE IT FROM ME...

Raleigh Newborn Photography Reviews