From what to wear to where to go, here’s how to prepare for your session

Planning your family photo session? Here’s how to choose the perfect outfits, location and time of day

Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for your special photo session:

1. What to Wear:

Choose outfits that complement each other without being overly ‘matchy.’ Soft, neutral tones or pastels work beautifully outdoors and allow the natural backdrop to shine. If you love colour, scroll below for some inspiration. Think timeless rather than trendy—your photos will be cherished memories forever!

2. Our Location:

The setting is key to capturing the right mood. Do you prefer a beach, forest, farm or an urban environment? Consider areas and memories that hold special meaning to your family, or simply places that offer stunning views. The Bay of Plenty region offers us incredible variety, from coastline to countryside, providing beautiful settings for your memories.

3. Time of Day:

Lightings important. The golden hour—just after sunrise or before sunset—provides soft, flattering light that adds a magical tone to your images. Avoid midday if we can, as the harsh sun can cast strong shadows. I’m really happy to assist with photo location ideas and times of day.

Bonus Tip:

Relax and enjoy yourselves. The best photos often come from natural interactions and genuine emotion, so try to have fun and be yourselves. Easier said than done? I get it! Feel free to pop over to: We don’t take good photos – help!

What to wear

Besides complementing your clothing, consider your location as well. If your plan is to print your images, you may wish to consider the decor of your home. See below for some family photo inspiration:

The Beach

Soft tones, neutrals and pastels tie in beautifully with the sand and dunes.

To see more of the H’s Family’s session click here: family-photos-on-papamoa-beach

Earthy Tones: Earthy tones work beautifully in my favourite late light. Rich earthy tones with neutral complementing colours look gorgeous in the tussocks and dunes.

Blues? Blues can add a pop of colour and complement the coastal theme. Moody blues and greys can also be stunning on a winter’s day. Adding an accessory like a scarf or hat brings in a layer of coziness or even a pop of colour to complement the palette.

Pastels and patterned fabrics. Patterned fabrics bring in a layer of interest and softness. A great trick for other family members is that they can wear tones that are within the pattern to tie the colour palette together.

Country locations

Soft neutral tones paired with jeans blend into our country scenes. A flannel shirt or a scarf can bring an element of colour. If someone wishes to wear a rich colour like mustard or a red flannel shirt, you can bring in another rich colour to complement it. What we want to avoid is one subject wearing a super bright colour, as it can be visually distracting. This is where the viewer’s eye will be drawn, competing with everyone else and the natural elements of the surroundings.

What to avoid

Avoid large logos or prints, and if possible, black.
If you are a predominant wearer of black and insist on wearing it, I suggest wearing it on the lower half of the body. Black can be a hard block, and this is where the eyes are first drawn, rather than to the beautiful scene. If you love dark, try a soft pattern or print to soften the fabric.
Avoid competing bright or neon colours. This will again draw attention and clash with the overall scene.

Complement rather than matchy-matchy

Having everyone comfortable in what they are wearing, with a complementary variety, lets everyone reflect their personalities and adds interest to the image.

If it’s your choice to dress everyone the same (some clients have opted for blue jeans and white tops) that’s fine, worth keeping in mind in years to come this alone will be a talking point rather than the images and subjects themselves.

Comfort and movement

My favourite images (and hopefully yours too) will be the images where we loosen up, and bring in natural movement and candid moments. Clothing that creates movement and is comfortable is essential. I’m a huge fan of dresses on the beach and the movement they provide. With an easy flow, they can be really flattering. You also don’t want to wear clothing that needs constant adjustment.

Casual or Dressy?

Most of my clients go with a good but casual vibe. The sort of outfit they’d wear to Friday night dinner at their local.  If it’s your will to be buried in your gumboots, I’ll suggest you bring your gum boots 😉
I’d also suggest that, in this case, we’ll likely be shooting on the farm anyway, and it’s totally fine to bring a change of clothes. If you have any doubts, do feel free to give me a call or have a chat about what you have in mind – I really want your family images to reflect your true personality and character.

Pop of colour

Don’t be afraid of colour.  Just have a think about our surroundings. A rust shirt can really complement an outdoor scene, as can a deep wine or green.  We just want to make sure what you are wearing complements the tones of everyone else. 

Is red a no?

A lot of photographers feel passionately about avoiding red. If other loved ones are wearing complementing colours, I say why not.

What is my plan for the images?

Have a think about the purpose of your images? Do you wish to print them? If so, you may wish to keep the décor of your home in mind. Creating a collage or prints can be a beautiful way to create treasured memories. If your clothing complements your décor, the overall aesthetic is beautiful and draws the eye. I’m happy to suggest some great printing options.

Photo location

You want your location to be a place that is close to your hearts. It holds special memories or is just a location that brings you joy. This can be in a park, on the beach, on family land. We can discuss what you feel suits you when choosing a location that speaks to who you are as a couple and family.

Time of day

When your photographer suggests a time for the most complementary light, believe them; they are not suggesting it for their convenience. If they care, they’ll want to get the very best results working with the most flattering light.

Late afternoon just before sunset or first thing in the morning are two times that offer beautiful, flattering light. In the middle of the day, the light is directly above us, and we get unflattering dark shadows on our faces. Bright light also causes us to squint – again not flattering. Also not ideal is background light reflecting off surfaces.

A fabulous time to shoot at the beach, for example, is an hour before sunset. The light is soft, rich and delicious. If you have no choice but to shoot in the middle of the day, we’d want to find a location with good shade, like a driveway. If it’s out of town and I don’t get a chance to visit the location you have in mind, I sometimes suggest sending me a picture of the location so I can guide you on the best course to take.

Can we bring Rufas?

Please do! If your fur babies are a part of the family, I’d love them to be included. They can be super fun even if it’s for the fun, natural and candid photos.

Change of clothing

You may wish to bring a change of clothes and a towel to beach photo shoots. A change of clothing for the kids sometimes comes in handy. We often end up having so much fun we all end up a little (or a lot) damp and sandy, and you may wish to change for the drive home.

Final words

• Scarves. LOVE them. They can often add a subtle touch of colour and bring attention to the face. 
• Hats. Hats bring a whole other dynamic to your personality, and that’s what it’s all about – capturing who you are in your comfortable, happy place.
• Avoid bright colours, logos and large prints. These will draw the eye and compete against other subjects.
• Black. Try to avoid; if you must wear black, try it on the lower half of the body or consider a pattern to soften.
• Complement colours and tones with your loved ones, and the whole scene will tie in beautifully.