What to Wear for Better Than School Portraits Fine Art Mini Sessions
While your child’s personality will be the focus of these Seattle boutique fine art portraits, what your child wears can enhance and bring life to their portraits. Just like good lighting flatters the skin, well-chosen clothing can highlight your child’s features and help them look their best. Read on for tips to select simple, classic clothing that will help your child (not just their personality) shine on picture day!
Select clothing that matches or compliments their eye color
You almost can’t go wrong with matching or complimenting your child’s eye color. Working with a component of a person’s natural coloring always enhances and even draws attention to their inherent beauty. Let’s help those eyes - “pop”!
Wear jewel tones or colors found in nature
When choosing shirt colors go with darker jewel tones, neutrals, or soft pastels. Denim/chambray and peach tones look good on almost everyone. Think about which colors will enhance your child’s skin tones (give their skin color and life) rather than wash them out. In general, I recommend avoiding solid white (too contrasty) or black (blends with the background). Neons should also be avoided as vibrant colors can cast color on the skin (green zombies are only cool on TV shows).
Choose clothing with details and texture
Simple details in clothing add beauty and interest to a portrait. For Better Than School Portraits fine art mini sessions, the focus is mid-chest and up so it’s most important to consider the neckline. You can add layers, accessories, and personality with a lacy neckline, suspenders, collar, bowtie, small timeless necklace, vest or overalls. Fabrics with texture (heathered fabrics, sweaters, cable-knit) are another way to give your portraits depth and a sense of tactile dimension without distracting from the subject.
Siblings should wear clothing that coordinates, not matches
Out are the days of everyone wearing the same color (matching white shirts and blue jeans of the 80s). Instead, choose 2-3 colors to repeat throughout different outfits. To start, select one piece of clothing that has a few colors (floral, plaid, or stripes) then use those colors to repeat in siblings’ clothing with solids or a coordinating pattern.
Don’t overlook the details
Most portraits will be taken from the chest up, however, at times hands/wrists may be showing (especially in sibling portraits). Consider removing sports watches which often look bulky, hairbands from wrists, trimming fingernails, and removing chipped fingernail polish or removable tattoos. I also recommend smaller hair bows for the girls. A large, oversized bow can distract from the child’s face and/or get cropped out halfway in close-up shots.
Let children be themselves
These portraits are meant to let your child’s personality shine. If you’re an easy going family and you’d rather clothing that is an expression of who your child is at this point in time, then by all means, let them choose their outfit! Looking back years from now, you may get a kick out of seeing their favorite shirt or sports jersey one more time.
Curious how the concept of Better Than School Portraits came about? Find out how my own son inspired me.
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