What to Wear for Family Photos in Rochester, MN: Real Wardrobe Advice from a Local Photographer
Every mom does this. I do this. The second Scott and I schedule our own family photo session, I panic: Will I look fat? What am I going to wear?
When clients worry about looking fat, we jokingly say, "You're only going to get older, fatter, and balder. Might as well get the photos now." Then we quickly reassure them: "Don't worry, that's what expert posing and Photoshop are for."
Our posing skills are pretty darn magical, but the weight thing matters less than you think. Remember, these photos aren't for strangers scrolling Instagram. They're for the people who know and love you, the people who don't see your external package, only your internal essence. You want these photos for your kids, so that years from now, they'll look at them and feel your love and warmth again.
Clothing is a more important concern than weight, because if you feel good in what you're wearing, it shows on your face. Your smile is the only thing that matters to us.
These are some of the tips I give clients across Rochester and Southeast Minnesota as I help them choose outfits before each portrait session. Our wardrobe consultation service is free and convenient: you text me cell phone pictures of clothing options for each family member, and I pick my favorites. The end result is an outfit everyone feels good in, before you've even left the house.
Start with Your Outfit
Women tend to have the most insecurities about their appearance and the hardest time finding clothes. For that reason alone, we tell moms to find their outfit first, then build everyone else around it.
We also recommend looking for outfits with collars and sleeves. The less skin that shows, the more flattering and slimming the choice tends to be.
Pick a Color Family
Aim for about three colors. That's usually the sweet spot, enough to feel intentional and layered, not so many that it turns chaotic.
If you're shopping specifically for the session and not just working from what's already in your closets, take it a step further: tie your color choices to your shoot location or the time of year. A cabin session in October practically begs for rust and olive. A summer session near water leans naturally into soft blues and cream. Let the setting do some of the work for you.
Coordinate, don't match. Use other colors in your palette to pull together outfits for the rest of the family. Matching everyone in the same color was a fad in the 1990s and early 2000s (think: blue shirts with khakis, or white shirts with denim). A more modern approach is to build around a shared palette or theme instead, everyone finds something within it, and nobody has to wear the exact same shade.
Palette Examples
Earth tones = rust orange, olive green, mustard yellow
Pastels = baby blues, light pink, pale yellow
Jewel tones = emerald green, sapphire blue, burgundy
Primary colors = stop sign red, royal blue, school bus yellow, kelly green
Theme Examples
Fall leaves = orange, yellow, brown
Summer BBQ = red, white, blue
Baby's floral dress = whatever colors show up in the pattern
For more color ideas, see our other post: ChatGPT Gives Color Advice
Mix Patterns and Solids
We love mixing patterns (florals, stripes, polka dots, plaids) with solids. They're not chaotic. They're eye candy.
Keep patterns within your color palette or theme
Wear a solid to hide in the background, a pattern to pop
Avoid solid black or solid white, they tend to photograph blob-ish, with no shape or definition
It’s okay to repeat the same solid color if texture is a different weave or sheen
Plaid flannel shirts are a great Fall choice for men (pattern hides their bellies too)
How Many Outfits Do You Actually Need?
One is usually enough. Between feeding a toddler snacks, chasing a runner, and keeping everyone cooperating for the better part of an hour, a full outfit change mid-session is rarely worth the trade-off.
That said, if you've got a Halloween costume, a Harry Potter cape and wand, or a princess dress sitting in a closet, bring it. We love ending a session with a costume change. Kids get a second wind right when we need it most, they're thrilled to put it on, and the play-acting gives us a whole new set of expressions we wouldn't otherwise get.
Do Shoes Matter?
If you've already got the shoes, yes, they matter. Think of them like punctuation on a sentence, or inflection in a statement. Doc Martens or Converse with a dress? Absolutely, wear them. A great pair of shoes can be the detail that makes an outfit feel like you instead of just coordinated. We just don't think it's worth stressing over buying something new. If you don't love your shoe options, don't sweat it, we can crop feet out of most compositions anyway.
Weather Gear: Bring It
Cold day? Bring jackets and blankets. You'll use them between shots, not in them. We'll duck into a car or a building with the heater running if anyone needs to warm up. Hot day? Same idea in reverse. If we need an air-conditioned break, we'll take one.
FAQ
Should our whole family match for photos in Rochester, MN?
No. Coordinate within a color family instead of matching exactly. Matching tends to flatten a family into a uniform look rather than showing everyone's personality.
Do shoes matter for family portraits?
If you already own shoes you like, wear them, they add personality to an outfit, the way punctuation adds inflection to a sentence. If you don't love your options, don't stress: we can crop feet out of most compositions.
Can we bring a costume or props?
Yes, and we encourage it. A costume change or prop near the end of a session often gives kids a burst of energy and us a whole new round of genuine expressions.
How many colors should our family wear?
About three is the sweet spot. Enough to feel layered and intentional.