Preparing For Your Child's Portrait Session

Clothes matter.

Sorry, Mom, but they really do. A little planning will help you get photos you adore. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, just keep a few things in mind.

Select an outfit that fits your child’s body. In other words, make sure the clothes aren’t too baggy, too long or too tight.

Select an outfit that fits your child’s personality. If your daughter NEVER wears dresses, maybe this isn’t the day to make her wear one. Or, if your son ALWAYS wears a cape, consider letting him wear it in his photo. After all, you want pictures that remind you of how your child really is!

Try and choose clothing that does not distract from his or her face. Avoid t-shirts with logos or messages.

Bold colors will help make the photo more vibrant, but don’t get carried away. Consider playing with two or three colors, or accessorize with a bright scarf or hat. (Just be sure your child knows to bring any accessories to the photo session.)

Layers look great, but take care not to look too bulky.

Beware of horizontal stripes.

Don’t forget the shoes. Don’t spend a lot of time getting just the right outfit and forget about the shoes!

Hair.

Photo day is not the day to try something new with your child’s hair, and, unless you’re a risk-taker, don’t get your child’s hair cut the day before, either.