What to Wear for your Studio Portrait Session
Simple tips for timeless, stress-free style
You’ve booked your session (yay!) - Now comes the big question: “what do we wear?”
It’s one of the questions I get asked most, and totally understandable! The good news is that creating a cohesive, beautiful look is much easier than it seems.
Here’s a more detailed guide to help you prepare, whether you’re coming for a newborn, family, pet, or mixed session.
Start with a Colour Palette
Timeless, soft tones always photograph best in the studio. I love neutrals like creams, soft greys, beige, sage, muted blues, and warm earth tones - they flatter every skin tone and complement the clean, elegant style of the studio. Avoid super bright or neon colours that can reflect on skin or draw attention away from your expressions.
Tip: Choose 2–3 main colours that work together across everyone’s outfits, instead of trying to match perfectly.
2. Textures Over Patterns
Solid colours create a cohesive base, and textures (like knits, linen, lace, or a soft jumper) add visual interest without being distracting. Patterns, bold prints, or big logos can pull focus away from the connection and emotion we want to capture in your portraits.
3. Coordinate, Don’t Match
Gone are the days of everyone in identical outfits. Instead, select pieces that complement one another - like one person in cream, another in soft grey, and another in muted sage. This helps the final images feel intentional and connected without looking uniform.
4. Ideas on What to Wear
Adults: Simple blouses, linen shirts, soft knits, or tailored pieces work beautifully under studio lighting. Classic silhouettes stand the test of time and look elegant in portraits.
Kids: Simple dresses, linen shirts, chinos, or soft rompers allow movement and look great on camera. Avoid characters, flashy prints, or anything that might distract them (or us!) during the session.
Newborns: I provide wraps and outfits for newborn sessions, so just bring your bub in something simple that you can dress them in and out of. If you have a specific outfiit for you newborn, you can of course bring this to your session.
5. Comfort Matters
You’ll look your best when you feel your best. Choose outfits that are comfortable, especially for little ones - because comfort translates into confidence in your images.
6. Finishing Touches
Keep jewellery minimal and classic so it complements rather than overwhelms.
If you wear makeup, a slightly enhanced version of your everyday look helps define features under studio lighting.
Hair neat and styled (even relaxed styles look great) helps keep portraits timeless
Still Unsure? I’m Here to Help.
If you’d like personalised styling suggestions, feel free to share a few outfiit ideas or photos to me before your session. I love helping you put together looks that feel you and photograph beautifully.