The first question I am usually asked after a clients books a  portrait session for a baby or child is “how should I go about choosing clothing for my child’s pictures”?  This is an excellent question and is a very important part of the elements that go into children’s portraiture.

The first consideration is color.  If we are outdoors, a pattern will work great.  For indoor studio sessions, many times the pattern is going to be a backdrop, so solid colors will work best.  In both cases, bright or rich colors work best.  I prefer that white is avoided.  A person’s eye will go to the first white spot of the portrait that it will see.  If that “spot” is right under your child’s face, it will be the first place a person will look.  We want the face to be the focal point of the image.

Let’s talk hats!  We do not want the brim of the hat to be so large that is blocks light from the child’s face and doesn’t let their beautiful eyes sparkle.  I love how the hat brings some contrast to the outfit below.

Next, think about texture and layers.  In the image below, this dress has a substantial weight to it and the texture of it shows well in the image.  The contrasting buttons and hat make this outfit interesting.  When dressing boys, it is a little more difficult to put together an interesting outfit.  Think about layering with a jacket or a button up shirt.

Below are some of my favorite vendors for children’s clothing.  I encourage parents to send me shots of clothing choices for input and it also helps me to plan the session to see the clothing beforehand.

Some Favorite vendors:

Persnicketyclothing.com

Cassie’s Closet

La Bella Flora

Hanna Anderson

Check out our pricing and information page about scheduling your own child’s session!