I get a lot of questions regarding what to wear for photo sessions and I am planning to share some of my favorite clothing brands and styling tips to help you look your best for your photo session. Rather then have one long blog post I am going to do separate posts for boys and girls and possibly one for coordinating the whole family. I am starting with the girls because they are probably the easiest to dress, and who doesn’t love shopping for little girl clothes?
First of all I will share some general rules to styling little girls and then I will share some of my favorite clothing brands. To start with please make sure that whatever outfit you choose for your little girl is comfortable and is something that she enjoys wearing (if she’s old enough to care!). If she’s not comfortable or hates what she’s wearing then she’s going to be less cooperative for photos and her discomfort and bad mood will be evident in the photos. It’s also best to keep the outfit weather appropriate since a little girl in a sundress may be absolutely adorable in August but is going to freeze her patootie off in that same dress in February. Of course if you have an awesome jacket and boots to coordinate with the sundress then by all means have her wear it in February. Layering is important for bigger girls, it creates more interest and is especially important in cooler weather. Pairing different textures together can also work well, like putting a fuzzy sweater with a soft tutu. Don’t forget about accessories and shoes, not only can they be a lot of fun but they can also infuse a lot of personality into the final images. I love, love, love hair accessories and will share some of my favorite Etsy sellers but they are also pretty easy and fun to make on your own. I keep a stash of girls hair accessories (and a few hats in sizes 12 months and smaller) which you are welcome to use as well. For baby girls who are between 6 and 12 months consider bringing a ruffled diaper cover or tutu.
My favorite girls clothing brands for photos are Matilda Jane, Gap, Mini Boden, Naartjie, and Gymboree. These are definitely not the only brands that work, they are just my favorites and often have outfits that photograph really well. When I’m choosing outfits for my own daughter I look for clothes that she loves that are simple and bright. I stay away from clothes with words and logos for the most part (though I do make exceptions when I think it’s appropriate) and do a lot of layering. I always consider her shoes and hair accessories and make sure we have something that will match.
The images above and below are all clothing from Matilda Jane. Dresses and outfits from Matilda Jane run on the spendy side (expect to pay $65 or more for a dress) but they have a wow factor and are gorgeous. I take advantage of their rare sales and have also bought it second hand off Ebay (which isn’t much cheaper!).
The image above is a mish mash of clothing companies and was not a planned out session (taken on the way home from gymnastics when I spotted a new location I wanted to try out). The Super Girl shirt is from the Gap Outlet, the denim skirt is from the consignment store, her gray leggings and pink boots are both from Gymboree.
The pink rock star outfit is from Gymboree though the gray Abercrombie sweater is from Goodwill. I usually stay away from shirts with words/appliques but this one fit the theme of the rock n roll shoot and it got my daughter excited about taking pictures so I let it slide. Mostly I just love those pink fringe boots we scored at a Salem consignment store for $4.50! The red polka dot dress at the top of this post is also from Gymboree, I bought it this past winter for a song during one of their big sales.
Grace’s Valentines day outfit is another mish mash. The shirt is from Target, and does feature words but again, it works with the theme of the session so I didn’t mind. All three tutus (yes three!) are from Baby Gap as are the striped tights. The pink fringe boots are Gymboree and I made her flower headband.
This was Grace’s first day of school outfit this year and the shirt is from Mini Boden. I’m also a huge fan of Converse, my daughter has like four or five pairs in her shoe bin right now! Her headband was made by a friend of mine who owns The Paisley Underground.
The camera shirt is from Mini Boden and the tutu/leggings are from Baby Gap. She’s wearing yet another pair of purple Converse. I told you I have a small Converse obsession didn’t I!
This little cutie is wearing Naartjie, another one of my favorite brands. Naarjtie lends itself to layering really well which I like. It can be hard to order it online because dye lots can be a little different between items and it’s way easier to buy in person. They just opened a store in Woodburn and also have one at the Washington Square Mall.
As for hair accessories, I have several Etsy sellers I have worked with in the past that I highly recommend or you can make your own. I’ve also picked up a few awesome ones for a reasonable price at the Mother Goose consignment store on Edgewater in West Salem. The pink headband in the photo above came from Baby Gap. My favorite Etsy sellers include The Petite Peanut, Dolly Priss, and The Mod Market.
