As a family and motherhood photographer, one of my favorite ways to help you prepare for your sessions is holding your hand through the wardrobe planning process. I know deciding what to wear for photos can be a big source of stress for families, so that is why styling assistance is such a huge part of my client experience.

But even though I always tell my clients to decide on Mom’s outfit first, this post is for the guys! We’re covering all you need to know about dad’s wardrobe for Fall family sessions and beyond!

What to Wear for Photos: Favorites for Dad

While not required, I have found that so many families love to utilize the Client Wardrobe for both Mama and kids. Having that as an option is truly so helpful in taking that extra bit of stress of Mama’s shoulders, and makes it easy to narrow down options for Dad!

During the session planning process, I help walk you through everything you need to know when putting together your look for our session. But here are just a few of my tried and true tips to help get Dads started!

Colors

When coordinating outfits for the whole family, I like to keep all outfits in either warm tones OR cool tones. Mens chinos can be a bit confusing in terms of khaki colors but if they look more gold or yellow, that means they are on the warm side.

Warm tones are more of those golden khakis, ivory, sage green and blush colors. If Mama picks a sage green or off-white dress, for example, I recommend having everyone in the family wear warm tones.

Cool tones can include bright white, grey, blue, and cooler-toned khakis. In the maternity photos below, Dad is wearing cool-toned khaki chinos that work perfectly with Mom’s bright white dress and his blue shirt.

Fabric

I know Dads tend to be the sweaty ones in the family so keeping them happy and comfortable is key! That usually means being strategic in which fabrics he wears.

Linen is always a great choice. It’s breathable and can be more or less casual, depending on how you style it. For the session below, Dad was able to roll his sleeves around the middle of our session for a more casual look.

Henleys are also a great option if you’re looking for something a bit more casual. J. Crew (or J. Crew Factory) and Target’s Goodfellows brand typically have great options.

Another fan favorite are “tech” and performance fabrics. They don’t wrinkle or show sweat so its easier on both the family in prepping for the session, and an easier edit!

Pants vs. Shorts

Yes, even in the summer I still recommend pants for Dads! I know its a weird concept with our Lowcountry heat and probably not Dads’ favorite response from me… but I promise you won’t regret it.

I’m just gonna say it: shorts just aren’t super flattering when it comes to photos of Dads.

Pants give a more classic look for your session so I always recommend them. The performance pants from stores like J. Crew and Lululemon are lightweight enough to stay comfortable for our session even in the summer. Trust me! We can always cuff them a bit for beach sessions to play in the water, too!

Shoes

Closed-toed shoes, always! The only exception is for beach sessions, since we will kick off our shoes anyway.

I love casual slip on sneakers like these, a lace-up version like this, or casual oxfords like this.

Layers for Fall

One of my favorite ways to round out the wardrobe for the whole family is by adding layers. It’s an easy way to add visual interest without getting all over the place with color. It’s also a fantastic way to add a bit of warmth during the colder months. A button-down under a sweater is such a classic option. A vest over a long sleeve henley can also be a great choice!

I’ve added a helpful graphic here for some ideas and pairings, and of course, you can always reach out while we are in the planning stage for some extra advice if you need it!

 

The session below is a beautiful example of how this dad brought together his look for their maternity session. It worked perfectly for this summer session in Hampton Park!

The blue linen shirt was ideal for a hot summer day, and being able to roll up his sleeves gave us the option of a more casual look. It’s also a cool tone that paired perfectly with Mom’s bright white dress from the Client Wardrobe. Also, aren’t they the CUTEST?!

Caitlyn Motycka is an award-winning Charleston Family, Maternity, and Newborn Photographer based out of Charleston, SC. Service areas include Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, James Island, Folly Beach, and surrounding areas.

If you’re interested in starting a photography journey together with your growing family, contact me here! Let’s take some pretty pictures together!