The question I get asked most, by a wide margin, is “what should we wear?” It matters more than people expect — coordinated outfits quietly pull a family portrait together, and clashing ones fight for attention. But it’s also easier than it sounds. Here is how I would approach it.
Start with a palette, not an outfit
Pick two or three colours that sit well together and build every outfit from them. Soft, muted tones — sage, oatmeal, dusty blue, warm grey, cream, and rust in autumn — photograph beautifully in Winnipeg’s natural light and won’t look dated in ten years the way a bold trend will. Then let each person wear a different mix of those colours. You are aiming for “same family,” not “same uniform.”
Coordinate, don’t match
Matching everyone in identical white shirts and blue jeans reads as stiff, and it is unforgiving in bright light. Vary the pieces instead: one person in a knit, another in a button-down, a patterned skirt on one child and a plain top on another. Texture — cable knits, linen, corduroy, denim — adds depth that flat cotton does not.
A few things that always work
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Layers
A cardigan, denim jacket or scarf adds variety to the photos. It also gives you a way to adjust if the weather turns, which in Winnipeg it will.
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Longer dresses and skirts
Fabric that catches the wind or trails as you walk adds a sense of movement. It is especially nice for the more relaxed, walking part of a session.
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Comfortable shoes
Nobody photographs well in pain. We move around and there is usually a short walk, so boots, clean sneakers or simple flats are all fine.
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A spare outfit for little ones
A change of clothes in the bag has saved more than one session from a snack or a puddle.
What to leave at home
Large logos and slogans pull the eye straight to the text. Neon and pure white both misbehave between sun and shade. Brand-new shoes look brand new. And avoid dressing the whole family head to toe in black unless that is genuinely your style — it can flatten faces in soft light and hide the connection between people, which is the thing I am actually there to photograph.
Dressing for the season
Autumn is our showpiece: rust, mustard, deep green and brown all sit against the turning leaves at Kildonan Park or Assiniboine Forest. In winter, lean into it with chunky knits, mittens and one bright colour against the snow. Summer evenings stay warm and golden well past eight, so light linens and soft pastels work right up to sunset.
If you are still unsure, send me a photo of what you are thinking and I will tell you honestly whether it will work. Planning the wardrobe is part of what I do — see the family photography page for how a session runs, or get in touch to book.
