couple at golden hour maternity meredith mccann photography san marcos tx

How to Style Your Partner for a Photo Session

I get this question a lot! YOU may have picked out, purchased, and pressed the perfect outfit for your photo session, but what about your partner? Choosing an outfit for yourself is overwhelming enough, but things can get tricky if you need to coordinate with your partner (who may or may not be slightly less interested than you are in outfit choice). Either way, here are a few tips on how to style your partner for your photo session: 

Stick to neutrals

I’ve found that neutral colors tend to look the best in photos, so stay away from dark colors and bold or busy prints. Choosing an outfit with a print is perfectly fine, but I recommend the print be minimal and subtle. Try to avoid plaid if you can. The main focus of the photo should be your faces, not your outfits. 

Coordinate, but don’t match

Make sure your partner’s outfit complements yours but doesn’t match exactly (unless that’s your style of course). For example, if your dress is cream colored with a subtle green floral pattern, your spouse can wear a solid green shirt in a similar shade with jeans or neutral-colored pants. That way, your outfits are coordinated, but not too matchy matchy.

Be comfortable!

It goes without saying that your photo session outfit should make you both feel good, inside and out. Choose something that is both flattering and comfortable. Don’t stray too far from personal style, you still want to look like you, but make the outfit a little more special than an average day.

Footwear

When choosing footwear, be mindful of the weather and your session location, but for the gentlemen, please avoid flip flops. Close toed and stylish shoes are definitely preferred to flip flops. 

Clear the pockets

Before your session begins, make sure there is nothing in your partner’s pockets. I usually check, but it’s always possible that something slips through the cracks! You don’t want to get your photos back only to discover your partner forgot to remove their phone, wallet, or keys from their pocket (trust me, it will bother you every time you look at the photo). 

No baseball caps

As much as your partner loves cheering on that team, it’s best to avoid baseball hats in photos. They’re distracting, they get in the way in certain poses, and they can cause awkward shadows on their face. 

Clothing optional

If you’re preparing for a maternity shoot, and you plan on doing bare belly bump photos, your partner does have the option to go shirtless if they’re comfortable with it. 

Bonus tip: Try on our outfits, shoes and all, before your photo session! If your clothes are new, take them for a test run. That way, you can make sure they fit and there are no surprises during your session. 

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that photo shoots are supposed to be fun! Your photos should showcase your personality and your relationship above all else, so have fun with it! 

Are you looking to schedule a couples or a maternity photo session? Let’s connect! I’d be happy to answer all of your questions and discuss availability. 

WELCOME

I’m Meredith McCann, a published birth and motherhood photographer serving primarily the Austin area, including San Marcos, Wimberley, New Braunfels, Kyle and beyond. My storytelling galleries capture the essence of beautiful chaos in a family and motherhood.