What to Wear for School Pictures From a Pittsburgh School Photographer

One of the most common questions asked by parents before school pictures is what should my kids wear? Choosing what to wear can be surprisingly stressful; but don't worry, once you know a few simple guidelines you will feel ready to dress your child for school picture day. Here are a few simple tips of what to wear for school picture day.

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What to Avoid

Avoid neon colors

Bright, neon colors will cast color onto your child's face and neck. So if your child is wearing a neon yellow shirt, some of that neon yellow color will be reflected onto your child's skin.

Avoid clothes with graphics, logos, wording

Large graphics, words, and logos really distract from your child in school pictures. Of note, your child's pictures will be taken from the chest up, so it's most important that there are no distracting graphics or logos on the top half of their clothing.

Avoid Hoodies

Hoodies are bulky around kids' neck and faces, which makes for an awkward silhouette.

What to Wear

Muted, neutrals, jewel tones, dark colors

Muted, neutral, jewel and dark toned colors are all great options for school pictures. Those colors photograph beautifully for school pictures. Keep in mind that I use a black background.

Solid Color or Simple Patterns

Solid colors or simple patterns that don't overwhelm your child and keep them the star of the photo. We don't want the clothes to be what you focus on in your child's school pictures. Keep it simple!

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Make sure your child's outfit is comfortable and something they've worn before. School picture day is not the time to find out that brand new outfit you bought for them is the scratchiest thing they've ever worn.

Important Caveat

These are general guidelines, not hard rules. So if your child's favorite shirt has a huge Disney princess graphic and they want to wear it for school pictures, of course it's your choice of whether to let them wear it for school pictures or not.

Final Thoughts

In general, simple is best. Do not worry about what pants or shoes your child is wearing because they won't be photographed. Stick to the guidelines above, and you will have beautiful school pictures of your children.

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