What to wear
A shared palette rather than matching outfits — matching reads as a costume between adults. One texture in common is enough. Both should wear…
In short: A shared palette rather than matching outfits — matching reads as a costume between adults. One texture in common is enough. Both should wear something they would genuinely choose, because discomfort shows faster in a pair than alone.
Colour. A shared palette, never matching outfits: matching reads as a costume between two adults. One tone in common across both is enough to make the pair read as a pair.
Fabric. Soft and worn-in on both. Discomfort shows twice as fast in a two-person frame because there is a relaxed face beside the tense one.
Footwear. Comfortable for both — these sessions involve walking and standing close together, and heel height changes how the pair reads.
The thing that ruins frames. One dressed up and one dressed down. The mismatch is the first thing the eye finds and it makes the picture look accidental.
In the bag. A lint roller, a hairbrush, and any old photograph you might want to recreate — the comparison frame is usually the best image of the session.
Two generations who realise there is no good photograph of them together, usually taken because one of them just noticed.
Location changes the answer: Home, or somewhere with shared history: the house one grew up in, a regular walk, a garden. Meaning outperforms scenery in every generational portrait.
Planning pressure to account for: Treating it as a formal sitting. Shooting only the pair and forgetting individual portraits. And leaving it because there is no occasion — the absence of an occasion is why these photographs do not exist.
Bring each proposed outfit as a complete look, including its shoes and accessories. The final choice is made against the actual background and light rather than from a generic colour rule.
A shared palette rather than matching outfits — matching reads as a costume between adults. One texture in common is enough. Both should wear something they would genuinely choose, because discomfort shows faster in a pair than alone.
For a one-hour session, plan one complete look and one quick variation such as a jacket, shoe or jewellery change. Two hours can normally support two or three resolved looks. More changes reduce shooting time, so photograph the most important outfit first and treat extras as options rather than promises.
Choose colours that separate clearly from the location and suit the intended use of the pictures. Solid tones and controlled texture are reliable; very fine checks, tiny stripes and reflective logos can distract or produce moiré. Send phone photographs of the options with the brief if you want a decision before the shoot.
Bring the garments on proper hangers, matching underwear, the shoes for every full-length look, a lint roller and simple touch-up products. Pack one neutral backup layer. Steam everything beforehand, but keep a small steamer nearby for travel creases and final adjustments on set.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.