What to Wear for Your Christmas Mini Session

This year’s Christmas conservatory backdrop features beautiful trees, soft cream tones, greenery and warm gold details — a lovely setting for elegant outfits, relaxed family looks and a little Christmas fun.

And there’s a little extra Christmas magic coming to the studio this year! I’m keeping the details under wraps for now, but the outfit ideas below will help you prepare for everything I have planned. Keep an eye out for the reveal in my next newsletter!

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This year’s Christmas Conservatory Backdrop

Start with a few colours you love

Choose two or three main colours and carry them through your family’s outfits. Everyone can wear a different combination while still looking lovely together.

For these setups, some beautiful combinations include:

• • Ivory, champagne and soft gold for a soft, elegant look.

• • Cream, oatmeal and taupe for relaxed, warm neutrals.

• • Forest green, ivory and tan for a classic Christmas feel.

• • Burgundy, cream and warm beige for a little festive richness.

• • Dusty blue, ivory and soft grey for a gentle palette that also complements the snowy view in the conservatory backdrop.

You don’t need every person wearing every colour. Mum might wear a forest-green dress, Dad an ivory shirt with tan trousers, and the children a mixture of those shades. A little gold can come through in earrings, a hair accessory or a pair of sandals.

Lay everyone’s outfits out together before the day. This makes it much easier to spot a colour or pattern that feels out of place.

 

Dress up, keep it casual or bring the Christmas pyjamas

Christmas photographs are a wonderful excuse to dress up if that’s something you enjoy. A flowing dress, a smart shirt, tailored trousers or a little festive sparkle can look beautiful against the backdrops.

If your family feels more at home in casual clothes, that works beautifully too. Well-fitting jeans or chinos with simple tops, comfortable dresses or a favourite shirt can create a relaxed, coordinated look.

Try to keep everyone at a similar level of dressiness. If one person is wearing something very formal while everyone else is dressed for a casual afternoon, the outfits can feel a little disconnected.

And then there are Christmas pyjamas… always encouraged! Matching or coordinating festive pyjamas bring a playful Christmas-morning feel to your photographs. This is one occasion where cheerful Christmas patterns are very welcome.

Here are a few ways to bring these colours together for a warm-weather Christmas session. These outfits are simply inspiration — use pieces you already love and adapt the ideas to your family’s style. You don’t need a formal dress or matching shirts; jeans, simple tops and Christmas pyjamas are just as welcome.

 

Keep patterns simple and let texture add interest

For casual or dressy outfits, plain colours are usually the easiest to coordinate. Large logos, bold slogans and several competing prints can draw attention away from your faces, and just end up looking too busy.

A small, delicate print can still work beautifully, like the subtle patterns on some of the children’s dresses in the outfit guide. If you choose a patterned piece, pull colours from it for everyone else’s outfits and keep the rest fairly simple. i.e don’t choose a pattern for more than one of the family members.

Texture is another lovely way to add interest. Think soft cotton, linen, a velvet bow, a little lace or a lightweight knitted cardigan.

With our warm Christmas weather, choose fabrics that feel comfortable. There’s no need for heavy winter layers just because the backdrop looks snowy!

Where to look for Christmas pyjamas and festive outfits

If matching Christmas pyjamas, festive T-shirts or Christmas socks are part of your outfit plans, start looking early!

Every year, I have families tell me they wanted matching Christmas outfits but couldn’t find the sizes they needed by the time they went shopping. Finding something for everyone can become more difficult as the season gets busier, so it’s worth planning your session and outfits well in advance.

A few places to browse include:

• • Cotton On for matching Christmas pyjamas for adults, children and babies.

• • Typo for Christmas socks and playful festive finishing touches.

• • Hoolies for locally made Christmas family pyjamas, baby rompers and children’s festive outfits.

• • The Tiny Tots Shop for Christmas pyjamas for babies and children.

• • CGD Promotions for matching and personalised Christmas T-shirts.

• •  

Pick n Pay Clothing is also worth keeping an eye on as festive stock arrives. You can browse their latest collections at Pick n Pay Clothing.

Ranges and sizes change throughout the season. Check availability and delivery times directly with each shop, and allow extra time for personalised orders.

Before ordering, check that the design you love is available in everyone’s size. And if you can’t find a complete matching set, don’t worry — coordinating colours or similar pyjama bottoms with plain tops can still look lovely together.

Make sure everything fits comfortably

Try outfits on before your session, especially children’s clothes. Something bought a few months ago may suddenly be a little snug!

Everyone should be able to sit, move, cuddle and lift their arms comfortably. Check for scratchy seams, slipping straps, tight waistbands or collars that bother your child. Clothes that need constant adjusting can interrupt those lovely little moments.

For babies, check how an outfit sits when they are being held or sitting down. A collar that keeps covering their face or a dress that bunches up may become frustrating for both of you.

Remember the finishing details too: clean shoes, coordinating socks, underwear that stays hidden, and clothes that are freshly pressed.

Don’t forget the shoes

Shoes are part of your outfit too, and they may be visible in your photographs! It’s easy to coordinate everyone’s clothes and then overlook what’s going on their feet.

Brightly coloured trainers, neon details and large sporty logos can draw attention away from your faces, particularly against the soft colours of this year’s Christmas setup. This applies to the whole family, Mum and Dad included!

Choose clean, simple footwear that works with your outfits. Neutral sandals, tan or brown shoes, understated flats, or plain white or cream trainers are all lovely options. There’s no need to buy something new; a simple pair you already own may be perfect.

Remember socks as well, especially if they’ll show when you sit down. Keep them in colours that suit your outfits, unless you’re deliberately adding some festive fun with Christmas socks.

For Christmas pyjama photographs, bare feet or coordinating festive socks can complete the relaxed look beautifully. We can decide what works best once you’re in the studio.

Above all, make sure everyone’s footwear fits comfortably, especially little ones. Happy feet make it much easier to enjoy the session!

Can we do an outfit change?

Please arrive dressed and ready to start your session in the outfit you most want photographed.

If time allows, we may be able to fit in one outfit change. This is usually easier with a smaller family and older children who are happy to change quickly. It will depend on how the session is going, how many people need to change and how your little ones are feeling.

There’s no need to plan a second outfit to enjoy everything I have prepared. One thoughtfully chosen outfit can work beautifully throughout your session.

With babies and very young children, I often recommend keeping things simple. If your child dislikes being dressed or becomes upset during changes, staying in one outfit may be the best choice.

I would much rather photograph a happy baby in one outfit than a crying baby in two.

There’s no need to interrupt a lovely, settled session just to squeeze in another look. Happy, comfortable children will always matter more than an extra outfit.

Little changes can make a lovely difference

You can add variety without a full outfit change. A cardigan, a bow, a waistcoat or a different hair accessory can give your photographs a slightly different feel with very little fuss.

Festive earrings are a lovely finishing touch for Mum, and a small touch of sparkle can make a simple outfit feel special. Choose accessories that are comfortable and won’t need constant adjusting. For little ones, stick to accessories they are already happy wearing.

I also have some Christmas hats and funny festive head accessories in the studio if you’d like to use them. We can add a little silliness for a few photographs, as long as your children are enjoying it!

A few things to check before you leave

• • Arrive in your first outfit, ready for photographs.

• • Try everyone’s clothes on beforehand and check that they fit comfortably.

• • Lay out the complete outfits together, including shoes and socks.

• • Bring any earrings, bows or other accessories you would like to include.

• • If you’re bringing a second outfit, choose something quick and easy to change into.

• • Pack a spare outfit for little accidents, especially for babies.

• • Allow enough time to arrive without feeling rushed.

Above all, choose clothes that feel like your family. Whether that means dressing up, keeping things relaxed or arriving in matching Christmas pyjamas, I want you to feel comfortable enough to enjoy being together.

The outfits help bring everything together, but the smiles, cuddles and little personalities are what will make these photographs yours.