P#14 Q2A: When Taking a Picture of a Child, What Type of Clothing Should They Wear?

Keep It Real

Vik Orenstein: When I'm taking a picture of a child, I'm all about catching the kid in their natural look, the way they look everyday. I'm not big on dressing up or putting the hair into a bun or anything like that.

As far as colors, any color can work. The tone is more important than the color. For instance, you want to keep the lighter tones nearer the face, so a white collar or a white t-shirt underneath a darker sweater works well.

If you have more than one subject, you want to keep them in similar tones. You don't want to have one kid in very, very dark tones and the other kid in white tones. Generally, we want the tones to compliment one another.

Audri Lanford: Are there some rules about prints versus solids?

Vik Orenstein: When taking a picture of a child, I generally try to avoid really busy prints or prints that will date a photo. We don't like to see graphics or the Abercrombie logo or something like that in the picture because it draws your eye away from the child when you see it.

Subtle prints and textures are great, solids are great.

You can make anything work. If you can choose what the kids are going to wear, you're obviously going to have an advantage.

In Closing

Does wardrobe matter in children's photographs? Absolutely. But the rules aren't as black and white as some of us may think.

According to Vik, you can really make any wardrobe work, but avoid busy prints, dated designs and graphics or logos if you want the wardrobe to bring out the best in your subject when taking a picture of a child.