Fashion Friday | Photo Shoot Clothing Ideas for Little Girls | Child Photographer Massachusetts

Helping moms (and dads!) choose the clothing for their photo shoots is one of my favorite parts of my job, and when I get to help choose the clothes for a little girl's upcoming session, I get super excited! I love when you ask me for suggestions about what to wear. It means I can truly direct the session creatively and give my clients (YOU!) photos with the look and feel for which they hire me. By the time we get to choosing outfits, we've more than likely already discussed locations. Some outfits will look great in a field, while others, um, not so great. The same goes for the studio; while one outfit might look amazing against a dark grey backdrop, it might look blah against a white backdrop. During your pre-consultation, locations and backdrops are something we will discuss and then we will move onto clothing.

When it comes to clothing for little girls, two big things come to mind: RUFFLES AND LAYERS!

Obviously, you want to dress your daughter in something that reflects her personality. So, if she's a tom-boy, lots of pink and purple ruffles might not truly represent who she is, but a sleek sweater dress layered with a scarf and leggings might be a better fit for her personality. Plus, comfort is a big factor when it comes to great photos! If your little girl is comfortable in the clothes she's wearing, you will see it in the photos.

LOVE the neutral tones and ruffles in these!

This is perfectly simple and comfy and photographs really well. Love the addition of the dark boots in contrast to the whites.

Don't be afraid to mix patterns. Choose a color from one pattern and make sure it's in the other pattern. Another rule of thumb is to mix the size of the patterns. The thin stripes of the dress perfectly complement the bolder stripes of the scarf.

LOVE the bold mix of the red and white stripes against the mustard sweater. And the additional detail of the glasses is really smart (ha!).

Speaking of details, don't be afraid to add cute belts, bracelets, hats. See how they totally add to the look and feel of this very simple shot?

The deep green color of this dress is a great contrast to the frilly ruffles. Pair this with some leggings, tall riding boots and some really cool bangles, maybe a black shrug, too. This is the perfect example of taking one super-stylized piece and layering it with some basics to make it stand out even more.

I just really like the simplicity of the layers, colors, and textures of this outfit.

Ruffles by Matilda Jane...

More ruffles...And don't forget the shoes! An old pair of sneakers or last year's black patent leather holiday shoes definitely wouldn't fit this style from head to toe.

And even more ruffles! Love the pants with this outfit! They add so much more interest than a pair of leggings or tights. Just scroll through the above outfit ideas, and you'll easily see how the different colors, styles, textures, details, etc. can really change the look and feel of the end result. Don't be afraid to tell me what you want your daughter's photos to look like, and I will help you get there. If there isn't a local shop here in Massachusetts, we can definitely go through ideas together online.

Some of my favorite stores/designers for girls' clothing include: Crew Cuts, Matilda Jane, Mini Boden, GAP, ETSY (don't forget all the handmade goodness that's out there!). This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. If you have a little girl, you know that the options are endless. :)