What To Wear For Preschool Photos

As we all know, dressing a one to five year old can be one of the more challenging experiences in life! Not only are they often a bit more sensitive to textures, the vast majority have VERY strong opinions on their day’s outfit. And if it’s something mom or dad seems to have a vested interest in? Oh, it’s game on.

I’m here to (hopefully) make your life a bit easier! Not only have I been a professional photographer for almost a decade, I’m also the mom of three girls – three girls who had (and continue to have) a wide variety of preferences and personalities.

To help you narrow down your battlefield, er, choices a bit, I’ve put together some of my time tested tips and tricks for figuring out what to wear for preschool photos.

Choosing clothes for preschool photos

Honestly, the best outfit for a preschooler is the one you can get them in!

But if you do have a tiny bit of cooperation, I have the following tips:

• Avoid layers. That cardigan is SUPER cute in person, but when trying to photograph a small person in a short amount of time, it’s just one more thing that can get twisted. Stick with one layer of clothing, whenever possible.
• Solids or simple patterns for shirts tend to photograph best. That said, if you have a Spiderman fan on your hands, bring out the Spidey!
• Try on the outfit ahead of time, and let them play in it. Straps that seem great in the store will stretch out and fall off little shoulders. There will be a rage inducing tag. Pants will be “too hard” and deemed completely unacceptable. Hair will get caught in the tiny sequins on the neckline. Have your child try on their outfit ahead of time, and you’re more likely to catch all the things that can go sideways.

What is the best color to wear for preschool photos?

Since I typically photograph preschoolers and toddlers on a neutral backdrop (white, gray), most colors are totally fine for preschool photos. I recommend either going with your child’s favorite color(s), or with something that goes well with your family’s typical style.

That said, I do ask that you avoid neon colors. Not only do they typically not photograph or print well, they tend to cast color on to skin, and can give your child a funky green or orange face and neck.

Modern: Go with neturals (gray, white, off white, black, tan) or a pop of bold color (ROYGBIV).

Earthy: Neutrals (gray, white, off white, tan, brown) or muted oranges/blues/greens/yellows.

Classic Spring: Neturals, pastels

Boho: Neutrals, brown, muted browns/greens/oranges

Classic Winter: White, black, off white, reds, greens, blues.

If for some reason we’ve decided to go bold with a pink/blue/tan, I will most definitely let you know ahead of time!

What shoes should my child wear for preschool photos?

I don’t typically photograph preschoolers in a full body frame, but shoes do occasionally end up in the photo. If they’re a grungy pair that obviously weren’t meant to be included, I will do my best to make sure they stay out of frame.

If you do want to include shoes/feet in photos, you have a couple options:

• Send a pair of shoes your child already knows and wears.
• Send an extra pair for them to change into, and the staff at your school can help with that.
• Plan on your child taking off their shoes and socks, and going barefoot.

Tips for styling your child’s hair for photos

While I do my best to get hair out of faces, and tame the worst of the flyaways, hair can still be chaos. I’m not willing (or able) to brush your child’s hair before photos (the dreaded l**e word!), there are a few things you can do to help keep things tidy:

• Use braids to pull hair off faces. Even if you keep a lot of hair down, using braids to pull it back from the face works fabulously. Bows and hairties are a great solution for long hair as well.
• Gel for short hair. This is hit or miss. It does help, but as soon as they decide to wrestle with their buddy on the mat…yeah.

Remember: while you may have a specific idea of how your child’s bangs should fall, this is the first time I’ve met them! I may not realize that you hate the way they part in the middle, or that they should “swoop upwards” and not hang straight. If you have a strong preference, please let your child’s caregiver know ahead of time, and they can try to let me know what to look for.

Tips for getting your child on board with their outfit

• Stick with the familiar. While it can be tempting to buy a brand new dress for photos, you’ll have more success getting your child to wear something they’ve tried (and liked) before. If you really do want to try out the new outfit, make sure to try it on ahead of time!
• Don’t make a big deal about photo day. As much as every parent (myself included) wants a fantastic photo of their kid, the more you hype it up and talk about it, the more likely your toddler or preschooler is going to push back. Smile? Absolutely not. Wear this outfit I usually like? Nope. Keep it low key, and I promise we’ll get some great images of your child!

What should my kids wear for sibling photos?

Again, familiar and comfortable are key! While you’re welcome to try and coordinate their outfits, I would recommend prioritizing each child’s happiness with their own outfit, over pushing them into a specific outfit. Honestly? Toddlers live for the power struggle, and that’s not how anyone wants to start their day!

If you do want to coordinate outfits, I recommend heading to my “What To Wear For Family Photos” guide, for more tips.

Favorite Retailers

I have a handful of favorite retailers for kids’ clothing!

Target

H&M (https://www2.hm.com/en_us/kids.html)

Boden (https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girls-clothing)

Primary (https://www.primary.com/)

Olive + Scout (https://oliveandscout.com/)

Marigold Modern (https://shop.marigoldmodern.com/)

Liam & Lily (https://liamandlilly.com/)

Polished Prints (https://polished-prints.com/collections/kids-1)

Mila & Rose (https://www.milaandrose.com/)

Riley & Cru (https://ryleeandcru.com/)

Want to know more about Preschool photography?

Are you not a current parent, but are curious about my preschool photography services? Head to my preschool photography page! I’m always on the lookout for new schools to add to my spring and fall schedule, especially in the Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, and Denver areas. I’d love to chat with you (or your child’s school director!) about adding preschool photography to your school!