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Original poster

Help! Mother / daughter photoshoot with 13 year old DD and no idea what to wear

26 replies

Monr0e · 22/04/2023 09:22

My very well meaning granny bought a mother / daughter photoshoot for myself and 13 year old dd.

It is booked for tomorrow. I have been putting it out of my mind as I am quite frankly dreading it. The nearest venue is 45 minutes away, they have advised it will take around 3 hours, I am working 6 days this week and tomorrow is my only day off and I hate having my picture taken so am just feeling very negative towards it anyway.

And now I have just realised I have nothing to wear. The place suggested matching outfits, but DD is all crop tops and converse and I am most definitely not. And I can't afford to be buying anything for it. So I'm looking for inspiration please! If anyone has had one done before or just thoughts on what to take. They have said to bring around 3 outfits each.

Thank you very much 😊

OP posts:
FangedFrisbee · 22/04/2023 09:24

Jeans and a white top?

LlynTegid · 22/04/2023 09:25

Ask DD what she would like you to wear perhaps?

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 22/04/2023 09:25

I would just find three outfits you know you look good in and not worry about matching with your DD.

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aberlot · 22/04/2023 10:14

Don't wear what someone else tells you. Pick your favourite outfit and let DD do the same. They don't need to match, they need to reflect you both. It's your relationship you are capturing, not your clothes

MouthfulofMidwinter · 22/04/2023 10:19

You're the client. You get to choose what you want to wear and what you feel comfortable wearing and doing in your poses, and their matchy-matchy ideas can adjust to your preferences. (I have to say it's making me think of that freaky fashion a while back among a certain type of person, for pregnancy photos in which everyone involved apart from the actual foetus was barefoot in a white shirt and jeans and gamboling on a beach in black and white, or snuggling on a sofa with a sheepskin rug over it. Bonus points if the father-to-be and any existing children were regarding the bump with pantomime awe.)

And if it's awful, just cut it short (they can surely find some workable photos in far less than THREE HOURS?), get on with your day off, thank your granny, send her one of the photos, and shove the rest of them in a drawer and forget about them.

QueueEtwo · 22/04/2023 10:41

What do you normally wear?

If you normally wear jeans take those with a favourite sweatshirt or something.

clary · 22/04/2023 10:45

Agree with others, just wear something you are comfortable in.

tbh that sounds like my worst nightmare, and I am reasonably sociable and outgoing. But hey, your gran got you it, just do it I guess. I agree three hours sounds mad unless it is actually fun.

Personally I would wear a long summer dress - not too hot and not too revealing - and take a nice pair of black trousers with a soft loose smarting top.

clary · 22/04/2023 10:45

Smartish top obvs!

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 10:56

Grin they will make you go barefoot and do weird poses. Enjoy.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 10:58

weshootyou.co.uk/family/funny-family-photoshoot-ideas

Such fun!

MouthfulofMidwinter · 22/04/2023 11:07

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 10:58

Even skimming that made me do a full-body cringe. However, at least no one is going to suggest that the OP throws her 13 year old in the air, or sets up a 'hilarious' pie in the face shot.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 11:12

They should definitely take skipping ropes. Who doesn't want sweaty images on their walls?

Comedycook · 22/04/2023 11:14

Jeans and a white shirt

Timeforchangeithink · 22/04/2023 11:14

We did it years ago in a similar situation and it was actually a really nice day. Look at it as one to one time with your DD. Wear what you normally wear. Definitely not matching your DD I think they mean more as in if she's casual you are too or if she wants a dressy one you dress up too. What's the worst that can happen you put the photos in a drawer never to be seen again? Enjoy the time with DD.

MouthfulofMidwinter · 22/04/2023 11:15

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 11:12

They should definitely take skipping ropes. Who doesn't want sweaty images on their walls?

Absolutely. And custard pies, face paints and the family pet for maximum wacky lolz.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 11:16

Full on twin mode.

KILM · 22/04/2023 11:21

Do NOT do jeans and a white shirt unless that's your normal style, or matching outfits - both naff as anything and so so so dated.

Go for a colour that complements you - so if you know you look good in blue, wear that On your top half/as a dress Try and co-ordinate with your daughter in the way that you put the outfits next to each other and they don't look too out of place - so you aren't in pastels and her in neon. But don't co ordinate beyond that. If you both like blue and she's in bright blue and you are in navy, great. Go for something comfortable but smart casual or smart. Then you'll feel a bit more 'your best side'

I've got my fingers crossed for you it's not one of those godawful white background shoots!

SirVixofVixHall · 22/04/2023 11:28

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 22/04/2023 09:25

I would just find three outfits you know you look good in and not worry about matching with your DD.

Agree. Take a few things that you like a lot and that suit you - a flattering colour near your face is important - and your dd can do the same.
Jeans and a white top repeated suggestions above - I have never worn this combination in my whole life, and you may not suit white anyway. Jeans can be really unflattering if you are photographed sitting down.
What would you wear to meet a friend for lunch somewhere nice but relaxed ?

DriedFlowersLiveForever · 22/04/2023 11:31

I would cancel and re book for a day I could be arsed. Maybe take dd on a shopping spree to primark for a few bits before hand so you are more prepared.

Pinkflipflop85 · 22/04/2023 11:34

Is it a decent professional photographer or one of these wowcher type places?
If it's the latter, be prepared for the hard sell when they give you a naff free photo and then tell you that the decent ones will be £400+

OneFrenchEgg · 22/04/2023 11:44

Do NOT do jeans and a white shirt unless that's your normal style, or matching outfits - both naff as anything and so so so dated.

I disagree! Match like this, use some cute face paint, go barefoot, take some bubbles or your cat!

CampfireZen · 22/04/2023 11:50

Yes, why do so many professional photographers fixate about everyone going barefoot?

CampfireZen · 22/04/2023 12:08

OP, I'd definitely do as suggested upthread: both you and your daughter wear whatever you most feel at ease in and which reflects the real you.

That, after all, is what your Granny will take from the resulting pic, and enjoy looking at fondly.

Maybe even tell the photographer you'd far rather have more naturalistic shots taken as you're laughing and talking with each other, rather than a very posed grimace?

Wear a flattering colour nearest your face, even if just a scarf or lightweight wrap. Bit of mattifying powder around the shinier bits?

Good luck. Who knows, it might be a whole lot easier than you anticipate.

Original poster
Monr0e · 22/04/2023 12:45

Thanks everyone, some very good ideas here and I think as a few have said, I will focus on it being about spending time with DD and not on what I am wearing. I'm just feeling grumpy about it as I feel overweight, perimenopausal and have few clothes left that still fit me but will do as suggested and take what I feel comfortable and looks best on me.

To answer a few questions, I did try and rebook it and was told I would loose my deposit (that I had to pay to guarantee I would come back 😒) and that the next available slot was November so decided to keep this one and get it out of the way. And the 3 hour thing includes an hour each for hair and make up. And yes, I think it probably is one of those wowcher deals so I'm not holding my breath for the quality of the images and preparing for the hard sell. We have to also return to pick before getting our deposit back so I'll be running in, getting DD to pick her favourite and running back out again. There will be no kittens, bubbles or skipping ropes involved, but won't be surprised if a white background and jeans and a nice top feature heavily.

OP posts:
QueueEtwo · 22/04/2023 12:55

Me & my friend did one of these when we were 40!
It was quite good fun if not abit cringe but we have great photos & as we approach 60 they are a really nice thing to have!