Dressed-up family photoshoot: gowns, suits and sequins

The mother's gown. The studio wardrobe holds gowns and dresses for mothers in a range of colours and sizes, chosen to photograph well, and you try them on at the consultation. Everyone else brings their own.

Fathers and children. A dark suit, a tuxedo or a bandhgala for the father; a party dress or a small suit for the children. The family does not have to match exactly, but it should share a palette, so the gown sets the colours and everyone else follows.

Where it works best. Dressed-up families look strongest on the dark grey backdrop or the clean white studio, posed with intent: seated on a stool, standing in a line, a child on a father's knee.

Mixing looks. Many families do one dressed-up look and one casual one. It gives you a formal portrait for the wall and relaxed frames for everything else.