Without a doubt, I absolutely love having family photos taken for holidays or special occasions. Granted there is a level of stress that comes with dragging your kids (and husband) to a photo shoot and deciding what to wear, the end result is worth the hassle, I promise!
Your outfit choice(s) will impact your session’s overall look and feel. I want to help you make the best choices possible for you and your family so I created this family session style guide. These are my personal suggestions on how to coordinate outfits and on what photographs well.
1. You want your family’s outfits to coordinate, but not match completely. Avoid dressing your whole family in the same color (i.e. everyone wearing a white shirt). A great way to do this is to start with one outfit that you absolutely know you want to use for your session…what color is it? What colors would complement it? Try to just stay with 2-3 colors that coordinate.
2. Next, pick muted or neutral colors. Earthy tones can contribute to that dreamy, creamy feel that can make photos look so magical. Very bright colors can be distracting and will give the entire photo a bolder and more vibrant look. Instead of your typical red and green for Christmas, maybe try a light olive green, a rust color, or a maroon.
3. Be careful with patterns. It’s perfectly okay to add outfits with patterns on it, but just be conscious of the types of patterns you are choosing. Patterns with very small dots tend to run together in photographs. Very tight plaids or small stripes will give off a wavy look in a photograph. If you have a question about whether a certain pattern will photograph well or not, don’t be afraid to ask!
4. Don’t hesitate to dress up! Plan to dress up a little more than your every day wear. Consider higher quality fabrics – they will translate better on camera…avoid t-shirt or athletic dry fit material. Also keep in mind while dressier outfits tend to photograph better, you want to be comfortable too. It will be hard to take joyful carefree looking photos when you’re just not comfortable with what you have on! Stay authentic to what makes your family you!
6. Add accessories! It’s going to get cold…bring your scarves, hats, and furry boots. Wear your favorite fun earrings or bangle. It’ll add variety to your photos. Similarly, try to embrace layers with a cardigan or shawl.
Places I LOVE to shop for photoshoot outfits:
Baltic Born – where I buy most of my dresses
Lulus – this site is also great for women’s dresses
Petal & Pup – women’s clothing
Janie and Jack – children’s clothing
Etsy – what can’t you find on Etsy??
Old Navy – great for the whole family
J.Crew – great for the whole family