What to Wear?
Why is it so stressful picking outfits for photo sessions?! As a photographer and mother who gets her own family photos taken, I totally get it! That’s why I created this post to help the reduce your stress around outfit coordination for your next photo session.
I’ve learned a lot over the years of helping my families choose outfits and looking picture perfect. And I want to share my favorite tips for what to wear in family photos with you!
Start with the big picture in mind
It may sound simple, but this is one that can easily be over looked. Some colors look great together and some… well, not so much. Before thinking about what to wear in your family photos or what color scheme to choose for your outfits, start by thinking about where you plan to display your pictures.
The location you choose will also impact the colors you choose to dress your family in. Think about the overall colors of your location. If it is spring or summer there may be lots of green in your pictures, fall and winter will have more golds and browns.
Coordinate outfits instead of matching
Solid earth tone colors are always a favorite. Patterns are wonderful too, however a bold pattern will steal the show and take away from the subject. When picking earth tone colors, choose dark or light blues, dark browns, ivory, rust, camel, muted mustard, sage, clay, deep forest greens, or muted rose colors, to name a few. They all photograph beautifully.
One of the biggest tips when dressing families is to dress mom first, I'm a fan of dresses for moms, as they are usually more flattering to the figure! Once you’ve got mom’s outfit picked out, move onto the others and coordinate based off of mom’s color palette. Not to matchy matchy but more color coordinating. One way to do this is to google or Pinterest “earth tone color palette” or "natural color palette for family pictures for spring" and then use that as your guide. Another tip is to mix textures and fabrics. So if mom’s dress is a solid, smooth fabric, pick a corduroy romper for baby and a ruffled or lacey dress for older sister, and some suspenders for brother.
Little girls in flowy dresses is so much fun! Make sure to have girls in neutral undergarments or bloomers or diapers.
A great way to add some variety to your gallery is to bring a hat for mom. That way we can do some with and some without so you get both looks.
For dad, I always recommend pants; khaki, camel, blue or black jeans is great. With a button up shirt or sweater that goes well with moms outfit.
For shoes, brown loafers are always look great, some kind of neutral color shoe for boys, sandals or boots for girls.
I highly recommend tall boots/pants with closed toed shoes when doing a field location where the tall grass is itchy for little legs!
What NOT to Wear
I’m never going to tell you you can’t wear something. You do you. Here are some suggestions for those wondering what doesn’t always photograph well.
I’m not a huge fan of shorts at a shoot and would pick pants hands down every time (even in kids). I highly recommend any tan, or earth tone pants or a light or very dark wash denim jeans, not a bright blue denim. I would shy away from bright white or bright colors. It tends to reflect the color onto the neck, face or skin of the person next to you and make everyone’s skin tones look kinda funky. Dressing everyone in black is another color that is hit or miss. If it’s one person in black pants, that’s going to look completely fine. Dressing in all black or multiple family members in black tends to hide you/your bodies.
