“What should we wear for family photos?” is one of the most popular questions I get from my clients. While there is no right or wrong way to dress, there are some guidelines that may help you put a collection of outfits. Today I’d like to share with you 10 tips about how to dress for a family session so that you all can look awesome and feel confident next time you have your photos taken. It’s easier than you think, I promise!

 

1. PLAN AHEAD

Give yourself lots of time and start thinking about your outfits as soon as you book your session. Keep looking for inspiration and gradually assemble your wardrobe. This will help you stay relaxed just before the shoot instead of stressing out at the last minute.

 

2. GO FOR CLASSIC

Select wardrobe that is timeless and won’t date your photos within a few months. Focus on classic instead of trendy. Simple and well ironed clothes that fit well are best for creating timeless portraits.

 

3. COORDINATE

Go for coordinated look but don’t try to match. Coordinated but not “uniform” looks for families create a much more pleasing photograph. Start by picking three colors that go nicely together. You probably know which colors you look and feel great in so you may start with those. Then throw in some grey, brown, white or black. Not all together but one or two that go perfectly with your other three colors. Solid colors always look great but I encourage to combine them with small patterns and different textures. Remember about accessories! Scarves, belts, jewelry, headbands, flower clips, cute shoes add interest, a pop of color and show off your personality. If you think you need some visual color palette inspiration then check out this link to Design Seeds website.

 

4. BE COMFORTABLE

You, and especially your kids, will want to be comfortable for the session. Be prepared to sit comfortably on the ground, run or play with the kids. Everybody should not only look but also feel good in their clothes.

 

5. REMEMBER ABOUT SHOES AND SOCKS

Shoes do matter. Coordinate your outfits from top to bottom by selecting appropriate shoes and matching socks in case they get in the shots.

 

6. START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE AND LOVE

Start with your closet and select an outfit for one person. I suggest that this first person should be mom 🙂 It could also be your little girl’s cute dress. Choose pieces you love that are flattering and you know you look fabulous in and plan others’ outfits around that. Go around your house and gather clothes from others closets that fit your color palette. Then let other family members have some input on which ones they love and feel good in.

 

7. LAY IT ALL OUT

When you have everything selected it helps to lay all the clothes on big bed or floor and look from a distance. This will help you see how well all the pieces go together. Make sure that everything looks pleasing to the eye. Consider adding a few accessories if you think the looks needs some pop of color.

 

8. CONSIDER BACKGROUND

Think about your location and the season. Make sure your outfits complement your surroundings and are appropriate for the weather. For example if your session is in spring or summer in a grassy or wooded area then stay away from lots of green in your wardrobe. Earth tones look great with fall colors in the background. Bright colors stand out and liven up the photos taken in late fall (after the leaves are gone) or winter season.

 

9. CONSIDER YOUR HOME DECOR

Think about where you want to display these portraits in your home and select outfits that will blend nicely with the feel and colors of your decor. If your walls are neutral, you may want to add some fun color to the room in your artwork. If you have a bold color in your room then it’s important to select outfits that will coordinate with your colorful walls. Our living room has pink walls and, as you can see on this photo below, I selected our clothes to coordinate with this bold color.

 

 

10. WHAT NOT TO WEAR FOR FAMILY PHOTOS:

• exactly the same things (you’d never dress that way in real life)
• only white (to avoid wash-out, you’ll want your face, not the shirt to be the lightest part of the photo)
• neon colors (they leave weird cast on your skin)
• tank tops (they draw attention to your arms rather than your face)
• shorts and miniskirts (unless on grade school kids)
• white tennis shoes or white socks with black shoes (both are very distracting)
• baggy clothing (it looks even larger on photographs)
• bold or very busy patterns (they distract from a face)
• shirts with bold logos, words or distracting pictures
• glasses with transitions lenses (in outdoor setting the lenses will auto-darken and look like sunglasses)

I hope you liked these tips about what to wear for family photos and they inspired you to create your own perfect selection of outfits. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it. Don’t stress over! I can promise you that you’ll love the photos for the captured moments, emotions and expressions and not for the clothes you were wearing that day.

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