What to Wear
More than any other question, clients ask what they should wear to their family session. Coordinating your outfits can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Although what you wear is totally up to you and it should mirror your family’s style and personality, here are some suggestions for those that are stuck and need some inspiration. I will also go over some things that are always a winning look as well as some what not to wear suggestions.
Spring & summer ideas
The beach gives us so much inspiration for stunning yet serene color palettes of blues, tans and pinks to pull from when deciding how to dress your family. Here are some inspiration boards of my favorite combinations that work really well along with some of my spring & summer family sessions that knocked it out of the park with style.
Fall Photo Ideas
I am a huge fan of fall colors. I love the earthy natural tones and how they complement the fall backdrops of our local spots. Here are some sample inspirational boards of fall clothing pairings as well as fantastic outfit choices from families during some of my fall sessions to give you some inspiration.
General Do’s and Don’ts
ComplEment, Don’t Match
Although some still love the traditional look of khaki pants and white shirts, the new go-to for family photography is a combination of coordinating colors and patterns.
Aim for colors that generally complement each other like the soft colors of light blue, blush and cream or warm colors like tan, orange and burgundy.
A mix of solids with a pop of pattern looks great when the pattern picks up the colors of the other family member’s solids.
Avoid small tight patterns especially fine pinstripes.
You can spice up the solids with a mix of textures like lace, tulle or chunky knits. That can bring a lot of visual interest to your photos without overpowering the main attraction..you!
Start with one person
It’s much easier to visualize the entire look if you start with one piece and then expand from there. If you have found a dress you love (flowy dresses are amazing in photos) then take that dress and build out everyone else’s outfits based on the colors of that dress.
Look around your home
If you plan on printing photos and hanging them on your walls, think about the spaces where you will hang them. What colors will complement your room? If your home is filled with a coastal color pallet then dark colors like navy and burgundy may not look as nice in your space as softer more pastel colors.
Layers are always a win
Instead of trying to change outfits (that can get tricky in public places) and losing precious shooting time, think about layers so that you can put them on or take them off to change up some of the photos. A furry vest over a dress on a little girl in the fall is an adorable accessory that can be on or off for different photos. A cardigan for Dad or a scarf for Mom can be a quick way to change up the look.
Let your Kids have Input
I know sometimes that’s hard when we have a perfect vision for what we want but giving them input on what they will wear can make a huge impact on their comfort level at the shoot. Prime example is my 5 year old and 2 teen girls. I was set on what I wanted Marley to wear for our photos last year. It was the perfect outfit that showcased her personality. But….she hated it. It was itchy, it was hot….she was not having it. I knew better than to force it. I wanted her to feel amazing for her photos since she’s a really tough one to get to cooperate. Instead of forcing her to wear it and having forced smiles for the photos, I opened the Amazon app to the girls dresses, handed her my phone and told her to pick. Well it wasn’t what I would have ever picked but she felt like a princess and twirled and smiled and was the happiest she’s ever been for family photos. So long story short….pick your battles….and sometimes they know better than we do because this photo of my girls is now my all time favorite even though it’s not what I would have picked for any of them to wear. I normally would never put both older girls in different prints on the bottom and both slightly off white tops. But they were all happy and smiling and filled with confidence and in the end that’s what shines through in the photos and why it’s one of my all time favs even though it breaks the dress code rules.
Say Yes to:
Comfort: If you feel good, you will look good. Don’t choose outfits that you feel like you have to keep adjusting to look right. Your favorite photos will be the candid ones and those won’t happen as easily if everyone is tugging at their clothes between shots. You want to wear something that you can easily move around in.
Patterns & Pops of Color: Add visual interest to your photos with coordinating patterns and a pop of color mixed in with the neutrals. Textures like lace, tulle and linen give a nice pop to solid colors.
Layers & Accessories: Dress it up with fun jewelry, belts, scarves and blazers. It’s a great way to take a photo from great to amazing.
Fitted Clothing: You want to be comfortable so that you can move around but you also don’t want to wear baggy clothes. Your outfit should have balance. So for instance for a woman, I love a long, loose flowing skirt. Just make sure that you pair it with a fitted top so that it compliments the flowing bottom.
Mom: say yes to maxi & midi dresses, flowing skirts with fitted tops, skinny jeans with tunic shirts, a cardigan over a fitted shirt, scarves, ankle boots
Dad: say yes to dress shirts that are not meant to be tucked in so you can easily move around and not worry about untucking, blazers, button down shirts with the sleeves rolled to elbows, sweaters layered over collared shirts, slim fit jeans, leather shoes or flip flops, cardigans, polos without big logos
Girls: say yes to all of the choices for mom plus adorable headbands, hats, bows and tights.
Boys: say yes to everything for Dad plus fun accessories like suspenders, bow tie, caps, leather shoes or flip flops
Say No to:
Bright White: Off white and ivory photograph much better than bright white.
Black: I know we all wear black all the time because we feel it’s slimming. I mean I live in black yoga pants. But in photos, black can really darken the entire feel of your photos. If your entire family is in solid black then it will be really hard to highlight each individual person in your photo. Adding black into a pattern or as one of the colors in your pallet can work well but wearing all black is never your friend in photos.
Neon Colors: The reflective nature and boldness of these colors can create skin tone and color issues in your photos.
Saturated Colors: Try to avoid the traditional crayola 16 pack of crayon colors. These bright primary colors aren’t nearly as flattering as their more muted friends. So for instance replace bright yellow with a slightly mustard yellow or a bright orange with a rustier version.
Transition Lenses: If you wear glasses that have the lens that gets dark when the sun is bright, I won’t be able to see your eyes for the first 30 minutes of photos. I recommend either removing glasses while the sun is still out in full force or bringing a set of glasses that doesn’t tint in the sun.
Logos and Text: I know I just said to let the kids have a say in their outfits. Especially for boys that can mean they want to wear a t-shirt with a huge logo or slogan on the front. In that instance I suggest you hold firm on the No. haha. When there is a huge Under Armour logo on a shirt, your eye will go right to that in your photo instead of your son’s adorable grin.
Athletic Shoes: Again for boys I know this is tough. Who wants to buy a pair of dress shoes that they will never wear again. In this case, I say let’s go barefoot (especially at the beach) or even a pair of flip flops will photograph better than their favorite gym shoes. A pair of lime green and orange sneakers is an instant buzz kill on that perfect outfit you have them in so make sure you think from head to toes when picking out outfits.
Moms: say no to very dark colors like black and dark navy, thin heels (thicker chunkier heels wont sink as we walk through different elements like sand), short skirts and low cut jeans at the bum to avoid outfit ooopsies, baggy clothes (fitted is more flattering), necklaces that are hard to keep in place (especially ones that the clasp travels to the front a lot)
Dads: say no to small tight prints or thin pinstripes, athletic shoes, undershirts that show, phone, keys or wallets in pockets, formal button down tucked in shirts (formal meant to be left untucked will flow better for photos and you will be more comfortable from standing to sitting without retucking).
Girls: say no to visible diaper or underwear, neon, characters on clothing or shoes, and athletic shoes.
Boys: say no to tank tops, neon colors, shirts that have to stay tucked in, visible diaper, athletic shoes and clothes and shoes that have characters on them.
And if you got through all of that I’m going to leave you with this:
There is an exception to every rule
These are your photos. Your memories. Your family. So take these suggestions with a grain of salt and you do you. Because no matter what you’re wearing, your style makes you who you are and I can’t wait to showcase it.