What to Wear for Family Photos
Preparing outfits for a family photo session can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if you’re doing so without any help. That’s why I’ve put together this resource for you to have everything you need to get started, all in one place.
If you currently have a session scheduled with me I’ll be checking in with you periodically to help you choose outfits and plan out all of the details for your photo shoot.
Before you begin choosing options from your closet or going shopping, take a moment to look through this list of essential tips so you can know what to look for.
If you’re ready to start shopping after going through these tips, be sure to scroll to the bottom for links to my top outfit suggestions!
Avoid bright, highly saturated colors
Using bright, highly saturated colors in your photo session can be very distracting, taking away from the main focus of your images, which should be the joyful and tender moments that you share with your family. For that reason it’s always best to choose natural, earthy tones as much as possible. This will give your images a more natural look and a feeling of simplicity.
2. Limit patterns to one item of clothing maximum
The safest way to avoid busy, clashing patterns is to keep things simple and use only solid colors, but if there’s one item of clothing with a pattern that you really love, just plan on making that one item the only pattern included for the whole group.
For example, in the image above, the young girl’s shirt is the only item of clothing with a pattern.
You should also know that there are certain patterns that should honestly be avoided altogether, either because they are outdated, too “busy,” or aren’t captured well on camera.
See below for examples of patterns that are or aren’t good choices.
3. Avoid graphics and logos
In all circumstances you will want to avoid using clothing items that have visible graphics and logos on them. Just like with highly saturated colors, this is because they are distracting and will make your images look unprofessional.
If there is a small logo, maybe on the pocket of shirt, I will usually just edit it out if I think it’s too noticeable.
4. Decide on a Color Scheme
When deciding on colors it’s important to have the right balance of both variety and similarity. Knowing what colors compliment each other well can be complicated, so I’ve made it easy by creating some examples to get started with. To see more photo shoot style boards like these, check out my Pinterest!
5. Avoid plain White and Black
Plain white and plain black both absorb light very differently than neutral colors do. What can happen is that white clothing will come out significantly brighter than everything else, and black will come out significantly darker. In both cases the clothing will lose a lot of its detail and require more editing.
Instead of plain white, choose cream, and instead of plain black, choose dark grey/blue/brown.
6. Don’t Forget About Comfort
There’s absolutely no point in having cute, trendy outfits if you or your family members are clearly uncomfortable in your photos due to poor planning. Make sure you give yourself enough time to try out everyone’s outfits in advance so you know they fit properly and don’t have irritating textures.
During my session prep check-ins with clients I also like to make note of things like the weather forecast and terrain at the location so those things can be considered.
Many times here in the Pacific Northwest it is necessary to bring extra layers, gloves, beanies, water-resistant boots, etc. in order to have an enjoyable time outside.
Keep in mind that you can also take certain layers on and off as needed or bring an extra pair of comfy shoes in case your favorite pair start to become uncomfortable.
7. Use This List of Best Outfits
If you plan on doing any shopping, take a look at this list that I’ve put together just for you so you don’t have to go through the trouble of endless scrolling and decision fatigue.
If you are in the process of planning a session with me I just suggest that you double check with me before finalizing your purchase so I can make sure all of the colors will go well together.
For the sake of transparency, know that I will be profiting a small percentage from any purchases you make through these links.