After working with over ten families on their portraits year after year, one of the most commonly asked questions I get is "what should we wear?" Worrying about coordinating family outfits should be the last thing on your mind, so in an effort to help ease any anxieties before your session - I've created this guide to narrow down your options.
What to Love
Earth Tones All Day!
Think dark browns, ivory, rust, camel, muted mustard, sage, clay, deep forest greens, or muted rose shades. They all photograph beautifully.
Most of my shoots are within a natural setting and it’s important to the overall look that your colors don’t clash with our gorgeous scenery. Soft whites, beige, muted greens and subtle pastels all work well no matter what.
Shape & Texture
Loose fitting clothing suggests a relaxed, romantic mood while form fitting outfits evoke a chicness and sophistication. Highlight your best attributes!
If mom’s dress is a smooth fabric, pick a corduroy romper for baby and a ruffled dress for older sister. Try a pair of overalls on younger boys, instead of their usual jeans for some variety.
The Little Details
Adding a subtle gold necklace or sweet, simple set of earrings can add a lot of character to your portraits. Same thing goes for nails! Hands are naturally a major point of focus in family photos and having a clean, manicured set of nails is a great choice.
For the men and boys, making sure hair is neatly cut/gelled, nails are clipped and clean, goes a long way! Add a nice watch or pair of dress shoes instead of sneakers, to further elevate their looks.
For everyone: make sure to leave those pesky hair ties, Apple watches, Garmins, fitness trackers, gum, and anything from your pockets in the car!
What to Avoid
Bold Patterns
Not all patterns are bad!! But when more than one family member has a pattern or the pattern is too involved, it gets too busy in your images. Remember, we want coordination, not matching!
If you're on the fence about it, it's best to leave it behind. But always feel free to email me!
Logos & Gym Clothes
We want to create a timeless piece for your family - logos will instantly date a photograph and can distract. Plus, it'll save us both time (and you a little cash) to not have me edit them out later! *wink*
As for gym or athletic clothing - think sweatpants/yoga pants - it's in best practice to leave them behind for something more elevated.
Unnatural Colors
Bright whites, black, and jewel tones often fight with each other and are difficult to coordinate cohesively. They can even reflect up into your face and cause discoloration depending on the light conditions.
Black is okay in moderation - just so long as it's really only on one family member or on a pair of shoes. Otherwise, everyone can start to blend together!
Jeans/Denim
Blue jeans. Too much blue can make your images' color balance look off. Light wash denim is safe. If you’re wondering what to dress dad in instead of blue jeans, I highly recommend any tan, olive or earth tone pants. Although the south gets hot, stay away from shorts at a shoot and pick pants every time. You'll thank me later.
Still need some outfit feedback?
No stress! Send me an email here and I'll get back to you with a time we can review your current choices or ideas! I want to do anything I can to make sure you're excited for our session day!