What to Wear for your Family Photoshoot
If you’re here you’re getting your family photos done! WOOO you are so smart. These photos will last for generations and you’ll be so happy you aren’t just passing down crappy iphone photos! Nice work, you!! I worked for Stitch Fix for 2 years as a stylist and have a ton of experience coordinating outfits. Family photos are especially tricky because you have not just two people to coordinate with but 3 or more!
Andddd, without further adieu…Here are my tips:
Avoid bold patterns
Especially for family photos, bold patterns tend to overtake the shot and make the photos seem cluttered
Go for neutrals or earth tones
These look good on everyone and go with most, if not all, photoshoot locations. Think: white, black, gray, beige, rust, forest green, mustard, dusty blue… Any color that could be found in nature will probably photograph well.
When are bright colors good?
Downtown or urban locations like Palm Springs can be a fun place to experiment with bold colors and patterns! Just be mindful of colors that compliment your skin tone, the colors of the other outfits, and the colors of your location. If you’re not sure, just bring extra outfits and ask your photographer!
Location, location, location
Choose outfits that “go” with the vibe of the location of your photoshoot. Are you taking photos in the mountains on a trail? You could totally wear denim cutoffs with hiking boots! Are you going to the beach? Grab your acid washed denim and breezy tees or flowy dresses!
Bring multiple outfits/options for the whole family
Bring like three outfits for both of you and ask your photographer what they think of the outfit you’re wearing when you show up to the shoot. Be aware that you might want to change by your car so bring a big blanket or something to change behind if you want!
How would you describe yourself and your family?
If you’d describe yourself or your family as adventurous and outdoorsy then maybe your outfits lean toward more of a polished hiking vibe. If you guys spend a ton of time on the beach maybe you wear casual beach outfits (beach cover ups, kimonos, shorts, tees, comfy sweaters.) A great idea is to hop on Pinterest and make a board filled with family photos that stand out to you. Notice: do the photos have anything in common? Are the families mostly wearing casual outfits or are the more dressy? Do their clothes have a lot of movement and flowy or are they more fitted?
A note on logos
Avoid them. This is super hard for guys ‘cause most t-shirts have logos on them. You can usually find a plain t-shirt at Target or TJ MAXX or something and trust me, it’s worth it. Logos are so distracting in photos!
Accessories
Do you or anyone in your family love wearing hats? Bring some! Do you love wearing huge oversized cardigans? Bring one! Do you normally wear lots of jewelry or do you tend to be more minimalist? It doesn’t hurt to bring some accessories to switch things up!
Comfort
This is my TOP tip. STAY COMFORTABLE. Not just in how the clothes feel on your body, but also how you feel emotionally in them. Do you have a pair of jeans that make you feel superhuman every time you put them on?? Wear them! You should feel like your best version of yourself - it will totally translate to your photos! And for kids — it’s especially important that they feel comfortable and aren’t grabbing at their clothes and accessories the whole time. Now is not the time to make your kid wear a bow if they hate bows or a super stiff shirt. I know it’s hard ‘cause you want them to look cute but there are plenty of comfy clothes that are cute for kids! When in doubt, just choose something in neutrals!
Compliment, don’t match
When outfits “go together” they look more natural than when they look too alike. For families this may look like telling everyone to wear blacks, whites, and grays. Or maybe only off-white, cream, tan, and browns. Or only cool colors like burgundy, navy, and forest green. Or only warm colors like rust, mustard, brown, and deep red.
WANT SOME INSPO?
That’s it! If you’re not sure, bring options with you to your session and ask your photographer! I always have some thoughts on what will look best in photos! If you have a session booked with me, I CAN’T WAITTTTT!!!