Dressing your family is undoubtedly the most daunting part of planning your family photos! The more people you are planning for, the more overwhelmed you may feel. Take a deep breath, relax, and keep reading, because I have some ideas for you guaranteed to make choosing outfits a little easier! 

Here are a few fail-proof tips to help you nail your family’s outfits!

Think about where you want to display your photos. 

This may seem like a weird tip to start with, but if you are planning to display your photos (and I sure hope you are!), it helps if the colors and clothing styles you choose look good with your home decor! If you have an all-white living room, you probably want soft neutral tones to hang on your wall, rather than dark colors. 

Start with one person. 

Women’s clothing tends to have more patterns and colors, so using your clothes as a base gives you more options for pulling coordinating outfits for the rest of your family. 

Skip the Matchy-Matchy – Go for Complimentary Looks

Remember when families all wore white polos and khaki pants when you were a kid? Yeah,  don’t do that, unless early 2000’s fashion is your thing…Keep your tones complementary to one another. If you favor softer tones, colors like grey, blush, and pale blues look great together. If you prefer color, warm tones like burgundy, orange, and browns are always good. And if you are looking for a formula that will never go out of style, dress most of your family in neutral tones – think ivory, grey and beige – and then add some coordinating pops of color! 

You can’t go wrong with solid colors. 

Pops of pattern and color can look great in photos, but sticking with solids is always a safe bet. Use textures to add depth to your images, like chunky knit sweaters or lace and tulle skirts. If you can avoid tiny prints and patterns like plaid and checks, as they can look distorted by the camera and distracting in your printed images. 

Keep it simple. 

Stick to one outfit. Golden hour is a gift, but it goes away all too quickly! Don’t waste beautiful light on clothing changes. Do accessorize with hats, scarves, or sweaters that instantly change your look without losing valuable time! 

Don’t forget; we live in Texas! 

Look, it might be fall in your heart, but if that thermometer is still sitting on the higher end of the spectrum, the perfect outfit is the one you are comfortable wearing. Dress in layers so that if you get too warm, you can take off some elements and still love the outfits you have put together. 

Shoes can make or break an outfit!

This tip is especially for the dads out there! Stay away from brightly colored athletic shoes or bright white sneakers that will draw your attention away from your family’s adorable faces! Mom, if your shoes are uncomfortable, consider bringing some comfortable slip-on shoes for walking between locations during your shoot. 

Let your family have a say! 

I’m not saying you let your son wear his Spiderman costume to your family session, but kids tend to have more fun taking photos when they feel good about what they are wearing. If your daughter hates dresses, don’t force it just for photos. Boys love having an element that makes them feel like themselves; fun socks can be a great way to get those favorite characters into the outfit without committing to them showing up on your walls for years to come! Remember, happy kids equals happy photos! 

Check out this Pinterest Board I created with styling suggestions to help find looks that will show your family’s unique sense of style. You are always welcome to text me outfits you are considering, and I am happy to offer my expertise!