I get asked about this all the time, so I decided to create a resource with some of my favorite examples. Here are my tips on how to dress for your family photo session.
You Want to Look Timeless, Not Twinning.
We’ve all seen the beach photos where everyone is wearing polos that are the exact same color. If that’s really your jam, I can work with that! However, pictures are more aesthetically pleasing and allow everyone’s personalities to shine through if you coordinate your outfits, not clone them.
Think About Where The Photos Will Be Displayed.
Here’s an idea a lot of people don’t think about: You want your family photos to look great in whatever space they’ll be displayed in. If you’re going to put them up in your modern living room full of neutrals, you probably don’t want everyone wearing hot pink.
Side note: We ran into this issue with pictures of our newborn daughter. When I went to choose which pictures to print on canvases for a gallery wall, I realized she was wearing pink or green and yellow (Go Pack Go!) in many of the photos. And my living room is very white, grey, and calm. I ended up re-shooting photos of her that wouldn’t disrupt the vibe and color scheme I’d already established.
So think about which rooms you plan to put them in, and use that to help inform your color choices. If your plans or paint color change, I can always get you black and white options—which goes with everything!
One Pattern For Every Two Solids.
I love it when families break up solid colors with tasteful patterns. If you do, I recommend having one person wearing a pattern for every two people wearing solid colors. This isn’t an exact formula, but the best-looking photos seem to have that type of mix. And remember, you can always mix and match solid colors on one person using layers: A vest, a scarf, a jacket, etc.
Consider Your Comfort.
The most important thing, of course, is that you feel most like yourself in what you’re wearing. For some people, posing for family photos is out of the ordinary and uncomfortable enough—so be sure your clothes don’t make you feel self-conscious.
I hope this helps, and I can’t wait to see you at our photo session!