One of the questions I get asked the most during the planning stage of family portrait sessions is “what should we wear?” While this is a common concern, I think its one of the most fun elements of a photo. Being able to express oneself through what we wear is so important and our pictures are evidence of who we are and who we’ve been.
With that being said, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips and ideas on how to figure out how to dress for your photo sessions. Last fall, I photographed my best friend and her sisters as a gift for their mom. Being as beautiful and stylish as they already are, I wasn’t very surprised when they showed up looking not only as fabulous as they always are, but also perfectly coordinated! I love how they chose a color palette that complimented each of them and allowed each of them the opportunity to create an outfit that they felt confident in.
Tip No. 1: Choose a color palette that the group can feel confident and attractive in. Limiting yourself to one color makes it hard for everyone to match because of different hues and fabrics. Choosing multiple complimentary colors allows for mixing & matching and a sense of togetherness as opposed to uniform and picking something just to match and not feeling your best. If you have a hard time choosing a color palette, look at family portraits on Pinterest, and pin the ones where you feel like the colors look good together. Choosing seasonal colors is also a great place to start!
Tip No. 2: Stay away from busy patterns and screen printing, unless its part of a special themed session. While your tiny polka dotted shirt might be adorable in person, it can look distracting in a photo.
Tip No. 3: Take the opportunity of having your portraits taken to present the best version of yourself. These photos will be around for a long time, so you will want to make sure that when you see yourself, you will be happy with what you see. Give yourself time and permission to look your best. If you aren’t the best at doing your hair or make up, think about having it done professionally. You might feel over dressed, but you will look amazing!
Tip No. 4: Cinderella is proof that one shoe can change your life, and it’s the same for family photos! Think about the shoes you will be wearing to your session because more than likely, they will end up in an image. You might have the worlds most adorable daughter, dressed in the most adorable dress, but her Dora sneakers can be distracting. Shoes and accessories are just as important as the other parts of an outfit, so be sure not to forget about them!
I hope you found these tips helpful and will walk away from this with some good ideas for your next family portrait session! For more ideas, click here to check out this great blog post on tips to make your family portrait session better than ever!
