What to wear for Family Photos

"What should we wear for our family photos?"

I get that question with almost every family and I have been wanting to put together a post to give ideas. Every session is so unique- and I believe your choice of clothing should definitely reflect your individual personalities. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing your wardrobe.

-DO COORDINATE BUT DO NOT WEAR MATCHY-MATCHY CLOTHING. Pick 3-4 complementary colors and carry them throughout your family's outfits. When everyone is wearing the exact same thing photos tend to look stiff and staged- not to mention that trend was over in the 90's.

-DON'T WEAR ALL WHITE CLOTHING- I'm not a big fan of all white for family photos no matter what season it is. White is a tricky color to pull off successfully and can wash out skin tones. If you opt for some white, try pairing it with colored accessories or choose more of a creamy, off-white look.

-DO HAVE FUN WITH ACCESSORIES- scarves, hats, jewelry, gloves, belts, hair accessories are all a great way to add personality to your photos.

-DON'T BE AFRAID OF COLOR- I'm a big fan of color- Jewel tones look great on camera, almost anyone can pull it off with their skin tones, and looks great for fall photos.

-DO HAVE FUN WITH PRINTS- Plaids, hounds tooth, stripes, polka dots, argyles- have fun with them. If you're a little nervous about adding too much, start with a small dose.

-AVOID LOGOS OR DISTRACTING WORDING- Viewers will be drawn to the shirt with the huge logo and not to your family. Some exceptions? If your shoot revolves around a specific sport, sports team, senior shoot for school pride, etc.

-HAVE FUN WITH LAYERS!- Layers looks great in photos and is a good way to change up your look. It is also great to cover any problem areas (think scarves, cardigan, vests, sweaters, etc).

-SHOES- Shoes are also a very important thing to consider when choosing your outfit, try to avoid athletic shoes for the guys unless it fits with the overall theme of the shoot.

-DO THINK ABOUT THE LOCATION WHERE YOUR SHOOT WILL BE HELD- Outfits should compliment your location. It's a good idea to share your outfit choices/ideas with your photograper (ME!), so they can think of ideas, props, and conflicts.

-CHOOSE SOMETHING COMFORTABLE- Make sure both you and your family are comfortable and feel good in what they are wearing. Nothing is worse than uncomfortable shoes and clothing and having a shirt that constantly needs fixing.

-DON'T HIGHLIGHT A PART OF YOUR BODY THAT YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH - If you are uncomfortable with your arms don't go sleeveless. Comfort and confidence are huge!

-DO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO USE YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS- Will your photos be showcased throughout your home? Will they be used for a holiday card? These type of things should be considered when choosing your outfits and of course location.

-BE YOURSELVES! It doesn't matter how trendy a look is if there is no way in real life you would wear that look. I hate seeing people dress completely different than they normally would and look barely recongnizable.


Here are a few examples of what to wear that I found from the internet.