It’s officially that time of the year that we are all scrambling to get photos to put on our Christmas cards! No? Just me that waits until the last minute to plan these types of things? #whenwillIlearn?
I thought I’d put together a little guide to help you style outfits for a family photo session. It can be hard to find cute, complimentary, comfortable outfits for the whole family. Hopefully this will provide a little inspiration for you!
Below are some overall guideposts, followed by a few different color palettes to work with. These palettes are specific to fall/winter since that’s the current season we are in. Once spring rolls around, I plan to do this again with updated outfits/color schemes!
General tips when styling your outfits for a photo session:
*Start with one person, and build on from there for everyone else. I prefer to start with my own outfit (duh), and then work to find things for everyone else that compliment what I will be wearing!
*Neutrals are always a safe way to go! You really can’t go wrong if you stick within a palette of soft neutral colors (think taupe, tan, gray, ivory, brown).
*Don’t get TOO matchy-matchy! I think it looks less staged and cheesy if you try to think about all of your outfits complimenting each other, versus everyone matching perfectly. Gone are the days of photos where everyone is wearing jeans and a black shirt 🙂
*Try to avoid too many patterns! This can sometimes be distracting from the photo. Solids work best, and think about mixing different textures instead of different patterns. Think chunky knits, lace, denim, etc. It will still look great if someone is wearing something with a pattern (like a soft floral patterned dress, or a flannel shirt), but just try to avoid everyone wearing them.
*Compliment the season/your surroundings! If your photos are going to be on the beach, consider a pastel palette with some shades of blue and yellow to compliment the scene. If your photos are happening in the fall, think about more Earthy shades of browns/greens to compliment the foliage!
*Avoid super dark colors, as they’ll tend to make the overall look/feel of the photos less light/bright/airy. Also avoid anything super neon or bright as that can create some weird skin tone/cast issues.
*I’m really hoping I don’t really need to say this, but avoid any text/big logos on any of your shirts. No husband (Peter I’m talking to you), you cannot wear your “OSU DAD” sweatshirt for photos.
*If you have kids, don’t even bother with an outfit change for everyone. You’re just asking for pure chaos!! Just stick to one really good outfit that you love for everyone and take some of the stress off of yourself.
*Consider what your home looks like! If you envision these photos hanging on your walls, make sure you’ll be happy with what they look like with the decor!
*Try things on in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute to try everyone’s outfits on– this could end in disaster!
*Don’t force things that will make your kids unhappy. If you wanted your toddler to wear a bowtie or a hat and they just aren’t having it, ditch it. You’d rather let go of the cute bowtie than have a screaming baby the entire session!
*Stuff some bribery in your pocket– LOL. Seriously though, put a couple pieces of small candy or snacks in your pocket in case you need a saving grace.
Color palette/outfit ideas:
Here are some really gorgeous color palettes to work with! I found these on a gorgeous photographer’s site (Kate L. Photography). As you can see, most of them have a couple of dominant fall shades, along with a couple more muted/neutral shades. My current favorite shades for fall: burgundy, forest green, mustard and burnt orange!
Here are a few different outfit combos she also put together, based on the color schemes you see above! I loved these so much that I didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel. If you want to purchase any of these items, head on over to this post of hers!
I also loved the outfits below that Lynzy and Co. pulled together. Click here to view/shop her post!
I hope this helps spark the stylist in you!! As always, if you need help or guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out!
XO
