10 Ideas for What To Wear for Family Photos

let’s just admit it, picking out what to wear for family photos is one of the most stressful parts of getting your photos taken.  you want everyone to look nice and happy, and preferably booger free…and it can be a little stressful.  but it doesn’t have to be!  the next time you are choosing what to wear for family photos, keep these 10 tips in mind.

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10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos

 

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

1. match the style of your location.

be sure to keep your location in mind when you are picking out your outfits. if you are in an urban setting, you will want to make sure your clothes match your surroundings so you natural in the location instead of stick out like a sore thumb. if you are on a rustic farm, you may want to skip the heels and choose something more natural. whatever your location may be, make sure the tones and style of your wardrobe will compliment and not clash with your surroundings.  on the flip side, be sure that you aren’t choosing outfits that will make you blend into the background.  you will want enough of a contrast so that you shine!

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

2. avoid match-matchy.

the days of everyone wears white on top and denim on the bottom are out.  like, sooooo out.  having your outfits coordinate does not mean that everyone has to wear the exact same thing.  having everyone in a different outfit that still coordinates allows individualism and makes for a more pleasing photograph.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

3. think about your home decor.

this is something i do all the time when i am choosing our photo session outfits.  where are you going to be putting these photos?  on the walls of your home!  therefore, think about choosing outfits with tones that will flow well with the style of your home.  if your home decor is more bright and spunky, bust out those polka dots and red heels.  if your home decor is more muted and calm, think about outfits that have more natural tones.  yes, deciding what to wear for family photos can be as easy as looking at the walls that surround you for inspiration!

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

4. mix textures.

having everyone wear a variety of textures can help create depth in your photographs and is a great way of incorporating a variety of tones.  a great way of mixing textures is by using a variety of cotton, denim, tweed and lace.  wearing textures is also a wonderful way of portraying your personality through your photographs.  for example, a little girl in an lace dress enhances her sweet and precious demeanor, while a dad wearing a tweed jacket can can portray his sophistication.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

5. have a pop of color.

creatively incorporating color into your family’s wardrobe is a great way to draw interest into your photographs.  whether you utilize color in someone’s shirt or in a hair bow, having a pop of color can be very pleasing to the eye when you are arranging what to wear for family photos.  even choosing something as subtle as your earrings to incorporate color can make such a great difference.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

6. don’t forget the accessories.

accessories are a great way of adding interest to your family portraits.  if you are not one who likes using a pop of color in a big way, using accessories, like a  great pair of earrings, is a great way to still add a pop to you photographs.  it’s also a wonderful way to incorporate textures and help coordinate your outfits.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

7. avoid high maintenance outfits.

does your little one hate wearing headbands?  do you love a certain shirt but you always find your self fussing with it?  make sure you eliminate outfits that could potentially cause problems during your session.  even though that headband is so darling on your daughter, if she hates wearing it she is going to be miserable…and miserable in your photographs.  once you show up to your session, the only thing you want to worry about is keeping the kids happy, not keeping them looking good.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

8. patterns are great, but not on every person.

patterns are a great way to coordinate outfits together because they typically contain a lot of colors that you can match the rest of your outfits too.  however, patterns can be overwhelming and chaotic if you have multiple people wearing them.  if you choose to use patterns, it is best to have one person wearing a pattern and the other family members in complimentary solids.

10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography

9. mom chooses her outfit first!

as a mom, we put our kids first all the time. but when it comes to figuring out what to wear for family photos, mom needs to pick out her outfit first. pick out an outfit that you love and then use that as your starting point. after your outfit is chosen, start picking out outfits for the other family members that coordinate well with yours.

10 Tips for What To Wear for Family Photos

10. avoid neon tones.

even though pops of color are great, avoid anything that is neon.  neon colors can create color casts on your skin.  this means that the bright neon color will reflect on your skin and turn it an unnatural color.  for example, if you dress your little girl in a vibrant orange, your skin will start to look orange as the color bounces off of your skin.

these are just a few tips to inspire you as you browse through your wardrobe before session day!  most importantly, make sure you choose outfits that you are comfortable in.  outfits that make you feel confident.  trust me, as a photographer it is always easier to photograph families who feel comfortable and confident in their outfits because those emotions reflect well in their final portraits.

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10 Ideas for What to Wear for Family Photos | bethadilly photography
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