It's the time of year for family photos and often times I get asked what to wear. Trust me, when we get our date on the calendar for family photos I am immediately start thinking about what we will wear. I may or may not go through our closets and pull everything out that I like only to have the hubby come in and think "YES, she's getting rid of stuff", only to inform him, "No, just picking our outfits for our family photos." It's a task that stresses me out if I'm honest. Here are some tips to help you pick out the perfect outfits for you and your family to help you feel even more confident and comfortable during your session.
Here is my lil' family's photo session form this year. (we mixed it up a bit this year and leaned more towards a urban shoot. I love it!! And thanks to Kim Hayes Photography for putting up with my two sidekicks)
Here are 11 Tips to help you when it come to choosing what to wear.
1. Coordinate outfits, DON'T match.
Long gone are the days where everyone matches and wears the same shirt and pants. Choose outfits that compliment each other. Pick a few colors and choose clothes that will fits in that color scheme.
2. Start with one piece and build.
I always tell the mom to find an outfits she loves and feels great in and build everyone else outfits around that. When you feel good you tend to look good and feel confident.
( I did this for our session last year and they are some of my favorite photos I have of my family. I saw this pink flowy skirt online and knew I wanted it for our session.) Photo Credit :Kim Hayes Photography
3. Look at your home decor'.
Choose a color scheme that will go with the color scheme of your home. Do you tend to lean more towards neutrals, bright colors or monochromatic colors. Since you will likely be displaying them in your home this is something to take into consideration. This will allow your photographs to blend seamlessly with your home.
4. Accessories and textures are your friend.
Accessories are a great way to add color and texture to your photographs. They can also be fun to use in photos. Like grabbing your husband's tie or your kids playing with your necklace. Hats, scarfs, cardigans and belts are a great way to add texture.
5. Limit patterns.
I like having patterns in the mix however not everyone in the photo should be in a pattern. Mixing solids with prints adds to a photo but too much can be distracting.
6. Look for clothing collections for the kids.
When shopping for your littles look for stores that have coordination outfits all ready. This will save time going from store to store and you know they will look great together. Old Navy, Gymboree, Gap and Oshkosh are some great stores.
7. Comfort Matters.
We have all seen those cute photos of kids styled in hats and boots and tutus and jackets and vest and well..you get the idea. But if those kids aren't comfortable, then chances are this will make for a miserable session for you and the whole family. Make sure you keep everyone's comfort level in mind. A puffy tutu may SOUND like a super cute idea, but not so much for cold September day.
8. Plan ahead.
Once you book your session start planning your wardrobe. You may think certain clothes will fit your kids only to find out they don't or are a little snug or that one shirt or pair of jeans aren't clean. Once I have our outfits picked I make everyone try them on and then put them up until our session.
9. Say no to characters and logos.
It's best to keep the characters out of pictures. Your little ones may LOVE her princess dress and his Paw Patrol shirt but just like too many patterns, characters on a shirt can be distracting in your photographs.
10. Consider your background.
Is you location the beach or river? Is it surrounded by beautiful green foliage? Or are you doing your session in a more urban setting? Sometimes you can choose what you are wearing to accent the location. Also, remember that your outfits are the background for your children. So for example if your child(ren) have dark hair maybe don't wear a dark top.
This is one on my favorite locations I photograph at.
11. Think classic and timeless.
Fashions and styles come and go. Aim for a more classic look that won't instantly date you. These photos will be hanging on your walls for years to come. Choosing simple, classic clothes will help give your photographs a timeless feel.