What to Wear for Family Photos
You did it! You finally made time in between diaper changes, soccer practice drop offs, and cookie baking (or cookie buying… no judgement here), and hired a photographer to take photos of the whole family.
But now, you might be feeling those anxious butterflies - and one of the most common questions that parents have is, what do we wear?
I totally get it - these are photos you’ll have for the rest of your life. These are the ones you’re going to hang up in the living room. You want to look your best, and you want the rest of the family to look their best too. So, before you get too stressed out looking through everything in your closet, here are my tips to help you figure out what to wear for family photos!
Think About Your Location
Before you get into color schemes and fabric types, think about where you’ll be going for your family photos. It may not make sense to wear heels to the beach (seriously, walking in high heels? Hard. Walking in high heels in the sand? Harder), and you probably don’t want to dress the kids in all white if you’re going to a park where things might be muddy. Think about what makes the most sense to wear in the location that you choose, and don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for advice!
Comfort First
When you’re figuring out what to wear for family photos, it may be tempting to buy new outfits for every kid, and to have them wear those adorable matching bow ties, but that may not be the best idea. The most important thing when it comes to family photos isn’t being posed and picture perfect, it’s being comfortable and feeling good!
Those jeans that look great but are a little too tight? That’ll be fine at first, but after a few minutes you’ll be feeling uncomfortable, and your photos will show it if you’re not having a good time. The same goes for the kiddos - if they hate wearing button ups, they’re a lot less likely to cooperate. I recommend choosing outfits that you already have that look nice, but are broken in and comfy, so that you and your family feel your best and don’t have to worry about itchy tags or pokey clothes during your session.
Mind the Colors
A good rule of thumb when it comes to deciding what to wear for family photos is to stick to neutral colors. That doesn't have to mean beige and gray - forest green, navy blue, and burnt orange are all great examples of neutral colors that aren’t too “blah.”
When you’re picking out outfits for the family, try to make them coordinated, but not too matchy. Everyone wearing the same shirt can get cheesy, and if you all wear the same color, you’ll blend into one big blob - not what we want! Lay out the outfits side by side, and make sure the colors look good together. Neutral colors tend to go well together, so as long as you avoid neons and super bright pieces, you’ll look great!
Patterns and Logos
You can totally get creative with patterns - but be careful not to over do it. Anything too big and bulky can be distracting, and if all of you have a different pattern on, they can start to clash. Try to keep it so that no more than one person has a pattern on - maybe two if the pattern isn’t too distracting. Stick to tight, minimal patterns like florals or flannel, but one thing I always recommend avoiding is tight stripes - wide ones are okay, but thin lines can get warped on camera and leave you looking a little funky.
It’s best to avoid logos on T-shirts - these are common on kid’s shirts, but they distract from their faces! Those big bright smiles should be the thing that catches your eye when you look at your family photos, not the huge graphic on their chest.
Accessorize!
Accessories are a really fun way to dress up an outfit and add some personality to your photos. Parents and kids can wear jewelry, hats, scarves, or even funky socks - whatever makes you feel best! Having a hat to hide behind or some bracelets to show off can make the whole experience more fun for kids, and you can always get some photos with accessories, and a few without for some variety.
Bring Props
Props don’t have to be huge Pinterest-y signs or wheelbarrows full of pumpkins. You can bring a picnic blanket to sit on, your child’s favorite stuffed animal, your dog, or some toys. All of these things can really add some personality to your family photos, and it’s great to remember exactly what your family was like during this time - if your kid never goes anywhere without their toy, bring it along! Capturing your family the way you normally are is what it’s all about.
Check Out My Client Closet
Worried about what to wear and need some help narrowing it down? I feel ya.
I started the client closet as a way to help with the stress of picking the perfect outfit - all of these pieces photograph beautifully and are available with any photo package! If you’re ready to plan your family photo session, contact me! As an added bonus, I’m here for fashion advice too.
