Deciding on what to wear for family photos isn’t an easy task. To be honest it may be the hardest and most stressful part of the entire family session experience. Remember the day of the big department store family photos? The ones you probably have from your own childhood where you all matched in the same exact colors. You may have even fit your entire family into Santa pants, or was that just my family? There is a reason why these photos aren’t seen published around your house. It’s not only because of the awkward posing, but because of what you were wearing. Matching outfits are considered tacky and out of date. Learn why you shouldn’t match and what you should wear instead! The top things you’ll want to take into consideration: your chosen location for your family photos, colors, patterns, material, and accessories. Learn what to wear for your family photos, how to dress each person, where to buy the clothes, dressing for the season, and what to consider along the way.

How do dress each person for your family session

My biggest tip is to start with the hardest person to style first. Think about who is the most picky person in your family. Most the time this ends up being mom. Let’s be honest, we need to feel beautiful in order to feel good in photos! I know I do anyways! After the hardest person to dress is figured out, Then go to the next hardest person. I find that men and boys are the easiest to find an outfit for. After everyone has their outfit picked out you then begin to accessorize. Style and Select is what I use for all my clients who need my styling help!

How to dress Mom for photos

Whether you’re a first time mom looking for the perfect maternity dress, or a mom of five who wants to finally be apart of the photos, it’s important that you feel beautiful in your outfit choice! You’ll want to choose an outfit that compliments your body type. I ask my clients to try to stay away from short dresses. Our session will be full of movement. Nothing is more embarrassing than the wind gusting our dress up for our Marilyn Monroe moment or our toddler finding their way to hide in the bottom of our dress. Trust me, I’ve been there! I remember my son attempting his favorite game of peek-a-boo with my summer dress at our local park. Needless to say, I said goodbye to the days of cute summer dresses for quite a few years! I recommend a long dress for moms. One of my favorite places to shop for dresses for moms is Baltic Born and Joyfolie. If you’re looking for a more custom dress, I order most my client closet dresses from a very talented designer, We Are Reclamation who has dresses for all shapes and sizes.

Photo friendly toddlers and baby clothing

When dressing your toddler keep into consideration if they know how to walk well or not. If they have a hard time walking you may want to consider a romper instead of a dress. A romper is a great way for both toddlers and babies to still have good mobility during your family session. Tripping on a dress can be frustrating for them ultimately creating a bad experience. Rompers also are great for when you need to hold them in your arms or play with them in the air. If you still are set on a dress for your baby or toddler to wear, then be sure to purchase a diaper cover that matches their outfit. This way if you hold them up and their diaper isn’t showing in the photos. I usually shop for baby and toddler clothing at either amazon or on Etsy.

The best photo friendly dresses for little girls

Most little girls love to spin and dance around, am I right? When my daughter puts a pretty dress on she starts to gleam with joy! The first thing she does is do a little twirl! A good little girls dress can make or break a photo. You want them to have the perfect flow and spin to them to add movement to the shots. I have to rave for a second about Joyfolie’s little girls dresses! I purchase all my client closet little girls dresses from them! You’ll love the flow they have and how beautifully they photograph. I’ve attempted the Amazon knock-offs and I’m here to say that the dupes come no where near the originals for quality and material. If you’re set on one of the Joyfolie dresses but can’t justify the price, try waiting for one of their promos. You can get a dress for such an amazing price! Another great place to look for clothing is Zara. I love looking on Etsy as well!

Dressing Dad and boys for a family session

Men and boys are usually the easiest one to dress so I suggest saving them for last. I try to keep the guys fairly simple since the moms and daughters will be more of the statement piece. No offense to the dads out there, but moms are usually the ones behind the camera and oftentimes get forgotten in the family memories. If the girls have no pattern of texture in their outfits, then I recommend considering this when choosing outfits for the men and boys in your family. Try putting dad into a knitted sweater or pullover that fits your color scheme. If you’re dressing a boy as well you can think of prints like stripes (I suggest wide stripes instead of small thin stripes), small dots or even a small floral of some sort. I’ve found some great finds for boys clothing at H&M for a reasonable price. I also love Zara for boys! For men I like Old Navy, Macy’s and Kohls as easy options.

What colors to wear

The day of only neutrals is out and colors are the new statement in family photos! The colors you choose to wear can bring your photos to life. When choosing your color scheme, It’s important to consider the location you’ve chosen, the colors that compliment you, and the colors you have in your home.

Choose colors that will pop with your background

I personally love contrast with the background to help your family stand out. Your locations scenery plays a huge part in color selection. If your location has a ton of rich greenery then I’d suggest using reds, rust, mustard and incorporating some neutrals. I would encourage you to stay away from colors that blend in or don’t go with greenery well like greens and too much brown tones without a color pop. If your location is a wispy grass field I recommend reds, rust, and rich blues as some of your pop color options.

Putting colors together

Putting together a mood board is a great way to see if your colors will go well with each other. Most times you don’t realize colors clash until you put them all together. Stay away from black and true white. Black tends to get lost in photos while true white stands out a little too much. The bright true white tends to have a blue cast in photos as well.

Choose outfits that go well with your home

I know this probably sounds silly! I mean why would you need to think of your home colors for your family session when you plan on going to an outdoor location instead? Oftentimes you aren’t thinking about how you plan to display your family photos when your planning for your family session. After your gallery is delivered, you’ll be anxious to show off your beautiful images in every way you can! One of my first thoughts when receiving my family photos is how I want to display them around my home. With this being said, you don’t want outfits that clash with your home. You want your photos to compliment your homes color palette and overall aesthetic.

What clothing photographs best

What should I look for when choosing clothing

When shopping clothing for your family session, you’ll want to take texture, patterns, flow and functionality into consideration.

Questions to ask yourself are:

• Is this going to add or take away from my family photos?
• Is this a piece of clothing that will be distracting for me?
• Will this clothing bother me throughout my session?
• Am I comfortable and feel good in this outfit?
• Can I move around easily for movement based photos?
• Does this color and style flatter me?

Adding texture and patterns to your family photos

When adding texture to your photos you can do this through clothing or accessories. Good clothing options are cardigans, knitted shawls, knitted sweaters, and dresses with lace. If you’d rather add texture by incorporating a knitted blanket this is another great option! Patterns that work well in photos are floral, large stripes, and small dots.

Functionality and flow of your outfit choice

When thinking about what to wear for you family photo shoot, think about if the outfit you’ve chosen works well for the occasion. Are you hiking a bit to get to the spot for photos, but only brought heels to wear? Opt for sandals or bring tennis shoes to hike in and change when you get to the spot. Is your outfit your wearing going to have unforgivable mishaps? Think a low cut blouse and a toddler. The two don’t mix well! lol. Will your outfit create beautiful movement throughout your session, or do you think the movement will be too distracting and turn into an annoyance? Everyone has a different preference. It’s your job to figure out yours!

Add accessories

Accessories are a fun way to add to your photos. Wearing a dress and adding a cute boho hat for some of the shots is always a fun addition! One of my favorite accessories to add is textured blankets. I love how a beautiful knitted blanket creates great dimension in photos. One of my client’s favorite accessories are watches. Be sure if you’re wanting to add a watch to your session, then consider choosing a more timeless piece to wear. Otherwise, a fitness watch may date your photos.

Dress for the season

Summer

Summer is one of my all-time favorite times for family photos! The key to looking great and feeling comfortable is wearing outfits that keep you cool. When choosing fabrics, lightweight materials are a must. Women and girls can rock breezy dresses, light blouses, or maxi skirts—dresses, in particular, are perfect for hot summer days. Sandals are always a great footwear choice to stay cool and stylish. For a cute baby girl outfit, consider a romper paired with tights for a playful yet comfy look. As for men and boys, lightweight short-sleeve shirts or button-downs paired with cargo shorts or breathable pants are ideal for staying comfortable and looking sharp.

Fall

While Fall is undeniably beautiful, it’s important to be prepared for the cooler weather. Layering is key, so bringing along items like blankets, cardigans, and sweaters is a great way to stay warm during the chilly Fall months. Women and girls can opt for long-sleeve dresses, dresses paired with cozy cardigans, or sweaters worn with leggings or skinny jeans. For extra warmth, little girls can wear tights under their dresses or rompers. Men and boys can go for sweaters or casual blazers paired with jeans or chinos, and boots are always a great shoe choice for Fall. A helpful tip: Some clients like to bring an extra jacket to wear just before the shoot, and then remove it for photos.

Spring

Women can wear flowy dresses or skirts paired with simple tops or blouses. Floral dresses are a perfect way to add a touch of Spring to your photos, while a soft-colored maxi dress can also work beautifully. On cooler days, bringing along a cardigan is a great way to layer up. Men and boys can opt for light-colored shirts, with pastel shades being particularly perfect for Spring. These can be paired with khakis or chinos, and a light sweater or jacket is always a smart addition in case the temperature drops.

Winter

Winter months can be more tricky! Layering is key—think cozy sweaters, leggings, and boots to keep them warm and stylish. Women can wear elegant winter dresses made from thicker fabrics, paired with sweaters, tights, or leggings. A stylish jacket that also provides warmth is a great addition. Men can opt for cozy sweaters layered with jackets or blazers, and dark-colored pants, complemented by leather boots. For kids, cute coats are a must. If you’d rather skip the jackets, think about incorporating a thick cozy knit blanket. This is great way to add texture as well!

Clothing to avoid in photos

When preparing for family photos, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid to ensure your photos turn out timeless and cohesive. By avoiding these elements, you’ll create a more polished and harmonious look in your family photos:

1. Big logos: They can distract from the overall look.
2. Shiny fabrics: Fabrics like silk, can reflect light in unflattering ways, so it’s best to choose matted materials.
3. True bright white and black: can be stark and don’t photograph well.
4. Baseball caps
5. Transition glasses, which can look out of place in formal or candid shots.
6. Blankets that have distracting prints or are fleece- Opt for a knitted blanket, as it adds texture without being too distracting.

How to prepare your family’s outfits for your photo shoot

To prep your clothes for your session, be sure to set out your clothing the night before. Look to see if your items need to be ironed or steamed. Examine the clothing for staining. Nothing is worse than receiving your photos back to realize you forgot to get those pesky lines out of your family members shirt.

The best advise I have for keeping clothing fresh prior to your session is to change when you get to your session location. Plan to arrive 15-30 minutes earlier than you are expected to. One idea is to bring additional clothing backups. Accidents happen! Kids are clumsy at times and fall into dirt, potty training can be tricky, and they could spill something on themselves right before your session. Be extra prepared and expect the unexpected!

Pro Tip: Consider a family photographer who offers a Client Closet

My clients are offered a complimentary service when they book where they can borrow from my client closet. Check for a photographer in your area who offers this service. Most the time these family photographers will also help style your family for you!

Family outfit inspiration

Choosing a Neutral Color Palette

What I love: They utilized even color throughout their outfits. This family has the perfect use of patterns that compliment one another. The daughter’s muslin fabric romper adds texture

What I love: The outfit color choices compliment the background perfectly tying in the scenery well. The mom’s dress adds a pattern.

What I love: The complimenting colors to the background. The texture of the little girls dress.

Choosing a Bold Color Palette

What I love: The pop of color in the little girls dress. The texture the blanket added. The print of the moms dress.

What I love: The pop color of dress with the background compliments the scenery during golden hour.

What I love: This client chose a dark teal dress and added orange to create contrast in colors. Her color choices worked great for this golden colored location.

What I love: The red and blue were the perfect colors to add tons of contrast with the yellow Fall leaves. Complimentary colors anyone?

What I love: This family chose rich and bold colors that complimented the background. It’s no wonder that this session is one of my most recognized sessions for two years now!

Looking for a Colorado photographer for your family session?

I’m a Colorado Springs based photographer, and I’d love to help you with all you styling needs for you!