We try to take family photos once a year to make sure we are capturing life as we grow. I love that I have photos each year from the time we were engaged until now, 6 years later. One of the things that can be the most time-consuming for me is choosing family photo outfits. Finding family photo outfit ideas on Pinterest is a great way to get some ideas, but I wanted to provide some tips to make choosing family photo outfits a little easier.
Over the years I’ve asked my photographers what their biggest suggestions are as well, and I think that helps a lot! Always ask your photographer ahead of time for any tips they might suggest on location, planning poses, and choosing outfits. They’ve seen it all and always have great recommendations!
I need to take a second to take Rachael Turner for taking our family photos this year! I wasn’t sure we were going to get them done before our move to Kansas City. I’m thankful she had availability and helped us choose a location! You can find her information on her photography website here.
Family Photo Outfits
Here are my top tips for planning out your family photo outfits!
Choose a Color Scheme – Not a Single Color
One of my photographers has recommended this and I couldn’t agree more. This time we went with a darker, moody color scheme for our family photos. I could tell it would go well with our photographer’s editing style and look good against the bright fall colors. Choose a color scheme for family photos that helps everyone coordinate, but don’t go with just a single color for the whole family (for example, everyone in black or white). There are a couple of reasons for this.
One reason is, you want people to feel and look good in what they’re wearing. Not every color is complimentary for everyone. Black looks good on me, but it washes my son out. White/neutrals look great on my husband but they wash me out because of my fair skin and blonde hair. I have a board on Pinterest for color schemes to help you get started!
Another reason you don’t want everyone in the same color is that your photo will have less depth and interest. It’s possible that two people can visually morph together in a photo. I personally prefer a lifestyle style of photo, and it’s more realistic that people would be wearing different patterns and colors. Choosing a color scheme for your photos can make sure that people can wear a pattern, shade, and style they feel their best in. If you’re shooting a larger family photo, the guys can wear different types of pants (khakis/jeans/corduroys) and women can wear different styles too!
Shop Your Closets First for Family Photo Outfits
My first suggestion for you is to shop your closets for family photo outfits before you go out and buy something new. If you’re like me, you probably choose your favorite colors when you’re shopping for yourself and your family. I tend to lean towards blues and greens. Then when we go to take family photos, I know that we all have at least a couple of pieces to choose from in that color scheme. If you’ve chosen a color scheme that you like, you probably already have something in your close that both fits the color scheme and looks great on you.
Choose Classic Outfits over Trendy Pieces
I lean more toward classic outfits versus trendy pieces. That’s not to say you can’t include a trendy piece here or there to showcase your style. But my preference is to lean more into classic outfits. I want to look back on our family photos years from now and notice how happy we were before I notice how embarrassing our outfits were. I always try to choose outfits that are more classic and leave out any accessories that might be overbearing in the photos. Choose simple, elegant jewelry and shoes so that the focus of the photos is your family. Funny story about these photos, I totally forgot my earrings!
Family Photo Outfits to Match Your Location
If you’re taking more formal family photos at an indoor location like a beautiful boutique hotel or church, you’re going to want to dress a lot differently than if you were taking photos outside at a park. An urban setting is going to mean much different attire than photos on a family farm. We took our photos here in Tulsa at Centennial Park, which had lots of beautiful fall colors but we still got a glimpse of the Tulsa skyline. Make sure to choose family photo outfits that coordinate with the location of your family photoshoot.
Choose What Makes You Feel Your Best
Lastly and most importantly, make sure everyone has on an outfit that makes them feel their best. I know I will have a better time taking photos if I feel like my outfit is flattering and isn’t going to make me itch or sweat. Let your family wear what makes them feel good so that they can feel confident for photos. That will make a huge difference in how you pose, smile, and how the photos turn out!
This post I wrote a few years ago has some tips for family photo style as well!
I hope this helps while you’re planning your family photo outfits! Be sure to send me a message on Instagram if you want a second opinion on your outfit choices – I’d love to help.
