The Perfect Outfits for Your Outdoor Family Pictures
One of the main questions I get asked as a family photographer is what should we wear for our session? I’m going to break it down for you today! So let’s chat about the perfect outfits for your family photography session. Taking the time to think about, plan, and select the perfect outfits for your family pictures is important because what you wear is like the “paint” of your portrait. The colors, tones, and textures of your outfits all play a role in how your photographs will look. This is why it is important to select outfits that are not only comfortable and fit your style, but also will create beautiful, timeless images that you will love to see on your walls for years to come.
Complimentary Styling and a Client Wardrobe Just for You
My Free Wardrobe for Mom and Kiddos saves you time and money!
As a mom of three, I understand that it can be overwhelming finding the perfect outfit for yourself let alone the whole family. Then making sure everything coordinates and will look good in photos is enough to drive a person crazy. No need to worry, I’ve got you covered through my styling services and Complimentary Wardrobe for women and children. Prior to your session, we will have a pre-session zoom call in which we discuss what your vision is for your session and this includes what to wear. You will then receive a link to my styling page and my Women’s and Children’s Client Closets. You will also be given our Men’s Picks webpage with great outfit choices and colors for men. Dresses and outfits from my wardrobe are available in a wide range of sizes and are all in colors and tones that not only coordinate with my editing style, but easily coordinate with outfits for men and the rest of the family. Simply heart the outfits you love and we will reserve them for you! If you’d like to try some on, simply send us a note to make an appointment for a try-on at our studio or my home!
The Perfect Outfits for Lifestyle Family Photography
I am a lifestyle photographer who loves to capture the beauty of each family’s story, their love, connection, and real moments. I often tell my clients that I am not a “Christmas Card” photographer. Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t want you to use your images for your Christmas cards, by all means, I want you to love and share them with all your loved ones! What this means is that the purpose of my photo sessions goes beyond just a quick picture to be used for your cards, but they are meant to preserve a very special moment in time. These are storytelling photographs that have a purpose in preserving an important moment in your family’s history and are to be treasured for years to come. Whether you desire to capture all of the details of your little ones because time goes by so quickly, or if you want to celebrate the arrival of a baby after years of waiting, IVF, or loss, this moment is worth celebrating, or whether you want to simply just commemorate where your family is at before your child is off to college, these are moments worthy of remembrance.
In order to make your session experience effortless and relaxing, I do the styling for you and even have a client wardrobe in the correct colors and tones to take the guesswork and stress out of preparing for family photos. The outfits are meant to bless you and to make your session special. You want to preserve a momentous time in your family’s journey and you are investing in me to help make that experience come to life!
Tips for Color and Style
I provide styling to not only make your images beautiful, but also as a service to you. The benefit is that it saves you both time and money! My style of photography is timeless and the colors that work the best for that are earth tones. Outfits should allow for movement and comfort, while also allowing for timeless beauty! Beautiful browns combined with ivory, olives, mustard, rust, or muted slate blue compliment each other while also being accessible to any family’s wardrobe.
The perfect neutral color combinations: browns, slate blues, rust, olive greens, creams.
Colors and Styles to Avoid
The colors to AVOID are anything that creates too much contrast or strong color casts: blacks, dark grays, dark blue jeans, strong saturated colors like bright blues or magentas do not photograph well and are colors to avoid. Please DO NOT wear short dresses, bright blue jeans, sports wear, shirts with logos, sports shoes or high heels! Opt instead for earth toned outfits in a variety of colors and textures that are comfortable and allow for movement
Coordinate But Don’t Be “Matchy”
Colors should not all be matching, but be complimentary. What does that mean? Only one outfit or dress should have a pattern and the rest could have different colors that compliment that pattern. Avoid all wearing the same color, but choose a variety of colors in a complimentary palette and add wonderful textures such as sweaters, knit hats, scarf, or beautiful earrings. Dresses should have good length! Long dresses are easier to sit and play in and they also add visual interest because of their flow. If you choose to wear pants, add a cardigan or sweater to add that flow, texture and visual interest.
This family is wearing complimentary colors. Notice the mom is the only one wearing a pattern and everyone else’s outfits have colors that compliement her dress. The dad has a sweater with texture, the girls dresses have layers, a belt, lace and are long to add flow, movement and visual interest. All of the clothes are comfortable and match the environment well!
One pattern in dad’s shirt colors in girls compliment but are all different. Sweater for added texture. Ivories, browns, rusts, light, slate blue.
What Shoes are Best for Family Pictures?
Although your shoes are not the main focus of an image, making the right choices is important. As I mentioned above, avoid sports shoes, dress shoes, and high heals. Instead choose something that is both comfortable and compliments the color scheme. We will be running through fields walking on a beach, so you will want to wear something that allows you to do that comfortably. Men should opt for a brown shoe or boot. Doc martins or neutral colored Vans work great. Women should wear a comfortable boot or comfortable flats but something you can move in!
Tips for Women
I want you to feel special and pampered as you get ready for family pictures and that means providing you with a dress that does just that!
Mom is often the last person to figure out what to wear as she tries to style the entire family on her own. It is my goal to make this entire process effortless and relaxing and that means taking care of these details that can be stressful! 30 days before your session you will be able to select the ones you love from my Client Wardrobe page and then schedule a try-on. You can also select outfits for your little ones up to size 4 for boys and size 8 for girls. I want you to feel special and pampered as you get ready for family pictures and that means providing you with a stress free process and access to a beautiful dress that does just that! Maxi dresses, midi dresses with flowy skirts, or jeans with a cardigan or flowy top are ideal for mom. I have dresses ranging from XS-3X in order to accommodate a range of sizes. After your session, don’t worry about cleaning, you will change in my portable changing tent and I will take all clothes home for cleaning!
Although 90% of my clients choose outfits from my client wardrobe, some choose to wear their own dresses. If this is the case, I always have them send me pictures of what they intend to wear for feedback. Some of the best places to shop for dresses and outfits for women are Free People, Jen’s Pirate Booty, Bohme, or Baltic Born.
Tips for Dressing Kids
Choose outfits that are comfortable and make them feel good! Warm colored earth tones are the way to go for your colors. Choose outfits and shoes that are easy for them to move in. We may even be barefoot, so don’t be afraid to let their little toes out too!
The most important tip? Always have them wear outfits before session day! This is important for little ones. This avoids resistance to wearing something new or having to face that “scratchy” tag from causing a meltdown on your way to your session. Great places for children’s clothing are Zara, H&M, and, locally for younger babies and younger kids, Oh baby! The beauty of my Client Closet for Kids is that all of the outfits go well with the earth toned color palette that is also present in my Women’s Closet - so, your choices will be easy and ready to go!
Notice the pretty earth tones: light slate blue, ivory, and then a dress with neutral print that ties it all together. Their dresses have different textures to add visual interest and fit the garden setting well!
Outfit Ideas for Dads
Dad should wear casual and comfortable clothing like neutral colored chinos or cords or slate colored jean. Remember to avoid bright denim blue jeans, stark white shirts, bright colored colored shirts, or sports shirts with logos! Also, no tennis shoes or bright white shoes. Casual neutral colored shoes are best: boots, brown leather shoes, or neutral colored Vans work great. When it is colder out, a flannel with complimentary colors works great or a textured sweater. We have links to great inspiration outfits from popular stores on our Men’s Picks website! Use for inspiration or click on a link to purchase what you see! Stores listed that coordinate with our color scheme are Banana Republic and H&M. In colder months opt for layers. A t-shirt with a flannel, sweater, or button up looks great.
Final Tips to Make Your Photo Session the Best!
My final tip for you is to approach your session with a sense of peace and excitement. Instead of looking at it as a “photo shoot,” I want you to approach it as an experience for you to simply be a family with all of the messiness, fun, and sometimes quiet moments, too! I’ve got your styling covered, you just need to come, relax and have fun.
Check out my Family Session Prep Guide for great advice from what snacks to bring, to bug spray and everything in between. The guide will give you great tips for how to come prepared and ready for a relaxing experience!
The Perfect Outfits for Your Family Session Recap
It is my hope you will use this as a resource to prepare for your best family photo shoot and that it will help you feel confident and relaxed. Remember, a styling email with a link to my Outdoor Styling page or Studio Styling Guide which contains links to my Client Wardrobes will come to you 30 days prior to your session. Use the guides, pick out your favorite dress or outfit for your kiddos, gain inspiration for dad, and you’ve got your outfits complete! If you have an outfit idea of your own, send me your inspiration and I’ll provide feedback and direction. I am here to make your session stress-free and a moment you will remember forever!
For other helpful tips and tricks to help make your session its best visit these links: