One big question on everyone’s minds when they schedule their family session, “What do we wear?”. When you are trying to coordinate outfits for the whole family that will photograph well, it can be overwhelming when you do not know where to begin. All white shirts and khakis, while simple and easy, are a thing of the past. These days are all about individualization, expressing yourself, and creating your own style. We’ve put together a list that we hope will help guide you and ease your mind as you choose how to express your family’s style!
1. Coordinate colors, don’t match. Coordinating colors can really bring the whole thing together. Choose 2 or 3 main colors, then base everyone's outfits off of those colors. This will keep everyone from looking identical and give each family member a chance to express themselves through their own style within the color guidelines.
2. Look at your home decor. These images are the ones that are going to end up on your walls in your home. When you decorate your walls, you first assess the color scheme you’ve selected for each specific room and then you choose the items to put in the room based on that color scheme. This is something to consider when you are choosing your main wardrobe colors for your family session. This will make the images work seamlessly when you add them to your home!
3. Limit patterns. Patterns are fun and they can be a great addition to your wardrobe for a family session. Although, keep in mind to not use too many patterns. It can overwhelm the pictures and distract from the focus of the images, your family.
4. Look for clothing collections. Many stores have clothing collections that are based on a main color theme. If you plan on purchasing new clothing items for the occasion, these collections are a great way to coordinate everyone's outfits with a common color theme with out all the stress of gathering each item separately.
5. Textures are fun! If you have a great outfit put together with solid colors, try adding a belt or scarf. A stylish blazer or jacket could add a nice touch as well.
6. Don’t forget about location. Think about where your session will be when choosing your wardrobe. For example, if you will be taking pictures in a lush woodland area, you would not want to make green a part of your color scheme. You want to stand out in your images, not blend in.
7. Make it classic. You will display these images for years to come. You can never go wrong choosing simple classic clothes. They will look good today, and they will look good in 10 years.
8. Keep weather in mind. If you live anywhere in the Midwest, you know it can go from a hot day, to cold and breezy in less than 30 minutes. Be prepared with coordinating sweaters or tights to help keep everyone comfortable during the session. If you’re really uncomfortable, it can show through in the images.
9. Start with one outfit that you know you love, and base the rest of your family’s outfits off of that example. Sometimes you just need a starting point to get the ball rolling, and this is a great way to do just that.
10. Maxi dresses are a winner! Maxi dresses are flattering for all shapes and sizes. They can be perfect for a casual session accessorized with a belt or a fitted jean jacket, or you can dress it up with a nice blazer or a statement necklace.
11. Buy to fit. If you plan on purchasing a new outfit for your children specifically for the session, consider buying the clothes in their exact size. I know how fast these little ones grow and how much we love to buy a size up so they can get more wear out of the clothes. Buying their clothes in a perfect fit will help your kids stand out more. They will look much better in fitted clothes. Clothing that is too loose can look sloppy