Family Portrait Season: Outfit Planning

Ahhhh the holiday season is upon us! If you are anything like me, you send out Christmas cards every year. I personally like to have them done super early, so I contacted my photographer friend back in late August or early September to set up our family shoot for October. And of course, the minute I set up the shoot, I started brainstorming outfit ideas. After location, I feel like the outfits are what will set the tone for the rest of the shoot. Today is the day, and I spent a good amount of time deciding on what we would wear. 

I'm not going to share our outfits with you - you'll have to check back for the photos to see that! But I am going to share six tips with you on choosing outfits for your family photos. 

Photo by the amazing Arina Borodina

1. Decide on what "feel" you want for your photos. Last year, we took our family portraits in Paris. I knew that I wanted a more chic, classy look. So I went with black for me, a suit for hubby, and a pair of dark corduroys with a dress shirt, suspenders, and a bow tie for Caleb. This year, I wanted a little contrast from what we had done last year, so I decided on a more laid-back look. Still a little dressed up, but certainly not something we would only wear for a special occasion. 
2. Decide on a color palette. I knew I wanted to go with neutrals this year. I didn't want too much color, but I also didn't want to go all black like we did last year - I don't feel like photos in our home call for that. Once I had a color palette, it was easy to look for items in those colors. 
3. Layer your look. I can never stress this enough to clients, but layers and textures look so good in photos - it adds another level of visual interest. The situation doesn't always call for it, but if you can work in a jacket, a vest, or a scarf, go for it. It also makes it easy to change up your look by removing that one item!
4. Coordinate. Don't match - coordinate. Stick to that color palette I talked about, but gone are the days of everyone wearing blue jeans and a white shirt! Have a couple of people in patterns, switch up the colors people are wearing on top and bottom, and stay within the same color family. Check out Pinterest for some awesome ideas. 
5. ​Stay away from super busy prints. Prints that are tiny look weird on camera.  Stick to more bold patterns and solids. If you must use a busy print, throw something over it to camouflage it a little bit. 
6. Make sure you are comfortable. If you are wearing a super tight dress, and that's not how you normally dress, it's going to show in photos. If your pants are too tight, it will show in your face. If you feel like you are showing too much skin, you will give yourself away. If you're used to being in flats but decide to wear super high heels, well, you know. Dress yourself in a way that is flattering, but also something that is comfortable for you. Your beauty will shine through so much brighter when you are happy with how you look and when you feel like yourself. 

At the end of the day, if you have a good photographer, your family's beauty will show, regardless of what you are wearing. And while I know we all want to look our best, don't worry about being "perfect". Your photographer's job is to make you look your best!

But MOST important, remember that "you're never fully dressed without a smile." Don't stress over what happened five minutes before you arrived. Smile, and enjoy the time with your family. That is what you want those photos to convey - not how long you spent putting together the perfect outfit or scouting for the perfect location. 


Say Cheese!

xoxo, 

​Jenise