The worst part about taking family pictures, for me, is getting to a session on time (you want me to have make-up done and my whole family looking good -- with shoes and everything -- all at the same time?!? Who am I, Wonderwoman???) I hope the ideas below help take the stress out of planning our session and result in exactly the photos you are dreaming of!!

1. Think of your color scheme.

You may be drawn to my portfolio or editing style which lends itself well to pastels and neutral tones, such as light pinks, blues, sage greens, whites, creams, and khaki.
Think about how you would like to use the pictures and if you would like to display them in your home. If so, you will want your colors to blend well and compliment your home decor.

2. Choose mom’s outfit first. She is usually the one that cares most about how she looks.

Dresses are very flattering on most moms and add to the visual appeal of pictures.
Avoid jersey/stretchy material as those sometimes cling to all the wrong places. I recommend cotton or chiffon.
Avoid low cut necklines and short skirts if you have toddlers that will require a lot of play and movement (you won’t have time to adjust while playing and getting the best smiles).
It may sound silly, but once you have narrowed down a dress choice I advise taking a few photos of yourself in the dress. What looks great in a mirror while you are moving around may look very different in 2 dimensions, frozen in time.

3. When moving on to choosing outfits for the rest of the family, aim for coordination, not matching.

Lay out outfits next to each other on a bed to ensure that the colors and styles result in the look you want.
Make sure everything fits, is washed, dried, ironed/steamed and hemmed ahead of time. Nothing is worse than realizing15 minutes before “go time” that your three year old’s khaki pants have spaghetti stains!

4. Including delicate patterns is a nice way to add visual interest without pulling focus from your family and the emotion they are displaying.

I generally try the “squint test” when looking at a fabric. When you squint at the outfit, it should appear to be mostly the same color. If you can still distinctly see the pattern, it would likely be too much in the finished photo.

A little extra time spent prepping your clothing ahead of time will result in an easier session and years of loving these family memories! Feel free to reach out to me if you are in need of ideas! I want to do all I can to help you LOVE your images! :)

4 (or more) Tips for Choosing Outfits for your Family Session