Styling can make a huge difference on the turnout of your professional photos. Here are some tips on how to best style yourself and your family so your photos look polished and timeless.

Okay, so what do you wear?

Complement, Don’t Match

Matching can be cute, but it’s generally best to pick outfits with the same vibe, that aren’t the exact same. Aim for outfits that coordinate, but mix up colors, shades, or textures.

Stick to a Color Palette

When taking photos with other people, it’s important to try and stick to a color palette for everyone’s outfits. An easy tip is to look up “family photo color scheme” on Pinterest for some ideas for color palettes and how to incorporate them into everybody’s outfits.

You don’t want your outfits to distract from the focus of your photos – you! Brighter colors pull focus to the wrong places and can sometimes reflect oddly onto your skin. Neutral and earth toned outfits make your photos truly POP (trust me!)

Comfort + Confidence

Wear clothes that flatter your body shape and make you feel confident. If you’re feeling your best during your photoshoot, you’ll love the outcome of your photos.

For the kiddos, definitely make sure they’re comfy or you might end up with a shorter photoshoot than you planned.

For the teens, confidence is huge. I really wouldn’t try putting them in clothes they don’t feel great in because that can really affect their moods when taking pics. For the girlies, maybe let them help you pick out a color palette based on one of their favorite outfits or use it as an excuse for a mother daughter shopping spree. For the guys, I would give them a few options of what they could wear and let them decide what they feel best in.

Shoes

When it comes to shoes, I definitely recommend wearing something comfortable. Heels are great, but sometimes the perfect location can include a little off roading. If you’re set on heels, think about bringing a pair of sandals or sneakers to wear until you get to the exact spot you’ll be shooting. Whatever shoe you wear, I would try to make sure that they aren’t dirty on top. I would try to avoid super athletic looking sneakers, and maybe go for something like Converse or Vans if you’re trying to keep it casual.

Textures + Layers

Add texture with knits, denim, lace, corduroy, or layered pieces like cardigans, scarves, or vests. Texture and layers can add a lot of dimension to photos and it’s a good way to make sure everyone isn’t matching.

Be Yourself, but Elevated

Choose outfits that feel like you, but just a bit more polished. Think of it as dressing for a special occasion—not too formal, not too casual.

Do’s + Dont’s

Yes!

• Neutrals and earthy tones
• Denim jeans and jackets
• Cute hats or hair accessories
• Flowy dresses or skirts
• Chunky knits and layers
• Boots, comfy heels, fashionable sneakers

Leave it at home…

• Neons
• Bright primary colors (red, royal blue, yellow, grass green)
• Restricting fabrics (stiff clothing means stiff photos)
• Anything with logos or writing
• Running shoes or dirty sneakers
• Sunglasses

Helpful Hints

• Start early! Not to out her but I take my sister’s family photos every year and she procrastinates on outfits every time and it makes for a much more stressful experience
• Lay out everyone’s outfits next to each other to make sure they look good together
• Bring backup outfits if there’s a baby involved (do I need to explain myself)
• Try to pick outfits that suit the backdrop (or vice versa)
• Opt for multiple outfits to switch up the vibe
• Go on a shopping spree and blame it on me!
• Bring makeup and hair stuff to touch up
• Find outfits you like on Pinterest and try to replicate them

Places to Shop

For the Ladies

• Nuuly
• Abercrombie & Fitch
• Petal & Pup
• Free People
• Francesca’s
• LOFT

For the Guys

• H&M
• Abercrombie & Fitch
• GAP

For the Littles

• Old Navy
• Zara
• Target
• Carter’s

From the Pinterest Board