Picking Outfits for a Family Session

You’ve booked your session. Now comes the hard part – what the heck does everyone wear?

Comfort is key.

I always tell clients to wear whatever they feel most comfortable and confident in. If you are in a stiff or uncomfortable outfit, it will undoubtedly show through in the photos. I’m a big fan of flowy dresses on moms and overalls or jumpers on kiddos. I find dads are typically in henley shirts or chambray button-ups of some kind with denim or khaki pants, which is always a good neutral outfit choice.

Pinterest is your friend.

Well, usually. I have seen some horrendous things on Pinterest. You likely follow some kind of influencer or fashion-forward Instagram accounts. Check out their Pinterest for style boards to get ideas on what to wear. I’ve started a board for families to reference with some of my favorite looks. Feel free to follow along. :)

But, beware of trends.

Remember when we were all layering long tanktops with belts over gaucho pants with long beaded necklaces in 2005? If I could take an eraser to my memories, that is an era I would gladly forget. Be true to yourself and your own style. If you’re not a hat gal, don’t wear a hat just to look “cool.”

Big fan of neutrals with a pattern pop.

If you know me, you know my wardrobe and my home are mostly made up of neutrals. I have never done the whole color testing to see if I’m a fall or winter or whatever, but I know what I feel my best in. Try not to be too matchy-matchy with your outfits. If mom is wearing a blue dress, that doesn’t mean the toddler has to have a blue barrette in her hair. Get a good palette of neutrals and textures and then maybe throw in a pattern for visual interest. Reference the blog photo above for this look. Try to avoid any pattern that will create a moiré effect.

Keep location and season in mind.

Are we shooting in your home or are we going to be off-roading out in tall grasses somewhere? Make sure the vibe of your outfits matches the location we’ll be shooting in. In-home shoots always feel more casual to me (think jeans and white tee or linens, no shoes). But if we’re shooting outside during the fall season, maybe you’ll want to wear some cute (but comfortable) booties with a long dress or layer in a long cardigan or jacket for warmth.

If you want my input on outfits, I am more than happy to help!
The bottom line is: Be you. Because you’re the best. And you’re timeless. And you want to be able to look back on these photos in 20 years and still love them.