How to Pick Out Clothes for Family Pictures

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How to Pick Out Clothes for Family Pictures – What to wear for your family photo session. How to coordinate and choose outfits for your family.

Every year I fight the “what to wear for family pictures” battle. I get family pictures taken every single year, it is something very important to me. Often, it is the only time that I am represented as a member of our family because 99% of the time, I am the one taking all of our pictures. 

I also take a lot of family photos for other people. The number one question after they book is almost always, “What do we wear?”

I get it. It is an important decision, especially because family photos are an investment. You want to like the final product, and liking what you are wearing goes a long way in the happiness you feel when you get your pictures back. 

There are a lot of theories out there about what to wear for pictures. Some photographers prefer that you wear solid colors as to not compete with each other and make the images timeless. Some want you to avoid patterns and stripes. Some like the classic jeans or khakis and a white shirt. 

That isn’t my style. (If you are a khaki and white shirt kind of family, then by all means, where whatever you like. They are YOUR pictures and you need to feel comfortable and happy.)

I want the pictures I take (and am in) to reflect who we are right now. We wear bright colors. We wear patterns and stripes. (The only thing I do avoid are large logos and big graphics on a t-shirt.) We like hats and accessories. Layers. I like chunky statement necklaces and boots. (This year everyone’s outfit revolved around my new Frye boots. Just being honest.) 

Which brings me to my next point. Start with mom. I choose my outfit first and then work from there. When mom is comfortable and feeling good about herself, it makes the entire process better. (I go with the “fake it ’til you make it” approach on this one. Especially when you have family photos the day after you get home from a cruise. What was I thinking? When you really need a boost, get a blow out or your makeup done if possible, it goes a long way in the confidence area.) 

The most important thing that I can say about this is that it isn’t really that big of deal. My favorite year was the year that I forgot about pictures until the night before and picked out our clothes that morning. I didn’t buy anything, I just used what I had and that was clean. What I love the most about those pictures is that we look so happy and in love with each other. It didn’t matter what we were wearing, it could have been paper bags all around and I would still love them.

My point here is that we are trying to capture the connection that you have with your family. The love between you. When you are happy and comfortable, it shines through in pictures. Don’t sweat what you are wearing so much. That being said, I still have a few tips. 🙂

Here are some of my best tips for picking out picture day clothes:

1. Think of it as one big outfit instead of individual outfits. I lay out everything (even jewelry) out on the bed so I can see what it all looks like together.
2. You don’t want to be too matchy-matchy but you don’t want to clash either. Coordinate and complement are the words I like to use.
3. The photo above was my base that I pulled from my closet. I wasn’t 100% happy with it, but most of it worked and most importantly – fit. I snapped a picture on my phone and took it shopping with me. It was so much easier to imagine how it would all look together with a photo for reference. I did end up changing a lot of it, but this incredibly helpful.
4. Don’t be afraid of bright or bold colors. Children look amazing in reds, blues, greens, purples, orange.
5. Tweens looks great in layers. My oldest son likes a t-shirt with an open button down over. This adds interest and is something that he already likes to wear. Tween girls like accessories. They love hats and scarves. Tweens are my favorite and something I have noticed is the better the feel, the easier it is to get a great picture of them. You can also add these things after you get the money shot (the family picture of all of you together).
6. If you are anything like me, you probably wish that you had lost some lbs. before your session. There is absolutely no need to put that pressure on yourself. That being said I know the feeling all too well. Avoid going the baggy route, instead wear something more fitted. I promise, it will look a million times better. Wear a solid color and add a chunky necklace or big earrings, it will draw attention away from your bottom half.
7. Wear just a little more makeup than you would normally wear. You don’t want to look like a clown, but a little pop of color on the lips or eyes looks great.
8. Be comfortable! I cannot stress this one enough. If your kids are wearing things that are itchy or so fancy that they don’t feel comfortable moving around, choose something else. Husbands also need to be comfortable. I will always pick casual over dressed up for this reason.

I used the orange stripe and the blue from my sweater and pulled orange and blue into the kid’s outfits. I wore a little more makeup than I normally do and made sure to have lipstick, not a sheer gloss. These were iPhone snaps. I like to take an iphone picture to see how my makeup is going to look in a picture.

Below are the last three years of family photos. Blue Lily Photography has done them for us 4 years in a row, they are the best!

2012

2013

2014 – The year I picked out the clothes morning of.

My best advice is to just relax and have fun. It’s all that really matters anyway.

Need some more inspiration or to book a holiday session? Come over and look around.

Bree Hester | Family Photographer | Cape Cod, Massachusetts