How to pick outfits for your family photos

How do I pick outfits for our family photos? What colors go best together? Should we all match? Should we wear clothes with words or images? These are all very common questions I’m asked before every photo session.

Picking outfits for you and your family is one of the more stressful aspects of preparing for your photo session.

I’m here today to offer some guidance, and hopefully help remove some of the stress for you.

“Let’s talk color!”

I know you’re all just reading this to find out how to pair colors! That’s alright! And I have a super simple trick for you!

Head to (you can also just Google color palette ideas):

https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palettes/

This site offers tons of color palettes for you to view. You can search things like spring, autumn, rust, blue, etc to get inspo.

Once you’ve found a palette that you like (like the example below) you are ready to start shopping! These colors go together well and you can start basing your outfits off this color grouping.

Such a simple trick, but so effective!

“Layers, Layers, Layers”

Beyond colors, there’s a lot of other aspects to take into consideration! Being in Northern Wisconsin the temps can swing wildly from day to day. Should you plan for short sleeves or will you need a winter coat?

I suggest to families that have their sessions in the spring or fall months to plan on layers. Layers you can take off or put on as the session goes on. Photo sessions aren’t stand still events, you’ll be moving most of the time. So you might start out cold, but get toasty!

Cardigans or zip up sweaters are both great options! A blanket that’s big enough to wrap around you, fashion coats, or a shawl are good alternatives.

“Keep it simple”

Here’s a few general rules to follow when getting ready for your shoot.

• Matching family outfits can be fun (Christmas jammies!) - in the right setting. In general though, simple is better.

• Avoid graphic t shirts, especially those with really bright colors. Solid colors photograph better, and fit in everywhere.

• Steer clear of shirts with a lot of words. They are difficult to read in photos and often get cut off while you’re moving around. Think simple.

• Refrain from choosing bright colors (anything in the neon family) and busy patterns.

“Pro Tip!”

Don’t forget about your shoes. You can have a killer outfit, but the effect can be completely ruined with shoes that don’t match. Guys tend to be the bigger offenders on this one. Ladies, I recommend doing a double check of your hubby before you leave.

“Always here to help you!”

If you’re really struggling on your outfit, it is perfectly ok to reach out to your photographer before the session and ask for advice. The last thing we want is for you to be uncomfortable at your session.

A couple of things to keep in mind -

Your photographer is not responsible for you hating your outfit. They are also not responsible for clothing that is wrinkled, creased, or covered in pet hair. Photoshop is amazing, but it’s not magic - it also takes a lot of time to edit (and not everything is fixable).

As always, if you have a question or need help, reach out! Photography by Brooke wants you to love your photos for years to come and is always happy to help!