What to wear in Family Photos

Family photos is a wonderful way to capture moments of your growing family. They capture your children's personalities and give a timeline of how quickly they grow. One of the most asked questions as a photographer is "What should we wear for Family photos"

Here are my 8 tips for what to wear in Family Photos.

1. Making planning easy by using Pinterest

Pinterest is a wonderful resource to find great ideas for family photos. You can get extremely specific in regards to style, colors, and even the number of family members. While planning these outfits, keep your family in mind. That really cute outfit that you find, may be a very uncomfortable outfit for your toddler. Making your children feel comfortable in their outfits will allow them to feel more comfortable with taking photos and they can focus on having fun! I usually lean more to casual outfits that have a timeless look. I would suggest planning a week in advance, the day before can make it way too stressful!

2. Timeless Look

Keeping your outfits "timeless" is a smart route when planning family photos. These photos will be hanging on your walls for years, keeping it simple and classic makes your images seem timeless.

3. Omit the Graphics

Graphic tees can really make a photo feel busy. Look for plain, or patterned shirts that won't steal away from the photos.

4. Limit Patterns

When it comes to patterns, having more is definitely not the answer. If there is a shirt or a dress where you really like a pattern. Choose one matching pattern for one or two people and then think of solid colors for the rest of your family.

5. Go for layers

Adding layers gives a photo dimension. Think for girls, a hair bow, scarf, and/or cardigan. Boys, layering shirts, knit sweater, or vest.

6. Ditch trying to make everyone match

Let's be honest, trying to get everyone to match can be STRESSFUL. We want your photos to be a fun experience. Plus, sometimes overmatching can be very trendy and it won't last many years on the wall. Think coordination, not matching. Try some wearing collars, one in a dress, another child in a skirt. This gives your child and yourself the ability to let their personality and individuality shine in their photos. Not to mention, it will make your children feel more comfortable.

7. Lay it out

Grab all of the outfits for your family in lay them down on the floor. This will allow you to visualize the outfits to see if they work. If you are still uncertain, take a picture of the outfits in good lighting (Open your blinds to allow natural light).

You can always send these photos to your family or friends to get their thoughts.

8. Photo Location

Location, Location, Location is key to know when taking family photos. Will you be at a park? At an ice cream parlor? Walking around on the sidewalks of your town? In a studio? Knowing where you photos will be taken is key to deciding your outfits.

What you decide to wear should reflect the location. If you are going to a studio, avoid whites or blacks as it could wash you out, or worse match the backdrop. At the ice cream parlor, check to see if there are really prominent colors at the location so you can avoid those colors. In nature, try to stay away from deep greens so that you don't fade into the background.

Family photos are there to capture the moments of your family. Follow these tips to reduce stress and remember to keep it FUN!

Do you have any tips? Feel free to comment below to share your ideas!