What to Wear for Family Photos
Boy’s seersucker pants / Mom’s Dress / Dad’s Shirt
See the full family beach photo session here.
How to Choose the Perfect Family Photo Outfits
Family photos are some of my favorite pictures to take! In fact, when I first got into photography, I thought I would exclusively be a family photographer. I love playing with the kids and capturing connection between the family. Kids are grow so fast, so I always recommend updating family photos at least once, if not a few times per year.
I try my best to take family photos at least once a season- spring, summer, fall and in December right before Christmas. Here is our session from last year.
Family Picture Outfit Ideas
Styling your family (or yourself!) for photos can be so hard! It is definitely more stressful for me to be on the other side of the camera, but its always worth the effort. Deciding what to wear is always the hardest part for me!
Stores to Buy Family Photo Outfits
Morning Lavender
Love their dresses for mom. Super flowy and romantic vibes. Trendy.
Vineyard Vines
Classic preppy looks. Great for beach photos. Good for mom, dad and kids!
Target
Super affordable and cute looks for the whole family.
Nordstrom
Classic, well made and stylish outfits for the entire family.
JCrew
Similar to Nordstrom- classic looks for the whole family. A bit on the preppier, more put together side.
Rent the Runway
A great way to get designer looks for less. Not a huge investment or commitment to an outfit you may only wear once!
So, now you may be wondering, now that I know where to shop- what are the best colors to wear for family pictures? So, I present to you:
Family Photo Outfit Ideas: The Color Palette
When choosing colors, I always opt for softer, lighter tones & muted shades. The camera loves shades of pastels mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather grey, creams, and white. This soft color palette fits beautifully into almost all outdoor natural environments.
Beachy Blues
See the full blog post for this session here.
First up, we have this Navy and baby blue combo which always compliments the beach perfectly.
Neutral:
I love how this family coordinated their outfits to all be dressed in white and khaki. See more of this session here. What do you think of these matching family photo outfits? Do you love it or hate it? I usually hate anything too matchy-matchy but I do think with family photos- especially extended family photos, it works! If you don’t have a color palette to pull the whole look together things can start to look messy and disorganized.
Pastel:
Get this look for your family photos: Boy’s Blue Oxford Shirt / Boy’s Khaki Shorts / Boy’s Belt / Dad’s Shirt / Dad’s Shorts
Portrait Session Style Guide
Trying to coordinate your family outfits? Don’t forget to grab your portrait session style guide! I used to only give these out to clients who booked a session with me but I decided that wasn’t fair! Get yours here:
I hope you find this guide super helpful!
Now that you are ready to look your best, let’s move on to where to take the photos.
Family Photo Location Ideas
No matter where you live…
Pro Tip: Plan your color palette around the interior colors of your home.
The Beach
I love the beach for family photos because of the clean backdrop and neutral colors. Beach sessions are obviously very popular for family photos as you can see from so many in this post. The beach is a classic backdrop and I love it because it looks great all year round!
If you do have your heart set on family photos at the beach, make sure you schedule your session for the hour before sunset. This time is called golden hour and ask any photographer and they will tell you it’s their favorite time to shoot! If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, definitely take advantage and get some beautiful beach photos.
I also love beach photos because the neutral backdrop compliments the interior decor of most homes. So you can print your photos to frame or hang a canvas on your wall at home to display your family photos all year round!
2. A Local Park with a Grassy Field
This local park is a favorite of many local photographers because of the beautiful backlit field. I love how it looks different depending on the time of year.
3. Anywhere with Cherry Blossom Trees
Cherry Blossom season is one of my favorite times in New Jersey. And the beautiful pink blooms are sought after by many of my clients as well! Even if pink isn’t your favorite color, the beauty of the cherry blossom is undeniable and makes for a great spring inspired photo session.
4. A Local University
Living in New Jersey, I love to recommend Princeton University for family photos and engagement sessions. Universities have beautiful architecture that make the perfect backdrops for photos!
5. Flower Fields
This family, who was expecting their second child combined maternity photos and family photos with a trip to a local farm. It was late summer and we got to shoot in their wildflower field. Depending on the time of year, you can catch a field of tulips or even sunflowers. I love how each has their own vibe but you can’t go wrong no matter what you chose!
Happy Spring!
For more tips about what to where, contact me to book your spring photo session!
