Family Photo Style Guide
Choosing an outfit can be tricky.
As if the day to day outfits weren’t enough, now you are trying to figure out what wear for your family photos. You are going to send these photos to your family and friends, share on Facebook, hang them up on walls, and more. So you can’t pick out any old outfit.
Or can you?
Let’s think about why you are taking these photos. We are freezing a moment in time. Creating a moment for time travel to happen. These photos will help tell your child’s story of what it was like when they were young. They are the tiny moments you’ll never get back.
So shouldn’t your photos be true to who you are right now?
Lucky for you, I have created a family photo style guide. This guide will help you figure out the best things to wear to your next family session. Here are some tips (NOT RULES) that will help you figure out what to wear to your next photo session.
Tip #1: Don’t wear something for the first time at a photoshoot
Have you ever tried on something at the store and you were like, “Oh my goodness! This is amazing! Just wait till everyonesees me in this!” Only to get out into the real world and realize that you weren’t in your right mind in the dressing room. And the fact that it was 70% off made it look better. Then that piece of clothing sits in your closet for months (or years) without seeing the light of day again? Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to clothes that you wear for your photo shoot.
It’s best to wear items that you have worn a few times. This way you know what to pair it with. Say you love a shirt, but after a couple of wears you realize that it’s best that you wear that top with high waisted pants. But if you wore this top for the first time at the photo shoot you might not have paired it with those high waisted pants. Then you would be tugging at the bottom of your shirt the whole time and NOT focused on being present for your shoot.
Tip #2: Wear clothes that make you smile
How does it feel to wear your favorite shirt? Do you feel comfortable? Confident? I bet it makes you smile, or at the very least makes it easier for you to smile because you don’t have to worry about your clothes.The clothes that you wear are going to be in your photos. You are the one who will see these years from now. If you hate the clothes that you are wearing, chances are you are not going to love the photos in the future. Don’t follow the rules in a family photo style guide because it told you to.
Tip #3: Look like you go together as a family
This is a rule that I like to stress. If you follow one thing in the family photo style guide, it’s this rule. Choose clothes that make your family look like they go together — like they are in the same season and at the same event. If Dad is in shorts and a tank top, and mom is in a sweater, you won’t look like you go together. Or if one person looks too formal or casual next to everyone else, it can look very off. Think of a season and an event and make sure everyone’s clothes go together.Tip #4: Don’t wear clothes that are too small or too big
Wearing form-fitting clothes for photos is a great idea. Now, I’m not saying wear something that is skin tight from head to toe. But make sure something on your body is form fitting.
Worried about your tummy? You shouldn’t be, but I understand. Wear a looser fitting top, but try to make sure your bottoms are a bit more form fitting. Balance is key. By wearing clothes that are baggy all over, you make yourself look even bigger than you are. Wear at least one form-fitting piece to create balance and shows off your beautiful shape.
Tip #5: Please, Please think about your shoes
Yes, your shoes are going to be in the photos.
So make sure you wear shoes that you are okay with seeing years from now. But even more than that. Wear shoes that are appropriate for the location.
Want to take photos at the beautiful Baker Beach? THIS IS A BEACH. Don’t expect to be able to wear your 3-inch heels in the sand.
Taking your photos at a grassy park? You know what happens to grass at parks? It gets watered. So your shoes might get a little wet.
If you have a pair of shoes that you want to wear for photos, but don’t want them to brave the elements you have two choices. 1 – Pick out a different pair of shoes for the photos. 2 – Bring a pair of slip-on shoes that you can pop on while walking around between photos.
Tip #6: Avoid super matching outfits
My husband sometimes gets frustrated at the fact that I’m not a big fan of matching. He has learned that any sort of matching jewelry he’s gotten me will NEVER get worn together. I’m not the matchy-matchty type.
If you all are wearing the same outfit you will look kinda strange (because who does that in the real world). And it will make your photos look super dated. Matching outfits for photos is very 90’s, and very boyband! But if that’s the look you are going for. Rock it.
Remember: These photos will be displayed in your home and not mine.
I want you to wear what feels right. I have listed off lots of tips for what to wear to a family session, but ultimately, these are your photos. If you want to break the rules to do what makes you happy — do it!
Do what feels right.
Breaking the rules and it feels SOOOO good
A couple years ago I had a photo shoot of me shooting photoshoots (very meta…I know) by the great Sarah Deragon. I could have told the families I was photographing to wear certain things that made ME happy. But instead, I wanted to keep it like a true photo shoot. I let them know some tips but told them to wear what they wanted. And you know what I wore? Stripes! Stripes and also a sweater with a camera on it! Both are bold and run the risk of clashing with the families. But you know what? I LOVE stripes. And my camera sweater is just too perfect (in my eyes). And I love those photos
By wearing what I loved, I felt better — more natural. I wasn’t worried about how I looked because I was wearing things that I knew I liked. My focus was on being myself and not about what my clothes were doing or if they “looked right.
#twinning
Now let’s talk about matching. As much as I’m not a matchy-matchy person, seeing a mom and daughter twinning melts my heart! It looks so darn cute! Here is an example of how a mom and her daughter matched and it looked amazing
Dad NOT matching made this work. Another great thing about this look is the layers. One of them could take off the jean jacket and suddenly they wouldn’t look like twins. If you are thinking you want to twin with your little one for a few photos but not all, bring a layer that you can easily pop on or off to change it up.
Bonus tips!
Wear layers
Layers are a great way to change things up fast. Layers I love are scarves, jackets, cardigans, and necklaces
Bring a fun accessory that makes you smile
Have a crazy jacket that you love, but don’t love enough to have in every photo? Bring it with. I’m sure we can find a few moments to pop on that special item.
Check out the Bay Area Specific Style Guide
I created another post that is all about how to dress for the Bay Area. This place (especially San Francisco) can have weather that changes at the drop of the hat. So check out that guide to learn about how to plan for Karl the fog to roll in in the middle of your photo shoot.
Hope this helps. I also created a downloadable family photo style guide. Save this baby to your desktop so you don’t have to go searching for this post come picture time.
Get the guide in your inbox