How to Plan: Family Photo Outfits

I love to take family photos.  Something about documenting a certain stage in life with beautiful photos brings me joy! Although I can’t always predict how it will go with two kids – (I leave it up to our amazing photographer to capture the magic that she does), I can make sure we look put together! I may spend a bit more time than some on deciding our outfits, but I’ve got a good system down and I love having something to shop for-whether its in a store or our closets!  Here’s some tips on choosing outfits for your family’s photo session:

one. Decide on a time frame/special occasion for your photos. Are you taking pictures for Christmas cards or a special birthday? Will you be taking them in the spring or the fall? Obviously if you’re taking photos in the summer you don’t want to be wearing sweaters and jeans and if its fall photos you’re doing, you may want the overall look to be more cozy!

You can also add to this with accessories. Here in Southern California, there was really no need to have a blanket scarf in the fall, but it looked super cute on our Christmas Cards! For Aubrey’s first birthday photos, I added a party hat and a fun accessory to bring in her party theme just for a few photos.

two. Choose a location.  Your photographer may be able to help you with this – but once you have a time frame, location is a big factor in deciding our look.  Typically if I mention the beach or something rustic, our photographer Alex will have a few options up her sleeve for us.  I love light and bright colors on the beach. Keep in mind if you’re going somewhere that has specific colors or decor, you don’t want to clash or blend in. I’ve noticed browns and olive greens may not work in a more rustic location with lots of trees and long grass (which is obviously a setting I love).

three. Once you know when and where your session is taking place, the coordinating begins! Choose your starting outfit. For me, it’s typically mine (mama’s gotta look good, haha). I know my girls look cute in anything and it’s easy to find a shirt for my husband to go with anything. Sometimes my outfit is neutral, and sometimes it has a pattern or makes a statement. Once I’ve found something for me that goes with the overall feel I’m going for, I move on to the girls, and then my husband.

burgundy dress is LuLaRoe | floral and green ombre were both LC by Lauren Conrad at Kohls | white dress is Knox Rose at Target | sequin dress was from Rent the Runway

four. The kids. As cute as matching outfits are for two sisters, I like them to be different so they don’t just look like one blob. Since my girls are young, we tend to hold them often so I like some contrast. I usually do one in a pattern and one in a solid. Or two solids with different textures. Just some difference to make it interesting! Depending on your preference, you can choose a color from the pallet of your starting outfit, or an opposite yet complimenting color. One way I like to keep a bold look more simple is to keep something consistent like denim pants.

The girls’ white outfit details are in a recent post.

five. My husband. For men, and especially those who don’t like to play dress up, simplicity is key. Family photos are not his idea of a great day, so I try to make his outfit as painless as possible! His go to look: pants and a button up. If I want a more dressed up look I find a long sleeve and he wears nicer shoes. If I want a more relaxed look, I go for a short sleeve and boots. I want to be sure we all look cohesive in this way.  If I have on a floor length dress, it only seems fitting that his shirt is a bit dressier and on the contrary, if the girls look more relaxed, I want us to also feel casual! His shirt is usually simple (unless our overall look needs a pattern or something) and compliments my outfit alone and the girls clothes. I always like to sneak in a photo of just us, so I want the two of us to look complimentary on our own.

The last tip is to find a photographer whose style you love and would want to see in your home. I found Alex from Alexandra Kayy Photography while I was pregnant with Aubrey and she has been capturing the special moments in our lives ever since! I love knowing that our memories are in good hands! She’s been at the hospital the day after my babies were born and documented our girls as they’ve grown. I cannot thank her enough for the gifts she has given us through photographs!

Check her out here: Facebook | Instagram | Website

I hope you enjoy coordinating your family’s outfits for your next family photo session! Do you have any tried and true tips for good family photos? I’d love to hear!

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Here’s a quick version of these tips:

 

one. Time frame/Season/Occasion

two. Location

three. Inspiration Outfit

four. Compliment with texture, pattern, solid, colors

five. Cohesive as a whole – bring in elements for consistency (i.e. denim)

Love your photographer!

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xoxo

Whitney