Looking for family photo outfit ideas? You've come to the right place!

The goal is to find a style that's authentic to your family, but feels special at the same time.

Your outfits should be cohesive!

1. CHOOSE THE LOCATION.

Before you even consider what outfits you want to wear, lets talk bout location and what you most prefer. Will you have a casual lake session or will you be dressed up downtown? Will you be frolicking through wildflower fields or hiking to an epic mountain location? Your location actually matters a lot as you choose your outfits. Consider the vibe you are going for first as you select your outfits.

2. START WITH MOM’S OUTFIT.

All right lets think of it as building blocks.

Start with one outfit and then you can build upon that. My recommendation is to start with mom (or daughter), since women’s clothing tends to have more colors and prints. And let’s be honest, we are more picky about how we look, and the woman are typically pulling the outfits together anyways ;)

My best advice is for you to wear a dress in your favorite color. Not only are dresses flattering, but you will feel good in it. If you hate dresses, think about a skirt/top combo, but choose something that is slightly dresser than your everyday look. Opt for high quality fabrics (not t-shirt material) because they hang better.

3. CHOOSE A COLOR PALETTE.

After you’ve chosen your outfit, think about 2-3 coordinating colors, some neutral and one of which pops and brings life to the outfits. I’ve created a pintrest board with family/couple photo outfit ideas! Go check it out! (24) Pinterest

Also, the color palette you choose will affect your appearance and the overall look of your photo. Warmer colors like peach, cream, brown, will give your photos a soft glowing look, while bold and vivid colors will produce a brighter and sharper appearance.

5. COORDINATE, DON’T MATCH.

Gone are the days when everyone wears matchy matchy.Choose colors that complement each other but are not overly matchy-matchy.

After mom’s outfit is chosen, begin to find 2-3 coordinating colors that complement. Need more inspiration?

6. ADD VARIETY WITH SUBTLE PATTERNS.

They say that variety is the spice of life right? To add depth and interest to your photos, create dimension by having primarily solids with a few coordinating subtle patterns and textures. Patterns are great in small doses and add a lot of your photo. Avoid bold, large prints that can distract from the photo though. You want your family photos to be about you and not merely your outfits.

Layers are another way to add variety with cardigans, shawls, scarves, pearls, ect.

9. COORDINATE WITH YOUR INTERIOR STYLE.

How you decorate your home says a lot about you and your style. Consider coordinating your outfits to your home décor, as you will likely display your photos on your walls. For example, if your house is decorated in white muted tones, don’t wear bright and NEON outfits.

10. OPT FOR CLASSIC OVER TRENDY.

Super trendy clothes are so fun because they look amazing now, but think about classic styles and outfits that will not make you cringe in 15 years. TAKE OFF THE APPLE WATCH, trust me on this .

11. INCLUDE YOUR KIDS.

Involve your children in planning and choosing outfits. They will be much more excited about family photos if they like what they’re wearing. This doesn’t mean that you should let your daughter wear her favorite princess dress. Instead, incorporate their favorite color. Please don’t make them wear something they hate. You want your kiddos happy for your session!

12. ONLY ONE OUTFIT NEEDED.

Don’t overly complicate family photos by bringing multiple outfits for everyone. Kids usually HATE changing clothes and can end up cranky afterwards, not to mention it takes time away from your session. If you have a drooling baby, put a bib on them until you arrive at the session, or alternatively, change them into their outfit right when you arrive to ensure clean clothes.

13. REMEMBER THE SHOES.

Shoes have the power to complete an outfit or completely destroy it! Think about your session location. If you are in a field, for instance, you won’t be able to walk in those stilettos. Avoid bright white shoes, all athletic sneakers, and kids’ shoes with cartoon characters and sparkles. If you just can’t find shoes you love, consider having the family go barefoot for the session (just bring shoes to walk around at the location!).

14. DON’T WAIT TO TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE.

Try on your clothes well in advance so you can switch it up if something isn’t working. Look at your outfit from different angles and move around to make sure it works for lifestyle photos. There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous v-neck dress that keeps gaping wide-open to show your bra as you cuddle and tickle your kiddos.

Overall Tips

COMFORT 

Most importantly, you want to feel comfortable in what you wear. You don’t want an outfit that keeps shifting out of place or falling down. Choose clothing that allows you to play with your kids, move freely and feels good on you. For guys this means that shirts that look good untucked are usually better since you will be playing and moving around with your kids and you don’t want to have to keep tucking in your shirt.

ACCESSORIZE

Don’t forget earrings, bracelets, hats, or other accessories that help complete your outfit!

TEXTURE 

Texture is a striking feature and adds great dimension to your photos and helps them stand out. Examples of texture include chambray, faux fur, chunky knits, lace, tweed, wool, etc.

MAKEUP

Apply your makeup in natural light so that you know how it will look for outdoor photos. Apply just a little bit more than you usually would and make sure to blend foundation well with your neck. Stay away from nude lipsticks as they wash you out, but do make sure to wear lip gloss ( totally recommend chapstick for everyone in the family so they don’t have the dry lip look). If you’re comfortable with it, help your eyes pop with natural length fake eyelashes.

MIXING IN A HALF BIRTHDAY OR FIRST BIRTHDAY

keep their outfits simple , something you can match with yours that you will still love on your walls!

I recommend skipping the characters for these ;) Make is easy to layer down for a first birthday cake smash , little ones start to get tired of changes so keep it simple!

LESS IS MORE

I love shooting and foucusing on lifestyle images for a timeless image you will love. Less is more in my opion when it comes to balloons , hats and props.

Please Avoid…

OVERSIZED CLOTHING

Steer clear of cargo shorts, baggy jeans, and oversized clothing.

FORMALWEAR

Avoid outfits that are too formal for your setting. If you are in a natural area, a tuxedo, formal dress, tie/bowtie, might feel out of place.

NEON COLORS 

Neon colors can reflect onto your face, causing skin tone problems in your photos. That neon green shirt will reflect upwards on your face and cause you to look green!

LOGOS

Logos or text on clothing is distracting. Avoid shirts that have logos (even just a simple Nike check mark or Polo horse is distracting).

STRAPLESS/SLEEVELESS TOPS

Unless you absolutely love your arms, avoid strapless or sleeveless tops. Sleeves are typically more flattering for everyone!

Athletic Polo Shirts

You might love your Under Armour quick-dry polo but it’s not really the look you want to go for in your family session. Avoid athletic polos or quick-dry shirts and opt for more timeless fabrics.

ATHLETIC SHOES

White tennis shoes, athletic shoes, and character shoes (think Disney princess shoes) should all be avoided. Leather shoes, casual sneakers (think Converse), sandals, slide-on canvas shoes, and wedges are all great options.

BABY OUTFITS WITH DIAPERS PEEKING OUT

An adorably cute moment with your baby can be ruined by the green-lined diaper that is hanging out of a little romper or dress. Avoid baby clothing that doesn’t completely cover those little Pampers.

TRANSITIONAL LENSES

If you typically wear glasses, wear them for your session. But if you have polarized or transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photos.

If You Are Still Reading This…

…and feel completely overwhelmed, start with one outfit—probably yours! Choose something you love and feels flattering on you, and then coordinate a few other colors and build from there.

Remember, these photos are about you, your family, and the love and connection you share! Having great outfits is the icing on the cake! If you feel comfortable and confident about how you look, you are much more likely to love your photos. I share all of this advice because I want your outfits to compliment and help make the photo, not detract from it.

Please don’t stress :) Reach out if you have any questions. Let’s document these sweet moments and preserve these memories!