how to style your family for family photos
we can’t ignore the fact that styling your family for photos can sometimes be the most stressful part.
now, i’m not like other photographers. I don’t tell moms they have to wear dresses, I don’t need dads to wear a button-down shirt, and I want kids to be in something they’re comfy in. I want your session to be a reflection of YOU, not me. I refuse to just copy and paste wardrobes with each family and that is why I don’t offer a client closet but I do offer consultations to help you find what’s best!
I try to encourage my clients to coordinate and complement each other rather than match. this allows each personality to shine through during your session. if dad wouldn’t normally wear a button-down, let’s find something that works better for him. if mom wouldn’t wear a floral maxi dress, don’t have her wear that.
I have tried to break it down into three easy steps for you:
pick a color palette. I always tell clients to style their family in colors they would use while decorating their homes. eventually, I hope you will print your photos and display them in your home and it will be easier to decorate when your photos work with your environment.
start by styling the person who normally has the hardest time finding something they like. by default, this is normally whoever is coordinating family photos. in my home, I start by styling myself and then build the rest of the family off of that outfit.
consider the location and the season. you can have the cutest dress in the world BUT if your session is by the water and you don’t want it to get wet, don’t wear it. if we are exploring a field in October, don’t put your 3-year-old in sandals.
styling your family doesn’t have to be expensive. nine times out of ten, you will have most of what you need in your closets already! however, if you need some suggestions, here are my favorite places to look when shopping for my own family photos.
if you have a tighter budget, H&M, Target, or Old Navy are great places to start. if you have a little more wiggle room, you can check Zara, Gap, or JCrew.
I like to shop for everyone at the same store. stores usually have seasonal collections and these collections are already coordinated, making it super easy to style everyone in the family!
in my ten years as a family photographer, I have worked with well over 400 families and these are things I have learned:
leave your Apple Watch at home. there is no reason for it and it’s big and distracting.
no logos. while a band tee can be cool, a huge Under Armor logo on your shirt is not.
neon is not it. bright colors take away from the most important part of the session - your FAMILY.
if you have long hair and short kids, keep in mind I will have you looking toward them very often. consider tying your hair back or styling it in a way that allows me to see your face.
no athletic shoes. I will ask everyone to take their shoes off if dad shows up in some New Balance sneakers.
when choosing a hat, avoid baseball caps with logos or teams on them. they cover your face and don’t add anything stylistically to your session.
still feeling stuck? you can find more inspiration by looking through full sessions on my blog OR scrolling through the boards I’ve created for my clients on Pinterest.