How to Pick Outfits for Family Photos || Arkansas Family Photographer
When it comes to family photos I think every family gets just a bit confused, nervous, anxious, or maybe all three about having to choose what everyone is going to wear! It’s true that your clothes can really add or take away from the final product of your photos. Let me tell you what I mean.
If you are wanting photos where your family is the central point, you will need to leave the bold patterns at home. Why? Well, think of it like this! When you see a beautiful wedding dress that is both classic, new, and something that grabs your attention what do you first see? It’s the wedding dress! Do you ever even look at the model? Usually we do as a secondary thought, but it is the DRESS that got your attention.
For the purpose of a fashion magazine, that is exactly what the photographer, editor, and the audience wants! But for family photos? You want the first look to go to the people in the photo. Your outfits you choose encourage you to look at the people instead because of how well they flow together! I know this all sounds great, but practically how can you do this?
First you are going to think about where you are taking photos! If you are headed downtown with a lot of mixed colors of flowers, buildings, sky, and multiple lighting scenarios you are going to want a more neutral outfit. It is going to help you stand out, rather than blend in with all of the color around you! If you are in a lush green field in the summer time you do not want to wear green. You will blend in so fast and get easily lost. This is when the creams, whites, soft yellows, baby blues, and even light pinks come into play! Now your outfit actually makes the background work with you instead of against you. This one may come as a surprise, but fall photos are still neutral! Why? If you are taking photos with vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges all around you and you come to your session wear reds, yellows, and oranges you will not only blend in but the color from your clothes will reflect off your face! My favorite fall outfits are deeper color palettes with hunter green, cream, dark blue, gray, and blacks. Now I am also a fan of using the traditional fall colors as an accent layer rather than an entire outfit.
Now that we know colors, who do you start with? Always start with mom figuring out what she is going to wear first! Most husbands can throw on an easy gray, chambray, or neutral sweater, but mom? She needs to know what she is going to feel confident, comfortable, and excited to be in! After mom figures of what she will be wearing we go to the kids. Kids should be in coordinating outfits rather than totally matching. This can be to each child’s comfort, what they will actually wear without anything itching, and then you can always send to me for a sign off! Husbands? They are usually pretty easy with a nice dark denim or khaki and a shirt he won’t complain too much about wearing.
Through all of this I am here to help you, give ideas, and sign off for outfits! Trust me, I have FaceTimed many moms in their kid’s closet to pull outfits, and even brought my own kid’s clothing for an outfit! Outfits really do make or break your photos. I hope this was helpful for you! Ready for your family session? Click below to start chatting!
