What to Wear for Family Photos

What should we wear for our photo session?

It’s a question I’m often asked by my clients and I totally understand. Whenever my family is having family photos taken I’m in that exact same situation of trying to figure out outfits for all of us.

I want to start by saying wear whatever you want. This is your session and there are no rules you have to follow. You can wear whatever you want – bold patterns, clashing colours, the works.

However, if you’re looking for advice that isn’t helpful at all! So, I’m going to start with my 3 top suggestions:

• Don’t wear big label, logos, pictures on tshirts.
• Be cautious of black and navy. Too much can give the photos a heavy feel.
• Aim for colours that look nice together, but not so similar that you look like you’re wearing a uniform. You’re aiming for coordinated, but not matchy-matchy. (I talk more about this below.)

My FAQ section answers ”You want to be co-ordinated, but not matchy-matchy. Think neutrals and beautiful textures – linen, lace, denim, knits, silk – then add in some complimentary colour.” But what does that actually mean?

You want to look like you belong together, without wearing a uniform.

This could be achieved by wearing similar colour tones. Imagine those rich saturated jewel tones of burgundy, jade, mustard and navy, or how about a palette of soft gentle colours.

You can base your outfits on different shades of one colour, for example blues, mixed with neutrals. However, I’d look to adding in a few pops of something different to give it some spark.    

One of my favourite methods for creating a colour palette is starting with a pattern. If it’s from an item of clothing you would like to wear, great, but even your favourite bedspread or cushion would work. Pick out the colours in pattern, not forgetting the background colour, and use them as the basis of your outfits. For a coordinated look, you want to make sure at least some of the colours are repeated across more than one person.

I did some online shopping/browsing for a hypothetical family using this method and saved it to my Instagram Stories.

Big logos are best avoided.

Mum’s outfit can be a good place to start; something you feel comfortable and lovely wearing.

I’ve gathered a few photos on Pinterest for inspiration.

For some specific what to wear for photoshoot advice:

What to Wear if you are Plus Size

• What to wear for a Family Photo Session if you are Plus Size

• Where to find the perfect Plus Sized Dress

What to Wear for a Maternity Session

• What to wear for a Maternity Photoshoot

• Mama Rentals has some gorgeous options for hire, from petite to plus size, and they offer a discount for my clients. 

What to Wear for a Newborn Session

• Newborn Photoshoot Outfit Tips