What to Wear...
and not to wear
I get it!
Deciding how to dress yourself and your family for a photo shoot can be really stressful. Professional photography is an investment and you will be looking at these pictures for the rest of your life. The last thing you want is to regret your wardrobe choices. It is true that you should take some time to choose well-coordinated outfits, but that doesn't have to equal stress. Here is a quick guide that will hopefully help you get started!
Start with mom.
Choose something that makes you look and feel great, mama! Your daughter's outfits come next, then your sons, and save dad for last. Use mama's outfit as a jumping off point. Think about complementary colors, pull possibilities out of closets (or Amazon bags *wink, wink*), and lay all of your options down on a bed together. Try different combinations until you find one that makes your eyes happy.
Consider your backdrop.
If your shoot is going to be outside in a natural area such as a park, there will likely be a lot of green in your picture already. Dressing your family members in a green color scheme may not be the best idea. A similar concept applies for busy backgrounds such as city streets; simplify your clothing so you don't get lost in the picture.
Colors.
Neutral colors, muted tones, and earth tones are always your friends! In the fall and winter, jewel tones and rich colors look beautiful. Always avoid neons and bright colors. Try not to choose too much black or bright white. A quick search of seasonal color pallets on Google or Pinterest will give you many ideas for colors that complement each other. Literally type this is in: "___ (the season)___ family photo color palette". And VOILA!
Patterns.
Long gone are the days that it is recommended for families to be matching with their jeans and white shirts! Do not be afraid to dress in complementary colors, textures, and subtle prints. It is generally best, though, to limit prints to 1 or 2 people depending on your family size (use the different colors in the print to find complementary clothing for the rest of the family.)
Women.
Consider long flowy dresses or fitted tops tucked into long skirts. The movement of a long dress accentuates your femininity for the camera. Ankle or riding boots, jean jackets, and wide-brimmed hats are always winners. Things to think about: can you bend over and pick up your kids in your outfit and stay decent? If you are dancing around and playing in this outfit, is there anything that you are going to have to adjust over and over? Things to avoid: strapless tops, short dresses/skirts, low cut tops, low rise jeans, pony tail holders on your wrist, and neon colors.
Men.
Men look great in well-fitted jeans, chino pants or shorts, and a nice henley or button up shirt. Dressing men (and boys) in texture, like a great sweater or a linen shirt, adds dimension and warmth to your photos. If you're wearing a long sleeve button up, go ahead and roll those sleeves up to your elbows. And don't forget to wear some leather shoes, boat shoes, or something that highlights your personality, like vans. Stay away from: plaids (please!!!!) and stripes, baggy clothes, branded clothing, tennis shoes, cargo shorts, and phones or keys in your pockets.
Children.
Children are the star of the show and should be dressed as such! Do not be afraid to dress your kiddos to their personality. Consider suspenders, hats, headbands/bows, high-tops, twirly skirts and dresses, etc. Please say no to: visible diapers or underwear (always use diaper covers or bike shorts under dresses), characters on clothing and shoes, and neon colors.
Be Comfortable.
All of those other tips aside, this is the most important thing: that you are comfortable in what you are wearing and that you are authentic to who you are. If you're not, it will show in your photos. If it is not your personality to wear what I recommended above, then by all means dress to your personality. You will be far happier looking back at your photos in years to come if you looked like yourself!