What to wear at your family photography session
As a photographer, I frequently encounter questions from clients about what to wear and how to dress for family photography sessions. With over a decade of experience both capturing and participating in family portraits, I've amassed a wealth of insight to share. Join me as I impart some invaluable tips and tricks to ensure that your family photography session is not only beautiful but also effortlessly enjoyable.
Tip One: Create a Neutral Base and Combine with one or two accent colors
Start by planning your color scheme. When it comes to selecting clothing for family photography sessions my number one rule is to start with a neutral color palette. To make this easy start with your base color - this color should be solid and weaved throughout.
Neutral tones encompass a spectrum of colors, including grays, beiges, whites, and blacks. You can never go wrong with neutrals. I have made my neutral based for my own family photographs beige and grays in the past.
The second step is to come up with an accent color or two. I would avoid more than two accent colors, as this can get too busy in photographs. This is where the fun comes in. I often suggest refer to this as a color pop. With my own family the year our base color was gray I included the color pop of red. For the holidays this looked awesome. In the above photography the kiddos have the neutral beiges, and mom is wearing the color pop purple.
Lastly, and this is very important avoid more than one or two family members wearing patterns. Patterns done correctly integrate the colors all the colors of the color palette. When a pattern does this it brings the whole palette and makes for a strong composition - like with the mama in these photographs. However, a word of caution if more than one or two family members are wearing patterns, or patterns that do not reflect the color palette the combination becomes too busy and unaesthetic.
Top Pro Tip: Pinterest is a treasure trove of inspiration, featuring countless palettes and examples illustrating how to integrate colors across various clothing articles among family members. I've personally relied on it to streamline the planning process for my own family photo sessions, saving myself the headache of navigating it all alone.
Tip Two: Consider Your Comfort
This is Colorado Y’all - it’s colorful, it’s scenic and it is nature country. Colorado is filled with golden fields, shaded creeks, wooded hillsides and redrock faces. All the locations I suggest are on trailheads and we definitely go off trail. Therefore, know we will be traversing rocks, cacti, and tall grass which is important to consider when determining your outfits.
I believe in comfort, looking and feeling relaxed. The best photographs come from you feeling like yourself and feeling comfortable. It is important that you choose the aesthetic that is the most you and if that includes heels - then bring heels!
Top Pro Tip - I am a heel girl - even on trails. I would suggest if you want to wear heels that you bring sneakers and you can switch between the two.
Tip Three: Consider the Season and Weather
Living in Colorado means embracing its dynamic seasons. Boulder, Colorado, especially, can surprise you with a snowy morning that transitions into a warm, sunny afternoon during springtime. And in the summer - we can go from hot mornings to seasonal evening thunderstorms. In Colorado we work with mother nature!
Considering these unpredictable weather patterns is absolutely crucial when it comes to outfit planning for a photography session. That's why I'm a firm believer in the power of layering, especially when you have little ones in tow. Picture this: jackets that can be slipped on between shots or a cozy blanket to keep kiddos snug during breaks in the session.
For late fall, spring, and winter sessions, it's all about staying warm without sacrificing style. Think thermal tights layered under jeans for extra insulation. And in the summer months, lightweight cardigans are a lifesaver - easy to throw on when needed (it can be a little windy) and just as easy to set aside when the sun comes out in full force.
Top Pro Tip - In the winter - I advocate for having outwear as part of your photography session. If you plan to have coats then you have given yourself the luxury of staying warn and having a beautiful image. I have several different style over coats that can work with outfits - for instance pea coats and sherpa lined western jackets. I can look fashionable and be warm.
Expect the Unexpected
I love recounting this story because it's a reminder to keep everything in perspective. Imperfection is part of the adventure! As a mom, I can attest that no matter how meticulously I plan, the unpredictability of kiddos adds both joy and chaos to life.
Over the years, family portraits have become a tradition for us. One particular year, a fellow photographer and I decided to swap family sessions. Ironically, we both ended up scheduling our sessions too late in the season (busy moms, am I right? LOL).
When it was my turn for our family photoshoot, I was like any other mom - I meticulously selected cute outfits, laid them out in advance to ensure they coordinated perfectly, and even splurged on new everything, right down to the shoes and scarves.
On the big day, I found myself rushing around, helping my daughters with their hair, tights, and shoes. I entrusted my husband with our toddler, who, being still in diapers and grappling with sensory processing issues, sometimes made getting ready a challenge.
Despite our efforts, chaos ensued. As we rushed to the location of our photo sessions, one of my favorite locations, we were running late - a cardinal sin, especially for a photographer like me. Upon arrival, I was struck with panic as I realized my son's pants were nowhere to be found. Cue the inevitable moment when I turned to my husband, only to discover that he had inadvertently left them at home!
With limited options, we had to improvise. I wrapped my son in a blanket and held him for every picture. But you know what? The show had to go on, and while the situation wasn't ideal, I ended up cherishing the resulting photographs and the unforgettable story they now hold.
This experience taught me two valuable lessons. Firstly, while it's essential to plan and coordinate outfits, it's equally important to be prepared for the unexpected. And secondly, we have to embrace the imperfection! Now looking back I love telling this story - I love the comedy of the moment and the photographs were fantastic!
