Is deciding on what to have your family wear for photos stressing you out? It can be so hard to try and start from scratch on what everyone should wear. Especially if you don’t have a good idea of what you want. It can be so overwhelming. As a family photographer I’ve seen so many outfit and styling choices and I have observed the ones that look amazing and also, the ones that don’t really go together. My goal is to equip you for styling your family session so you don’t have to stress anymore! Here are my top three tips on styling your family session. Let’s dive in!
Tip 1: Choose your Aesthetic
I know, I know… Aesthetic can kind of be a hated word! But hear me out, you need to figure out where you’re going before you can get anywhere. So, figure out if you want a casual feel or a formal feel, country or city, etc. I send each of my clients a session styling guide, this walks them through choosing what feel they want for their photos to help them have a destination for figuring out what everyone needs to wear.
Below I have a few examples of what choosing your aesthetic actually looks like! There is no right or wrong choice, it is simply what your family prefers.
Tip 2: Choose Patterns and Colors Carefully
Patterns and color on clothing makes a HUGE impact on how your photos turn out! So, now that you have your aesthetic picked out it’s time to get into what your family is actually going to wear. Solids with texture on the fabric is a big YES, especially when you have a lot of outfits you’re trying to fit together. Chose one or two colors that go well together and then choose outfits based on that. Remember, you can chose different shades of the color as well. If you have a brighter color you will want to have a balancing color as well, that would be a more muted or neutral color such as tan or grey.
Now to the Patterns part, if everyone has a pattern on their shirt/dress it would be way too overwhelming! So, pick one or two people to have a pattern (if you’re a group of three or less just one person should wear a pattern) and then try to stick with solids and texture to give interest. Here’s some example photos for ya.
Tip 3: Location
Alright, you’re basically set to go plan your family session, except for a few things. Location makes an impact on your photos so I’d like to address that really quickly. Your photographer should have locations in mind that match what look you’re going for, but it can help if you have an idea of what you want as well. If you’re going for a classy upscale look, you’ll want to avoid things like a graphited wall, old buildings etc. If you’re going for a casual look, definitely include your truck, barn, creek etc. If you want a city look, hit up the top level of a parking garage, downtown, your favorite ice cream shop, etc. Things like a flower field, old dirt road, or pasture can be a great pick because nature typically fits with whatever feel you’re going for!
Alrighty, I hope you feel prepared to plan your family session now! These are just a few quick tips, and I hope you found them helpful. As I have said before, each of my clients that book with me receive a guide on styling their session. Please don’t hesitate if you have questions for me when you book, I’m here to serve my clients in the best way possible! Happy family session planning!
Here are some other posts you may be interested in reading:
The Teeter Family Session – https://amandajoyphotography.net/2024/08/26/sweet-country-family-session/
5 Tips for Planning Your Senior Session – https://amandajoyphotography.net/2022/03/23/5-tips-for-planning-your-senior-session/s
