Coordinating family photos can feel like a chore, but it definitely doesn't need to be!
Here are 3 EASY tips to follow when choosing family photo outfits:
1. Coordinate; don't match.
This is probably the easiest starter. Do NOT feel like you need to wrangle everyone into the same color. Instead, focus on a color scheme that coordinates well. This might mean everyone chooses two out of three colors to wear. If you decide your color scheme is denim, plum, and black, some of your family may choose black + plum while others wear Plum+denim. Trust me, this ends up looking great!
The Castic family nailed this concept for their fall photoshoot! With a mix of denim, green, white, and tan, they found a coordinated look that doesn't feel too matchy. If you count, you'll notice that in this family of 6: only 3 wore green, 3 wore tan, 3 wore white, and all wore denim. This type of coordination really lends itself to a polished, planned look, without added stress as not every member of the family needs an outfit in the exact same shade!
2. Opt for neutrals or muted tones.
Most photographers are a big fan of neutrals, and for good reason. Bright colors can reflect onto your face, leaving you green-tinted or unusually red. In rich, moody edits like mine, bright primary colors can limit my freedom to be creative in post-production.
Earth tones and neutrals are classic, giving your photos a universal feel that will match every room of your house. For more color, I particularly love when clients choose rich, deep shades like Navy, Burgundy, Burnt Orange, and Forest Green. Lighter, Brighter colors like Blue and Pink shine best when they are muted or pastels!
The Hardy family did an awesome job on this one. They chose a lot of neutrals as base pieces, working in a beautiful transition between green and teal. The brighter colors are muted enough to not distract, but bright enough to bring their photos to life, and to draw your attention right to their precious kiddos.
3. Pick a central piece--and build from there.
There are a lot of ways to go about this step, but it's still fairly simple. Find the person in your family most excited to dress up for family photos. Let them pick their favorite outfit and build from there. This is a fun time to pull out your favorite dress, or to even do a little shopping. Then, once you have one outfit determined, see what the rest of the family has to coordinate with it, and only buy pieces you need to complete the look!
For example, say you find this cashmere sweater dress, and decide that you will be "stealing" this outfit!
From there, try to give every family member an article of clothing that matches a part of the outfit. Maybe dad wears Black jeans. The boys have khaki pants. The daughter has a tan cardigan. Fill in the blanks with a complementary color--Navy, Emerald, or Burgundy, perhaps--and you have a coordinated outfit built from one central look!
That's what the Malachowski family did, and they pulled together a lovely neutral look at the last minute. The daughter chose her favorite sundress, and then the family mixed in white, black, and denim throughout. They coordinated beautifully.
Still not sure exactly what to wear? I am totally happy to help boost your confidence and answer any questions as needed! Once you book your family session, feel free to reach out for styling advice!
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