how to choose outfits that photograph well and look amazing together
family style guide
Planning outfits for the entire family may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be stressful! This guide is intended to give you a straightforward, time-proven process for choosing clothes that look great together, are comfortable to move around in, and won't distract from the real stars of the show (that's you!).
Feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to choose? I'm just a text or email away and would be more than happy to give you pointers or feedback!
I'M HERE TO HELP YOU LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST.
Welcome to my family style guide!
Having a color palette ensures that the colors in your outfits complement each other and look cohesive together.
Neutral and earth tones are a great place to start - they photograph well and coordinate beautifully with one another.
If you want to incorporate a pop of color, I recommend choosing deep or slightly muted tones (e.g., crimson or terracotta instead of bright red, mustard instead of lemon yellow, navy or teal instead of bright blue). Avoid super bright/saturated or neon colors, which tend to create color casts on surrounding surfaces and are more difficult to pair together.
choose a color palette
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These colors will be your best friends! Here are two foolproof formulas for choosing a color palette: 1) four neutral/earth tones, or 2) 2-3 neutral/earth tones plus 1-2 coordinating muted/deep accent tones. To see these color palettes in action, check out my Outfit Inspiration page!
my recommended colors
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Moss Green
Pale Blue
Charcoal
Warm Gray
Mint
Almond
Cadet Gray
Coffee Brown
Camel
Olive
Light Gray
Forest
Blush
Tan
Taupe
Sage
Cream
Beige
neutrals/earth tones
Emerald Green
Navy
Mustard
Rose
Burgundy
Copper
Teal
Soft Aqua
Rust
muted/deep accent tones
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Now that you've chosen your color palette, it's time to pick out styles - check out some classic ideas below! I recommend starting with mom's outfit, since women’s clothing tends to have more texture and prints.
Once you choose what mom is wearing, you can start adding each outfit one by one. You'll find that it's much easier to visualize everyone's outfits once you know what one piece looks like!
Start with mom
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- cozy sweater dress + tights
- long-sleeved midi shirt dress in deep fall tone
- fun sweater + dark jeans or suede skirt
classic outfit ideas
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women's fall/winter
women's spring/summer
- flowy midi or maxi dress in floral print or pastel
- classic shirt dress
- flutter-sleeve blouse + dark jeans
- mockneck sweater + dark jeans
- button-up + cardigan + tan/olive/gray chinos
- lightweight sweater + tan/olive/gray chinos
men's fall/winter
men's spring/summer
- chambray shirt + tan/olive/gray chinos
- solid light blue/gray button-up shirt + tan/olive/gray chinos or dark jeans
- fun sweater dress with ruffles or collar
- long sleeve tee + corduroy overall dress
- cozy sweater + dark jeans
girls' fall/winter
girls' spring/summer
- twirly sundress in a fun floral print
- chambray shirt dress
- neutral or earth-toned romper or jumpsuit
- thermal tee + olive/tan chinos (+ optional cozy vest)
- long-sleeve chambray shirt + olive/tan chinos
- cozy sweater + dark jeans
boys' fall/winter
boys' spring/summer
- short-sleeve chambray shirt + olive/tan chinos
- henley top + olive/tan chinos
- henley top + dark jeans
Shoes are often the forgotten last element, but they can really make or break your outfits! You can't go wrong with classic tan or brown leather shoes - they look classy and coordinate well with everything.
For women and girls, I recommend block-heeled or wedge sandals, flat sandals, or booties. For men and boys, I recommend dress shoes, chukka boots, or oxford sneakers.
If you or your kids need to wear sneakers, I recommend plain white or neutral canvas or leather sneakers. Steer clear of athletic sneakers and shoes with bright or distracting colors!
don't forget about shoes
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Steer clear of the following items/elements, which are distracting, look out of place, and can even create visual distortions in your photos:
- super bright or neon colors
- graphics and large logos
- hoodies and sports apparel
- athletic sneakers
- loud or busy prints/patterns
- tie-dye
- thin stripes or micro stripes
- micro check or high contrast gingham prints
things to avoid
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a special note to the men
Men's button-up and dress shirts often come in micro-stripe, micro-check, micro-plaid, and micro-texture patterns - I call these "the Four Horsemen of the Men's Shirting Apocalypse!"
PLEASE AVOID these micro patterns - while they may look nice in person, they create visual distortions in photos like nothing else!! Whenever possible, opt for a solid color shirt - you will thank me later! :)
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Try on your outfits in front of the mirror, especially if you're wearing new pieces or ones you haven't worn in a while - same goes for kids! Sizing/fit can vary wildly from brand to brand, and proper fit means less adjusting and less fussing over clothing during your session.
Both kids' and adults' clothes should allow movement and flexibility, so that we can play during your session (think running, flying, tickling, and hanging upside down). Avoid clothing that is overly tight or restrictive. For women, I recommend knee-length or midi length dresses/skirts that you can easily run, squat, and sit in. For girls, I recommend wearing shorts or bloomers underneath skirts and dresses, to prevent underwear from showing during playtime!
try everything on
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Natural light photography tends to soften the appearance of makeup, so I always recommend putting on a little more than you think you need!
To avoid looking washed-out in your photos, I recommend wearing, at a minimum: a lightweight foundation (or tinted moisturizer), mascara (on curled lashes), brow gel/pencil, a touch of blush/bronzer, and a hydrating lip product. The goal is to enhance your natural features and give a fresh, well-rested appearance. ;)
For lip color, you can't go wrong with a natural shade that's a few shades darker/pinker than your natural lip shade (tinted lip balms also work great for this!). Avoid shades that are too saturated or deep.
Check out my Pinterest board for examples of photo-friendly makeup looks across varying skin tones: https://www.pinterest.com/understitch/makeup-for-photoshoots/
For hair, some styles that photograph well are: loose waves, a volumized blow-out, or natural curls/waves with a bit of curl-defining cream.
Hair & makeup
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When it comes to jewelry in family photos, less is more! Dainty gold hoops or huggies, small sparkly studs, and delicate chain necklaces all have a timeless feel and photograph beautifully. Steer clear of loud statement pieces or anything that screams "costume jewelry."
My favorite shops for delicate gold/silver jewelry are Ana Luisa and Mejuri.
jewelry
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To see outfit combos and color palettes in action, check out my Outfit Inspiration page!
want more?
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For recommendations on where to shop for outfits, check out my Where to Shop page!
