what to wear for your family photos

wondering what to wear for your family pics? today, i’m sharing some quick tips for looking your best on camera.

the goal: showcase each person’s individual style, while visually supporting the close connection that you share.

color: instead of choosing a color palette, choose a family of color tones. my personal favorites are neutrals, pastels, and earth tones. if you want to go more bold, jewel tones are nice, but avoid overly bright/saturated colors which can throw off your natural skin tone on camera.

pattern: mix and match any pattern(s) you like within the same family of tones. if you decide on more than one pattern, be sure to have contrast. pair a large print with a smaller floral print. pair two matching floral prints in different colors. florals + stripes or dots. avoid finely woven stripes/plaids (like the ones commonly found on mens dress shirts). when photographed with a high resolution camera, those fine stripes appear like a wavey pattern called moire.

accessories: family photos are the perfect opportunity to go bold with accessories, such as jewelry, hats, and hair accessories. if you aren’t sure, bring a bunch of options with you to your session. we can photograph several different looks, leaving you with lots. of different options to choose from for the final product.

makeup: if you plan to wear makeup for your session, matte finishes look best on camera. shiny metallics, and the ever so popular highlighter powders can cause reflections that are amplified on camera, resulting in colorless white spots on camera.

other things that show up on camera: chipping nail polish, remnants of paint, marker or old temporary tattoos. hair elastics worn on the wrist, and smart phones in pockets.

shoes: often times an after thought, shoes that don’t match can be a big distraction. especially kids shoes which are seemingly only available in bright colors. they don’t need to be expensive, but I do recommend that they be well fitting and in a non-distracting color (neutral, tan beige etc.) this will help keep the visual focus of your images on the connection you share. <3