10 Tips for What to Wear in Family Pictures

10 tips for What to Wear in Family Pictures

It’s a little overwhelming to dress the entire family for pictures and make it all look good! Since we have six, yes six, in our bunch, this can definitely be a challenge. Here are 10 tips to think about when putting your family’s outfits together for family pictures…

Related: Photo Essentials for Beginners

1. Take Some Time To Plan It Out

Think about what look and feel you want the photos to have. Go online to get inspiration. Do you want a vintage or more modern and simplistic look? Do you want to be more casual or dressy?

We usually lean towards a more casual look, so I go for clothes that are nice but have a more lived-in, timeless look. Stores like the Gap or JCPenney usually have shirts or jeans that fit the bill at reasonable prices. Or better yet, shop your closet…I often forget this one, but there may be a great outfit you’ve forgotten about…no need to buy one!

2. Pick A Color Scheme 

For family pictures, it helps to have complementary colors, so picking a color scheme you like works best. We would say 2-3 main colors (for example – tan, gray and blue or blue white and yellow), and then adding some pops of colors looks really good in photos.

If you’re planning on hanging the pictures in your home, you might find inspiration there. What colors do you decorate with? What colors make you feel good? Stores like the Gap or Old Navy are also good places to spark ideas for selecting your colors.

3. Don’t Try To Match Everyone

Sure, if you have some adorable little ones, matching can be totally cute, but usually matching everyone in the picture just doesn’t work. {hello Hawaiian shirts} The pictures can look dated as this trend has passed. For example, have some wear collared shirts, while others don’t.

If you want your photos to have character and depth then coordinate, don’t match your outfits! This also lets everyone put a little piece of their personality in the picture.

4. Go For Classic If You Can

You will have your photos hanging on your walls for years to come so keep it simple and classic to make them more timeless.

5. Think Texture And Layers

I think it adds dimension to have some texture and layering in your outfits. For the boys, that’s usually a couple of shirts – may be a plain tee under a cool checked shirt, knit sweater or vest. For the girls that could mean a skirt, shirt, sweater, tights and maybe a hair accessory. A striped scarf over a plain shirt is a great layering piece without adding too much.

6. Limit Patterns

Personally, we like to see a little pattern in the clothes we choose for photos, but too much can ruin the look altogether. For our large family a couple of the members could wear complementary patterns in varying sizes, but all would just be too much.

7. No Graphics

Your little one might love his superhero shirt, but graphics can be very distracting in a photo…just say “no” 🙂

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8. Accessories Can Add A Lot

Scarves, necklaces, hats, hair bows, and socks can also bring a lot to your images. It’s that finishing touch that brings everything together. This is also where you can add your pops of color. We usually have the girls wear a colored headband, belt, or bow that matches each other if we want to bring the color scheme altogether.

Accessory Ideas

Cute Girls Hat

Scarf for Mom

Hair Accessories

9. Lay It Out And Take A Pic

I love using this one! Laying everyone’s outfit out on the floor the way they’re going to wear them – and seeing all the colors and textures next to each other tells you a lot! It helps see the whole picture (no pun intended :).

This way you’re not guessing what it will look like in the end. Taking a picture of what you laid out is even better. You can see how the family will look without dressing everyone in their clothes or even having to be in the same room! For a busy family, this is a time and hassle saver!

This is the camera and this is the lens I use to take all my family photos and blog images. They’re inexpensive compared to some, but good enough to create beautiful pictures.

10. Consider Your Background

Where are you taking pictures?

Is it more industrial or urban…or out in nature? What you choose to wear should somewhat go with your setting. Also, if you’re taking pictures in a studio and going to use a black background, wearing black would make you disappear, so not a good idea. Same goes for white 🙂

{Bonus tip:   don’t forget the makeup!  – Yep, that’s right mom, don’t forget to think about your makeup for family pictures! And don’t be afraid to put on a little more than usual. It’s true what they say, you need a touch more makeup to make your face come to life on camera 🙂 }

Don’t forget to grab your FREE outfit ideas and color combinations for family pictures!

Putting together outfits for the whole family can be a bit of work. With these 10 easy tips for what to wear in family pictures, I’m sure you’ll all look amazing! Let me know how it goes!

 

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