It's that time of year! The days are shorter, the nights are longer, there's a nip in the air, and the season of family photos is upon us! Finding and booking a photographer is the easy part, now you're tasked with styling everyone's outfits, which is where the real panic starts to set in. You have ten tabs open, shopping four different websites for clothes, trying to mentally visualize what everyone would look like together, and... deep breaths, mama! Is styling family photos a stressful job? Yes. But we're here to make it as stress-free as possible. Read ahead for our exclusive guide on what to wear and what to avoid for your family photoshoot.
Rule #1 - Start with Mama
Moms usually put themselves last, but for family photos, you need to flip the script. Once you pick a photographer and start finding outfits, prioritize your look first. Find a piece you really love, like a great dress or a cozy knit sweater, and make that the "anchor" piece.
Take two or three colors from the print/pattern your outfit has, and use those as the color palette for the whole family. If you're wearing a white dress with a green and blue floral print, that means everyone else should be wearing white, green, or blue that matches. It's a very simple, yet effective method to find the perfect "starting point" for your family photoshoot aesthetic.
Need some inspo for your outfit? Check out our newest arrivals for women.
Rule #2 - Don't be Afraid to Mix!
Solid colors are fine for your wardrobe, but in family photos, they can look flat, boring, and dull. Different prints, patterns, and colors might sound like visual chaos (and it can be, if done incorrectly), but it's actually an incredible way to add visual depth to the photos, instantly giving them an upgraded, professional, more polished look. As long as you stick to your core anchor colors, you shouldn't have any problems!
Pro Style Tip: Having one kid in a floral print, one in gingham, one in stripes, and you in polka dots, will absolutely be visual clutter. That's why you need to experiment with ratios! Put small, delicate florals on one kid, and bold stripes on another. Another great way to balance a photo is to "flip" the outfit, giving them a solid top paired with bottoms that have a fun print or pattern. That way, your family photos won't just be everyone lined up in solid bottoms and colorful tops.
If you're searching for the perfect styles for your little ones, check out our newest arrivals for kids.
Rule #3 - The Magic of Matching
All that being said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with matching prints and patterns across different outfits for your family photos. The biggest problem we face here is trying to avoid making our kids look like twins, not siblings.
The easiest way to overcome this challenge is simple: repeat the prints and patterns over different silhouettes. That's coordination magic for family photos!
A great example: Put mom in a gorgeous floral dress. Put your baby in a bubble romper with that same floral print, and then a bowtie with the same print for your son! By doing this, you're anchoring a cohesive look for your photos. This method is especially helpful for larger families, too!
The "Please Don't List"
These are things that you should never, under any circumstances, include in your family photo aesthetic:
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Excessive Accessories: They make the photo look too busy, and every extra accessory is an extra chance that something will look out of place.
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Logos and Branding: Excessive logos and branding is visually distracting in photos. People won't look at your family, they'll look at all of the logos on your clothes. Unless your family photoshoot is "A Very Gucci Family" themed, avoid excessive logos.
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Neon and Loud Colors: Bright neon fabrics reflect color in a weird way. Aside from being an aesthetic disaster, they can make the photos look messy and pull focus away from your family.
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Uncomfortable Clothes: Obviously you're getting everyone new outfits for the family photoshoot, but they don't need to be "fresh out the box" new. Have your kids try the clothes on before the photoshoot and break them in a little bit. That way you can avoid meltdowns caused by uncomfortable, tight, itchy clothes.
You Got This!
Like I said, choosing outfits for family photos is a very stressful process, but hopefully this guide has helped you feel better about picking the perfect pieces. If you're starting from scratch and need inspo, we got you covered: We've organized an entire collection of family matching styles for you here!