We’re all booked and ready to go and now the age old question- what should we wear? Here are a few tips as you prepare for your session.
#1 Start with the most difficult person to style
There is usually one person in the family who has either strong personal tastes- or may be a little more difficult to style for whatever reason. For example, a few years ago, that was me! I started by planning my own outfit and then we built the rest of the family’s outfits from there. This year, with a pre-teen, our daughter has stronger opinions of what she’d like to wear than I do. So this year, we started with her.
Embrace individuality! Instead of forcing kiddos to conform, embrace their individual flair! Less stress and the kids will be happier. For our own family photos, this meant letting my son wear his “comfy pants” as opposed to khakis or jeans.
Photo by Autumn Aguiar Photography
#2 Choose a color palette of 3 colors
Choose colors that complement each other. For fall and winter I love jewel tones paired with some warm neutrals. If you are having a hard time choosing a colors, choose ONE patterned piece- this could be a shirt, dress, scarf, etc. Pull the colors for all other pieces from this pattern. You may want to consider where you plan to display the photo in your home; what colors will complement your home design?
A great example of choosing colors from one pattern.
#3: Consider the background and the weather
Consider what colors and clothing will complement the setting for your photos. For example, if you’re headed to a Christmas tree farm, choosing lots of green may not be the best idea. Think about complementing colors, instead of blending in. Dress for the weather! Everyone will look more natural if you’re warm and comfortable.
A warm and cozy family!
#4 Play with textures
Textures add some visual interest to your photos. Examples include tweed, denim, and wool. Fall is a perfect season to play with textures!
#5 Footwear
After all this planning, don’t forget the footwear! Shoes don’t have to be fancy or expensive, but do consider how your footwear complements your outfit.
I love the purple and grey combination, the layering, and also the footwear!
Top 5 things to avoid
Multiple patterns
Solid black and solid white tops
Too many colors
Shirts with lots of graphics, logos, or writing
Lots of classic red
Struggling? Feel free to email or text me outfit choices and we can talk styling together!