Family Photo Style Guide

If you’re trying to figure out what to wear for fall family photos (or family photos any time of the year), you’ve come to the right place! After almost a decade of photographing Pittsburgh families, here are my top tips:

1) Start with Mom!

If you want to love your photos, make sure YOUR outfit is not an afterthought. Find a time to go shopping by yourself (or pick something you already love from your closet). When trying on outfits, ask yourself “does this make me feel confident?” Pick something that fits your body well and doesn’t require constant adjustments. (If you’re chasing after young kids, you’ll totally forget to hide that bra strap or pull down that skirt…so pick something that doesn’t require you to fuss.) If you find something with a print or texture, that’s a great starting place for picking other outfits, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is picking an outfit that gives you confidence. (And although I love dresses in photos, if you’re not a dress-girl, don’t try to force that look for photos.)

2) Select a Color Palette

For a cohesive look in a family/group, I recommend choosing a general color palette rather than identical outfits. You already have YOUR outfit selected, so you can work off of that! A popular example of a color palette could be soft blues and neutrals.

I like to include at least 1 print; this helps tie the color palette together. If you have multiple prints, I recommend selecting prints that vary in style and scale/size (ie- a larger plaid and a small floral). When mixing prints, I also recommend using prints that have a different base color.

If possible, consider mixing in a garment that has some texture (like waffle or knit). This adds in some visual interest and complexity without overwhelming the color scheme.

3) Make Sure Clothes Fit Well

The clothes that give us confidence are the ones that fit us well. I recommend picking outfits that don’t require constant adjustments so that you can can relax and enjoy photos fully!

This applies to kids too! I know it’s tempting to buy fall clothes in the size a kid is about to grow into, but that often leaves us with sweater sleeves that swallow hands and too-big shoes that cause kids to trip or complain.

If your kids are young enough to be held, consider what their outfit will look like when you’re holding them. These are the outfits moms regret later:

-Overalls that ride up every time a toddler is picked up.

-Those adorable sleeve ruffles that cover your daughter’s smile when she’s sitting on your hip.

-Vests on babies that pop up and hide their chin.

-Mini skirts/dresses on girls (like those adorable corduroy ones) that never look right when the child is being held.

I’m not saying you can’t pick these items! But I would definitely take these things into consideration for kids that will be held for some of the photos.

4) Dress for the Weather

Shivering kids tend to be unhappy kids, and unhappy kids don’t photograph well. You can usually get a general weather forecast 10 days out, so even if the temperatures are unseasonably cold, try to layer up to avoid everyone looking cold! (And not all layers have to be visible - you can put 2 pairs of tights on your daughter or put a long sleeve shirt under your son’s sweater.) If you have an outdoor session in the morning, pay closer attention to the forecasted low than the forecasted high. And remember that mornings can be dewy, so shoes may get wet, depending on the location you’ve chosen.

5) Avoid Red

Bright red and super saturated pinks are known for casting a pinkish/reddish hue onto the nearest victim. Lifestyle photography is full of cuddly shots, so mom’s red sweater will make that precious toddler’s face look very…well, red. If your entire family shows up in red, I’ll never say a thing. But if you’re asking for tips…avoid red (at least the bright kind). Bright, saturated pink and most neons have a similar affect.

6) Don’t Forget Footwear

Shoes can easily become an afterthought, but unless you’re wanting barefoot shots, you’re definitely going to see them! So make sure everyone has suitable shoes that fit. (And if you’re wanting to go barefoot, just make sure you’ve chosen a park that doesn’t have a lot of geese…)

7) Temporary Tattoos

Do your kids have temporary tattoos up and down their arms? If yes…do you WANT those in photos? If yes, then I’m totally fine with that! If not, try nail polish remover on a cotton ball…takes temporary tattoos off in an instant. I understand that nail polish remover isn’t a gentle skincare product, and you’re welcome to use whatever you’d like! But if you get desperate…

8) Text Your Photographer!

My clients are always welcome to send me pictures, if they want a second opinion on outfits!

Here are a few examples of families who totally nailed it!

(And I’ll even give you their classic smiling shot so you can really see all the outfits clearly)

Mom’s dress is perfection! It’s a fall print but short sleeves for a slightly warmer day. The other family members are wearing colors that all tie into the print in the dress. Both kids have outfits with a little bit of texture too. It comes together just beautifully and sits perfectly against the fall leaves at Mellon Park!

The little girl’s dress perfectly ties in all the navy and even the green in the other outfits. If you look closely, mom’s dress even has a subtle texture that adds a bit of depth. Hartwood Acres is a perfect spot to go a little dressy, and they look fantastic!

I love how this family used multiple patterns, but the patterns *complimented* each other. They are completely different patterns (plaid vs stripes) and they have different base colors (navy vs cream). And then the other 2 family members wore a color from one of those patterns, so it feels really cohesive.

Here we have 3 family members in neutrals, but the eldest daughter is wearing a print that adds complexity to the combination and ties everything together. I love that the youngest daughter has hair bows that tie into the print in her sister’s dress. Even the gold shoes the kids are wearing match mom’s buttons! And the texture in the youngest child’s outfit as well as mom’s shirt adds a little more depth. It comes together for this really lovely and soft fall look.