Ok- you’ve booked Fall Photos for your family… now what is everyone supposed to wear?? This is the hardest part of the whole photo shoot, but I’ve got some tips to make this a little easier. What you wear for your photos plays a huge part in how your final images turn out. So read along, and start planning those outfits!

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Colors

Create a color palette for your family photos. Choose two or three colors and incorporate them throughout your outfits in varying patterns, solids, and layers. Pro tip: Consider the type of photographs you’re drawn to. Soft colors lend themselves to a light and airy look (think neutrals, earth tones and pastels). Prefer something bolder? Warm, rich color tones may be a better fit (think jewel tones).

Neutrals work for every season. They keep skin tones looking true to life and help to minimize harsh color casts on your skin. This doesn’t mean you avoid color altogether, but incorporating some neutrals (beiges, creams, soft grays etc.) is a great place to start. Pro tip: Add texture! Mixing up fabrics is a smart strategy to add dimension to your overall look. A simple cotton shirt is a good start, but adding things like knits, silks, lace, a chunky sweater, etc. can add a beautiful warmth to the images.

Styling Mom

It’s always a good idea to start with one outfit and build off of that. I always recommend for Mom to choose her outfit first. Moms, choose something that you love to wear and that you feel great in! It should be comfortable and easy to move it. (Pro Tip- long dresses are amazing in photos!) Once you decide on your outfit, you have started a color palette and you can begin to style everyone else.

For the Kids

Now that mom has her outfit chosen, you have a base color to work with when choosing what the kids will wear. To give your photos more interest, try not to dress kids in matchy matchy outfits. Coordinating colors are fine, or different shades of the same color works great too. Make sure that your kids try on their clothes before the day of the photos to ensure they fit properly. Poorly fitting clothes can lead to an uncomfortable kid, and that will reflect in your photos. If you have littles in diapers, don’t forget the diaper cover or bloomers. Nobody wants diapers peeking out in your family photos. Make sure that your kids have clean faces when you arrive to your photo shoot.

I love to recommend that parents of littles bring a small bribe (like gummies or a marshmallows). Keep it a secret, and only break it out if things get dicey! Usually this is not needed during my photo sessions, but occasionally a little reinforcement helps to get that perfect photo that we all want!

What to Avoid

Neon colors can reflect on to your skin and give your skin tone a weird color cast, so aim for more neutral soft colors. Make sure that you choose something that doesn’t have to be constantly adjusted. You do not want to be worrying about this during your photos. Make sure that you do not have cell phones in your pockets, or hair bands on your wrist. I always try to catch this, but occasionally I may not see it! And, this is a personal preference, but I recommend removing Apple Watches. Technology changes so quickly, so best to leave it out of your photos for a timeless image.

Hair and Nails

Okay, so I know this one isn’t outfit specific, BUT it’s worth mentioning. Haircuts, nails and day-of services are all things to think about! If you’ll look back at your photos and wish you had your roots done or that your littles had fresh haircuts, get those salon appointments on the calendar before session day. Freshen up your manicure or make sure that nail polish is removed. Plan to do a bit more than your usual makeup application for your family photography session. Better yet, treat yourself to hair and make-up services!

Most Important

Plan ahead! Give yourself time to plan outfits and make sure everyone is happy with what they are wearing. This will make the day of your photos much easier and more enjoyable.

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If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:

Fall Mini Sessions in Birmingham, Alabama

Children’s Portraits in Birmingham, Alabama

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