tips.

1. Choose your palette first. Pick a palette of 2-3 colors. Let this be your starting place. Think in terms of tones: rust tones, blue tones, earth tones, neutrals, etc. Everyone in the family can express their own sense of style within the chosen color palette, and the whole group will coordinate beautifully.

2. Don’t match. Coordinate. You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together. I find that if everyone is wearing the same exact clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won’t be too much pop and life to the images. If two people are wearing the same color, choose different shades/tones to break it up.

3. Use muted colors. Muted tones look beautiful together in a family picture. When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t pull attention away from the main subjects, and only put one or two people in a pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, and knits.

4. Layering. One of my favorite “tips” for clothing choices! In the summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off, but during all of the other seasons, layer your outfits! Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo, but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses.

5. Fit your style to your location. Studio sessions tend to have classic, neutral backdrop colors. Dress up a bit with a pair of cute heels and a fancier dress than you’d normally wear for a more formal look, or choose something a bit more casual such as a maxi dress and opt for casual footwear like flat sandals or boots.

6. Keep make up and tans natural. You will want to avoid using very heavy makeup, but a bit of color on your lips, eyes, and cheeks will help bring you to life in photos. Be sure to bring some lip gloss with you as well for touch ups as there may be lots of smooches in story from your partner and little ones! Also, avoid spray tans; your skin will come out orange in your pictures!

7. Be timeless For some fashionistas, this may be a difficult concept, however, you are going to want these images to stand the test of time. Pick outfits that aren’t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come.

8. Plan ahead. Make sure you have given yourself enough time to think about all of the details of your session. Plan ahead so that: 1. you can truly think about your photos and everything you want out of the session, 2. you aren’t rushing and stressing out right before your session, and 3. if you have decided to go for a new look for your session or someone gets a bad haircut, you still have time to fix things if you need to.

9. Change outfits. If time allows it, bring another set of outfits. Again, you will get a lot more variety in your shots, so why not capitalize on the opportunity and get the most bang for your buck?!

10. Shop at the same store. Make coordinating family photo outfits easy by shopping at the same store or brand. It’s especially helpful when there are multiple children to dress.

11. Accessorize! Accessories give your photographs that needed punch! They lend pops of color, personality, and interest. Everybody wears them well and they work for all ages! Scarves and hats count, too!