How to Style Your Family Session, Idaho Family Photographer
Once you have booked your family session it's crunch time on deciding on outfits and colors. Don't stress as an East Idaho Family Photographer - I have you covered. I put together four tips on putting outfits together.
Whether you are styling two people or five these four tips will guide you in what to pick and what to wear to your family photo session.
Tip #1 PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST
This is going to be the best thing you can do, pick your outfit first. Really. Choose what you want to wear, you being comfortable is so important. It can be overwhelming trying to pick a bunch of outfits for everyone in the family.
You’ll feel most relaxed AND confident if you pick out your clothes first and wear something you love and feel great in. So, start with your own clothes, shoes and accessories, and then you can pick everyone else’s.
Pull the "best" from everyone's closet simultaneously and see what coordinates well togethers. Starting point: your own closet.
Tip #2 CHOOSE COORDINATING OUTFITS
You don't want everyone to match exactly, don't have everyone in the same color shirt. You want to coordinate outfits. Make this easier for yourself by choosing up to three colors for your "color theme." This will help you stay focused on just those three colors.
Three colors doesn't mean the same shades over and over, mix it up with lighter and/or darker blues, greens, neutrals, whichever you are choosing are your colors. Try to stick to a certain theme (like neutrals, or cool tones, or grays and whites), but don’t overthink it. You don't one child in a bright pink sundress and another in a lime colored shirt. Balance.
Tip #3 SUBTLY MIX IN TEXTURES & PATTERNS
You don't have to go overboard but you should add in textures and patterns to add dimension. Less is more. You may feel more comfortable with everyone wearing a solid colored shirt but let's mix is up with a few patterns and textures.
Think of blending complementary tones, textures, and patterns: a cream linen dress on you, tan corduroy overalls with a white cotton long-sleeve tee underneath on your little boy, and your hubby in a sage henley with nice jeans. Definitely steer clear of any clothing with characters, brand names, logos, or words printed on them. Simple, clean, and comfortable is best here!
Tip #4 DON'T FORGET ACCESSORIES
When it comes to accessories remember your shoes. I have a 10-year-old son and his go-to for shoes are usually something bright. That may not be in the "color theme." Also consider your environment of where your session is. You may in photographing the session in a dessert area where closed toed shoes are best for little children.
Coordinating Outfits for Family Photos
Picking out family outfits for photos can be a huge stress. You don't know what to shirts go together and if a certain pattern goes or not. It is a lot "easier" than we think, I promise. I put together four tips on styling your family photos this year.
Set out the outfits prior to the session. This will help you visualize what everyone looks like together before you wear it. Don't hesitate recycling other clothes, you don't always need to purchase new outfits. You probably have a basic white tee your son or husband can wear already, or a pair of shoes that will work. Shoes are important as well.
Start with your own outfit first and add one outfits for other family members. No matter what you pick out, being comfortable is the main factor. If you aren't comfortable you will be able to see in the photos. So be comfortable.
1. Pop - I love when the kids kind of pop with more colors and patterns. Hailey and husband both wore lighter shirts allowing the adorable plaid shirt their son is wearing really making him pop. This was the best little spring session, the colors were really beautiful especially with the morning light we shot in. This is still one of my favorite photos.
2. Color Theme - Choose a color This color is going to be your "base." Chelsea chose blue. She added different shades of blues or patterns of blue. I love the one color but different patterns and shades. She added gray which was a nice compliment to the chosen blues and the gray itself wasn't too dark. You never want everyone in all black or all white.
3. Mix and Match - Don't feel like everything and everyone has to match. Mix and match with textures, patterns other elements. Tabitha used two colors and used a variety of shades and it worked well together. Her dress was a deep shade, her son's lighter colored shirt was a great balance for her daughter's pink dress.
4. Blending - Don't hesitate to blend together. Blend different patterns to someone else. Courtney wore the same pattern in her tank of her daughter's dress. I love because it's not overpowering and she breaks it up with her pop of color in her sweater, neutralizes it with her husband's dark shirt and brings it together her the jean jacket on her daughter.
Where to shop for family photos
If you planning on purchasing some new outfits for family photos, I pulled three of my favorites right from Love Olive Co. They carry women's clothing and have a a great variety of trendy jeans, flowy dresses and a nice variety of blouses.
See their whole collection HERE.
Use my code ANNETTELEWIS20 at checkout and save 10% off.
Tell me what color are you planning for this year? I would love to know. Comment below!
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