What to Wear for Your Family Photos

So, you've booked your family photo shoot.  What the heck are you all going to wear?!  While it can seem a daunting task - or an unnecessary one to some - planning your family's outfits for pictures is both simple AND important.

Nothing can ruin family photos more than horrible, clashing outfits.  Most families don't have lavish designer wardrobes or the disposable income to go out and buy new outfits just for pictures.  That's fine - you don't need to!  Dressing your family for pictures is simple and whatever you have in your closets - if planned correctly - can come out looking amazing.  Just follow these suggestions:

1. Don't wear brands, screen prints or patterns.  Think simple, solid colors.  If you have more than one pattern in the shot, it becomes very unpleasing to the eye, and a screen printed t-shirt or a big Under Armour "X" is tacky for this situation.  The focus should be on you and your faces, not your shirt.  If ONE or maybe even two people want to wear a pattern, that is okay and can even be a great accent, provided the two patterns are the same and the colors coordinate with everyone else.
2. Again - think solid colors.
3. No hats - especially ball caps.
4. Don't all wear the same color.  A FAR better way to match is to wear different colors in the same color family or create a nice color scheme.  Read on for color schemes that I have personally designed for your inspiration!
5. Try to avoid black & white - especially as main colors.  If you want neutrals, go for grays or browns.  Blacks and whites create bigger challenges in post-processing (i.e., editing) and are much more difficult to expose for properly. "Middle neutrals" (gray) will look much better!
6. Dress for the season.  Don't show up sleeveless or in hot pink for a winter photo shoot. 
7. Layer - and differently.  Don't all wear shorts, or all wear jackets, or all wear scarves, etc. etc. etc. Change it up.
8. Try to avoid tennis shoes.
9. Choose either casual or dressy - for the whole family.  You can't have mom & dad dress to the nines while the kids have shorts & t-shirt on.

This simple list can easily be followed without spending any money!  Even t-shirts can look nice as long as they are a solid color.  While it's easy & brainless to match by all wearing the same color, remember - the better way to match is by coordinating colors in a family or scheme. 

 I have provided some examples below to help you plan.  Please use this as a resource and share with your friends who have family photos coming up and need some inspiration!  Enjoy.