How to Style Your Family Outfits For A Photo Session The Right Way.

This is one of the biggest and most stressful part of getting ready and organized for any family portraits. Family photos are moments saved in time that will be cherished forever. So when it comes to what we wear make sure you plan ahead. Wether you're taking the pictures yourself or a professional photographer, it's important to know what you plan on doing with your pictures. Are you planning on having them printed to update your portraits at home? Will you be sending them as post cards to share with families? Is this for social media content to share for your business pages/website? These are the first things you should consider before choosing out your outfits. I have listed below quick simple tips to plan out your outfits for your next photo session.

1. Plan in advance don't procrastinate, that just causes unneeded stress for yourself and your family.

2. Choose one outfit you absolutely love. Wether it be yours, your child or hubby, just pick one that you would love to be captured for portraits. Then base everything else around that one outfit using coordinating colors. Think of your favorite outfit as the "Main Dish" and the other outfits would be the " Side Dishes" that compliments the "Main Dish". Below I have added a "Colour Dressing Guide". It shows examples of how to coordinate colors around the "Main Color" of your choice.

3. Consider Home Decor. Since a few of these will likely be displayed at your home for a long time. Make sure you pick the right clothing colors that blends with the color scheme of your home.

4. We want the focus to be on you and your beautiful family. Not on distracting large logos or patterns. This can sometimes over power your photos and take away form it rather than compliment the portraits. Let's just say No to Logos and Large Patterns.

5. Make sure that everyone is comfortable in their outfits to ensure natural smiles. If kids and dads are not comfortable, then it will definetly show in photos. This is one thing that can't be Photoshoped. We want them to love what they are wearing and proud to be captured in them.

6. Since most of my clients invest quite a bit on their family sessions. You want that investment to last the test of time. Select outfits that will make for timeless portraits. Styles come and go, but photos are forever . Sometimes trendy isn't always better.

7. Lastly, wear them with confidence! Have fun and enjoy the memories that you're creating. It's the photographer's job to capture those candid moments, raw emotional photos that you can be proud to share with your family and friends. So if have an outfit that gives you that confidence, that smile and power to go out and be captured. Don't hesitate, wear that for your next session.

P.S

Below are samples of coordinating outfits, along with behind the scene shot of me at work and my very own family picture taken November 2015. I still love the outfits I picked out for us and as you can see, it's timeless and we don't completely match. Plus the colors work with my home color scheme!