You’ve booked a session, but now comes the hard part- deciding what to wear!

I don’t know about you, but when I look back at family pictures from when I was a child, I see big hair, matching denim outfits, and the occasional mullet. (Did anyone else’s family repeat the mantra that “the bigger the hair, the closer to God?”) These pictures definitely have a special place in my heart, but when I see one of these images, they definitely scream the 80’s and 90’s. When we take pictures these days, we want images that are timeless that don’t immediately make us cringe and go, “What was I thinking back in that decade?!”

No worries, friend! As your local Flowery Branch, Georgia family photographer, I have 3 top tips on what to wear for a family session that can take the fear out of planning outfits for your whole family!

Outfit Planning Tip 1: Coordinate Colors

Back a few years ago, you would see so many family portraits where everyone was wearing matching outfits. While these pictures are sweet and show you as a collective unit, they can seem a little one-dimensional when looking at the full gallery. Instead of everyone wearing the exact same color, or the same exact outfit even, choose a coordinating color scheme and give each family member their own color to wear.

When planning what to wear for a family session, perhaps you can have Mom wear a baby blue, Dad wear a light green, baby sister wear white, and big brother wear gray. These colors look nice next to each other, but each person still has their own outfit that makes them stand out. There’s no right or wrong way to match your outfits, so I recommend starting with one outfit as a base and then building the rest of the family’s from there.

Choosing What to Wear Tip 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Dress Up!

I don’t know about you, but I live for my jeans. I mean, they’re comfortable, classic, and you don’t have to worry about a surprise breeze coming up and ruining your day. As a teacher, when my principal announced a jeans day, you would think that he just told me that I had won the lottery with how excited I was when I walked into that school building flaunting my Old Navy jeans and school T-shirt spirit wear.

When you take family pictures, jeans have a nice casual look, but don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and get dolled up! You will look timeless and elegant if you instead choose to sport a dress or skirt for the girls and a nice polo or blazer paired with khakis for the guys. (You really can’t beat how adorable a little guy in suspenders and a bowtie looks!) This will automatically elevate the elegance of your family photos that you will showcase on your walls for years to come. You won’t regret taking the chance to dress up for our session!

If you need a few ideas for places to find great outfits for your next family session, Baltic Born is one of my favorite shops for Mom, and Monica + Andy is a great place for the kids!

Styling Tip 3: Add Layers and Accessories

Adding layers to your outfit is an easy way to easily switch up your look in a short amount of time. We can take some pictures with your beautiful jacket on and then take a few more showcasing the awesome blouse underneath to quickly add a variety of images to your final gallery. Layers also add an additional opportunity for you to find ways to pull your family’s other outfit colors into your look as well to make you look like a regal cohesive group.

Accessorizing by adding a nice necklace, bracelet, scarf, headband, or tie to an outfit as well can immediately give you a great pop of color that will help show off your style and finish off your final look as well. Maybe baby sister can wear a baby blue bow in her hair to match Mom or Mom wears a beautiful gray necklace to match big brother. Sometimes it’s easy to look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re wearing too much, but when you are taking pictures to remember this stage forever, more often than not, you are doing just enough.

When you book a session with me, you will automatically receive a Client Experience and Style Guide that is jam packed with tips for planning what to wear for a family session that features tons more ideas just for you! As always, I will be available every step of the way to ensure that you and your family have the exact look that you will cherish for years to come (with no matching mullets in sight).

Are you booked and confident in your style? Great! Then, be sure to check out my blog post with my top tips for helping your kids have a great photo session!