How to Dress Your Family

First, you need to decide what kind of feel you are going for. If you are wanting a warm color palette, consider mustard, brown, rust, cream, burgundy, and taupe. If you want a lighter, more pastel palette, choose clothing that is neutral and light toned. Colors that would look great for this are cream, white, beige, gray, muted pinks and purples, coral, rose, and light blues. If you are looking for a dark and moody look, choose some moodier colors, but mix in some lighter colors with it to keep it from looking TOO dark. Another idea would be to choose a couple of pops of color but keep the rest neutral.

Please Do:

  • choose well-fitting clothing and something that you feel confident in

  • start with the pickiest person’s clothing first, then build everyone else’s outfits off of that.

  • coordinate, don’t match

  • change up textures and prints

  • always add in lots of neutral colors

Avoid:

  • Athletic shoes or stilettos. Just no uncomfortable shoes

  • Socks that don’t go with the rest of the outfits

  • Too much blue or too much green

  • Clothing that doesn’t fit well

  • Patterns that have too much contrast (example: a light background with a dark pattern), small checkered pattern, or close together, thin stripes.

  • Matching outfits!!! Don’t do it!

  • Turtlenecks, high collars, or hoodies

  • Bright white, neon, or too much black

  • Formal clothing

  • Characters, logos, and words on clothing

  • Skirts/dresses for babies - try a romper or a top with a ruffle butt bloomer

  • Digital watches (like an apple watch)

  • Anything in your pocket

  • Messy faces or dirty teeth

  • Hair ties on wrists

Don’t Forget To Coordinate Shoes!

This is usually the thing most people forget about, and it really makes a difference. Know what always looks amazing? Brown shoes. Stay away from athletic shoes and shoes with neon colors, even on the soles. Wear shoes that go with the style you are wearing. Unless your session is in your home or on the beach, and in that case, ditch the shoes! Also make sure that socks are chosen intentionally, especially for kids. Pants will ride up and show socks so be sure they coordinate with your outfits.

Styling Hair

Quick note on hair. Keep it loose and flowy, rather than tight and slicked back. I’d rather your child showed up in 2 day old braids than tight french braids. Messy hair is more inspiring and fun to photograph than perfect hair! If it looks good in wavy curls, then do it because that’s going to photograph the best and if it’s windy, it will look amazing! But if anyone has thin hair (especially little girls), you will want to style it so it’s out of their face. Especially for locations that can be windy, it will be in their face the entire time if you don’t pull it back somehow. Here’s a link little girl hair ideas. For boys, just do what they normally do!