It’s that time of year again: the weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and it’s the season of pumpkin everything! When you start thinking about what to wear for family photos, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the options. Clothing is such an important part of your session and really sets the tone for the photos!

I just did family photos with my immediate family (17 people!) and I know first hand that it can be super stressful to get outfits for everyone that “go”. So here are some suggestions for what to wear for family photos.

What to Wear for Family Photos

1) Color

It can be tempting to stick with something neutral for your photos, like white shirts and blue jeans, but I would really encourage you: step outside the box! Don’t be afraid to add bright, vibrant colors to your wardrobe selection! Personally, I love it when the family chooses one color and everyone wears various shades of that color. Or stepping completely outside of the norm and wearing pink and orange to a park location (the family that did this pulled it off SO WELL!!!)

2) Details

Pay attention to the details: scarves, hats, shoes, jewelry… these all play a part in making you “look” come together. However, keep in mind that sometime, less is more. Wearing that fun, funky hair clip for the session is awesome, but you don’t want to overpower yourself with accessories because the details can become distracting.

3) Style

When choosing a dress code for your session, make sure everyone is on the same page. If someone is wearing a dressy outfit and another person is wearing a tee shirt, it really isn’t going  to go together. When it comes to clothing options, there is no rule as to whether you should be dressy or casual. It’s all about the look you want and the location you choose for your session.

4) Comfort

Probably the most important thing I can impart to you: wear what you know you look good in! This is especially important because the way you feel about yourself in a particular outfit will come through in the images. This is true for kids as well as adults! Moms: how many times have you had to fight tooth and nail to get your little one dressed in something they didn’t want to wear, only to have them sulk about it for a while afterwards?
Make sure to wear clothes that are fitted, but not too snug. When clothing is a little too tight, it can show off bulges that you would rather keep hidden!

These are just a few suggestions, I hope you got some great take-away’s from today’s blog post! While it can seem daunting to pick out clothing for a photo shoot, just remember that the next time you are faced with the question, what do I wear, you have many options! And your choices are only limited by your imagination!

All the fun photos in today’s post were taken from Pinterest. I’d love to have you check out my Pinterest page to see what I’m loving for Fall 2013 as well as full photo credits to their respective creators 🙂