It's Family Photo Season!
6 tips to feel your best and get through the photos stress-free (ish), and 5 color palettes to inspire and style a cohesive look
One of the most common topics within my friend chat around this time of year is family photos. First, it starts in a panic that we’ve all forgotten to schedule them at the right time. Side note - the right time to schedule family photos, apparently, without feeling like there is not a single photographer on the face of the early with both a decent portfolio and an open time-slot that isn’t smack dab in the middle of nap time or minutes before bedtime, is apparently (at least) a year before you actually want the photos. Then, once we’ve sent ourselves into a healthy state of panic reminding each other that we all need to get our sh*t together and schedule photo sessions, it shifts into a panic about what to wear. What colors, what styles, what will our kids wear (will we be able to convince them to wear it?), will it be too warm (looking at you, September, it’s freakin’ 90 degrees this week), what will our husbands wear, and then…WHAT WILL WE WEAR.
Really, this is the question we should start with — what will you wear?. And, while it certainly requires a bit of thought and potentially a few try-ons, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t need to make you panic (and to help you figure it out if the panic has already set in!)
I’m also here to remind you that it always works out — somehow, the photographer will work some miracle and there will be beautiful pictures of your family that you will treasure. Even a professional photo taken in the midst of a temper tantrum will look beautiful later on. Seriously, my best friend once had to bribe her daughter to take photos by letting her play with her retainer case (toddlers!!), and the photos still turned out fantastic! Plus, other people will see the photo in a totally different light than you will!
I love the holiday tradition of sending out a card, and especially love to open cards from family and friends and seeing the pictures they select, how they, their pets, or their kids of changed, and hanging those cards in our home throughout the holiday season. Last year my daughter pulled one of the photos off the wall and slept with it for weeks because she missed her friends in the card so much!
While I can’t book the photographer for you, or control everyone’s moods the day of, I will focus, instead, on what I can — helping you figure out what everyone should wear, and ensure you are heading into your session feeling prepared and ready for some smiles and fun.
1: Start with your outfit first! You are the one who cares the most about the outfits/what everyone in wearing in the photo, so make sure you pick your outfit first. Once you figure out your choice, you can nail down a look for your partner, and kids if you have them! Choose something that you feel great in. Pick the color that you want to wear, and build from there.
2: Comfort is key - make sure that whatever you select for yourself is something you feel comfortable in! The same goes for your kids - everyone should be able to move in what they are wear, walk, sit, standup without constraint, especially since the style of photo you are going for is most likely a natural capture of your family vs. post church directory shot.
3: Choose something you will wear again - If you are buying something new, make sure you’re not just picking something that you’ll wear for family photos and then never again! In other words, while I do like to be slightly more dressed up than I might be on a daily basis for family photos, I also want to wear something that feels like me.
4: Consider fit - a dress, or skirt and top that has a fitted waist is probably going to be the most flattering outfit you can pick. I recommend something long enough so that you can comfortably sit down. Avoid anything too short, too tight, too clingy (you don’t want to be pulling or adjusting your outfit constantly) and avoid dresses that will blow up with a small gust of wind! Remember that the most important thing is that you feel great in what you’re wearing - if you do, it will shine through in the photos!
5: Ask your partner to try their outfit on ahead of time: There is nothing quite like that flame of marital FURY that sparks when your partner mentions that the shirt they were planning to wear actually has a stain on it moments before you’re getting in the car to head out for photos. Avoid this dangerous moment by asking your partner to do a dry run of their outfit a few days before the “big day.” You can confirm that everything is exactly as you’re planning and reduce potential friction points on the day of
6: Stick to a few complementary colors: Your color story should be cohesive, but it doesn’t need to be “matchy-matchy.” You don’t all need to be wearing the same color(s), and your kids don’t have to be in matching outfits (unless, of course, you want to!), but instead you can choose a few colors to organize your looks around.
Creating the full “look” can be pretty tricky - so that’s where I want to really dive in - below, 5 color palettes for your family photos, mood board inspiration, and options at multiple price points! Also, don’t let the color stories I’ve selected stop you - you can totally mix and match! Browns & Greens, Greens & Pinks, Cremes with any of the other colors - I hope you will find options, inspiration, and maybe something specific!
Browns and Pinks
Brown is everywhere this fall - so I like that this could be a way to add an on-trend piece to your closet, incorporate it into your family photos, and then also wear it for other events throughout the season! All these dresses would be great for back to school activities, work, Thanksgiving, or any other event you might have coming up. And, for your kids, the pink brightens things up and adds a nice contrast!
More options for women: Ribbed Dress ($), Dissh Midi Dress ($$)
More options for kids: Pink Puff Sleeve Toddler Dress
More options for men: Men’s Dress Shirt, White Button Down, Men’s Brown Twill Shirt
Dark & Light Green and Grey
Channel the transition of summer into fall by embracing tonal green colors. This would look especially beautiful if you are taking photos outside somewhere. Adding in greys and pinks can also look really nice with greens, if you feel like green for everyone is too much!
More options for women: Knit Dress ($), La Ligne Ivy Dress; Another option from La Ligne
More options for Men: Men’s Green Corduroy Shirt
More options for Boys: Green Half Zip
Blue & White
Classic for a reason! You can go shades of blue, stick to blue and white patterns with accents, or go with a more traditional navy.
More options for women: Blue Floral Linen Dress (this is a little summery, but I still love and honestly it’s warm enough for this dress in fall!), Lauretta Dress, another beautiful navy option from Xirena
More options for girls: Navy Sweater Dress
Whites & Creams
If you are more of a tonal fan, this is a beautiful take on simple colors. Plus, it lets your background pop!
Berry Red
When I first started eyeing berry red dressed for this, I was worried a red look might be too on the nose - like, overtly holiday, but once I saw the pieces together, I stopped worrying. It’s beautifully festive, a color that looks great on so many people, but not too “Christmas.” You could add more green if you want to lean into the Christmas look, or add more cream or natural colors to lean out.
I hope you find something here that inspires you! If you are still looking, drop in a comment and we can keep searching together!