How to Choose the Perfect Outfits for Your Family Photo Session (and Look Amazing!)
Want to look your best in your next family photo session? It all starts with choosing the right colors! The right shades can make everyone look amazing, keep the vibe balanced, and make sure your photos feel coordinated (but not too matchy-matchy). Colors can bring out your best features, compliment the season, and even help set the mood of the photos (vibrant and fun, earthy and cozy, etc). Take a peek at the tips below to help you nail your color palette for your next family photo session!
1. Choose colors that make you shine!
First, figure out your skin’s undertone (cool, warm, or neutral) by checking the color of the veins on your wrist while standing near a window with natural light (turn off those overhead lights!)
If your veins look blue or purple, you’ve got cool undertones! You’ll absolutely glow in jewel tones like cool blues, soft pinks, emerald green, purple, navy, white, and black. These colors will brighten your complexion and give you a radiant look.
If your veins look more green or olive, you’ve got warm undertones. Earthy tones are your best friend—think mustard yellow, olive, burgundy, and warm pinks. Neutrals like cream and tan will also work beautifully with your skin tone.
If your veins look like a mix of blue and green, you probably have neutral undertones. Lucky you! Neutral tones give you the best of both worlds! You can rock both warm and cool tones! But generally, you’ll look amazing in shades like warm browns, olive, rosy pinks, and soft neutrals.
If your family has a mix of undertones, try coordinating complementary colors across the color wheel. This will make your group photos look perfectly balanced!
2. Let the season inspire your color palette!
Take a cue from the season to pick your perfect shades for your photo session. The colors in nature can give you some amazing ideas for how to match your outfits to the surroundings, and create a cohesive look in your photos.
Fall: Warm earth tones are perfect for fall photos. Think burnt oranges, deep reds, mustard yellows, and browns. You can mix in neutrals like cream or beige to balance out everyone’s skin tone.
Winter: Winter tends to be cooler and less colorful, so adding a pop of bold color really makes your photos stand out! Think a bright red scarf or a vibrant hat paired with neutral outfits.
Spring & Summer: These seasons bring out the cool blues and greens in nature, so lighter tones and floral patterns work wonderfully! Soft pinks, greens, and blues will look amazing!
3. Start with one outfit first and build from there!
A pro tip? Start with one outfit you love! Whether it’s mom’s dress or your partner’s shirt, and build around it. Mix in neutral tones, or go for a bold statement piece paired with subtle colors. You can also mix it up with different textures to keep things fun!
4. Keep it simple and comfortable!
Simplicity is key when it comes to family photos. You want the focus to be on the people, not on flashy logos or overwhelming patterns. Choose styles and colors that feel true to you. Comfort is also key! If you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, it will definitely show in the photos. And make sure to dress appropriately for the weather to stay relaxed and enjoy the session!
5. Consider the Background and Setting!
Think about where your photo session is taking place—whether it's outdoors in a park, in the city, or in a cozy indoor studio. The background can really influence how your outfits pop! Try choosing colors that compliment or contrast nicely with the environment.
Nature Settings (Parks, Gardens, etc.): Soft earth tones or pastels can blend beautifully with greenery, while bolder colors can create a striking contrast against natural surroundings.
Urban Settings (City, Buildings, etc.): Go for vibrant or neutral tones to pop against the often gray or sleek urban backgrounds. Try pairing bold colors with clean, modern styles.
Indoor Settings (Homes, Studios, etc.): If it’s a bright, airy space, light neutrals or soft colors will complement the vibe. If it’s a cozy, darker setting, richer hues like deep blues or warm reds can look great!
6. Be Weather-Ready!
Here in Minnesota, the weather is always keeping us on our toes! Keep an eye on the forecast as your session approaches (and I’ll be checking too, don’t worry!) If it’s chilly, layering with thermal wear under your clothes or bringing along a cute jacket or cozy hats will keep you warm and looking cute! If it’s sunny, sunscreen and water are a must to stay comfy. If you feel great, you will look great, I promise!
