Styling your family for photos is usually the hardest part of planning family photos. There are a lot of things to consider when picking outfits: ages, sizes, likes and dislikes, colors and patterns, price, etc. So I’m here to help with some inspiration and advice to make sure your family looks their best in your photos this year! These tips work for both in-home and outdoor sessions, too.
Below are examples of color palettes that work year-round in every setting.
01. Picking Colors for your Location
Fall and Winter are the perfect times to wear warm neutral tones. Deep, muted yellows, oranges, and greens make you think of the leaves changing colors, carving pumpkins, drinking hot chocolate, and sitting by a fire. These are the colors you can incorporate into your wardrobe to achieve fall vibes even if it’s still 80 degrees outside, even when we don’t have fall colors at our parks yet.
I recommend neutrals for outdoor settings because they match the scenery. You’ll look more natural sitting in a field if you’re in these colors than if you’re in vibrant colors like Red and Blue.
If you choose an urban location such as downtown where you’re surrounded by cement structures or vibrant murals, that’s when a pop of color in your wardrobe will look most fitting. These locations are also good if you want to include more black into everyone’s outfits because you’ll stand out more against busier backdrops.
02. Choosing the Best Shade of Color
Once you pick your color palette, consider the shade of those colors. For example, if you want to incorporate blues or pinks into your wardrobe, consider the shade of blue you are picking. Some shades look better than others in photos. And this can depend on your surroundings, the time of day, and your photographer’s editing style.
The colors I recommend are based on my editing style and the locations I suggest most often.
Blues to Avoid
Bright blues often clash with surroundings, especially greenery, and when combined with other shades of blue will stand out. Light shades of blue are also best for spring and summer months. These brighter blues can also have a cooling effect on your skin tone rather than warming up your skin.
Blues You Should Wear
Denim is usually a safe bet, but I recommend slacks instead. Muted blues, blue-greens or grey-blues usually work best, especially in the fall and winter.
Red & Pinks to Avoid
Bright reds and pinks easily clash with green surroundings and reflect back onto your skin. It’s tempting around the holidays to don a lot of red but choosing a bright red can make editing your photos difficult because of how it affects your skin tone when you’re against a green backdrop. Lighter shades of pink also look best during spring and summer, whereas deeper, muted pinks look best in the Fall and Winter.
Red & Pinks You Should Wear
If you want to wear reds or pinks, find muted tones to get a warm, Fall/Winter feel without looking too Christmassy and match your environment more. A good way to incorporate red into your wardrobe without it being overpowering is to use it as an accent color in a pattern or on an accessory. Deep Maroons are perfect for fall photos.
I love the Fall because it’s the best time of year for wearing yellows and oranges. These colors look so good when surrounded by deep greens and browns as foliage begins to die as cold weather approaches. BUT there are good shades and bad shades of yellow and orange.
Yellows & Oranges to Avoid
Stay away from vibrant yellows and oranges that scream summer-time. These tend to wash out lighter skin tones or reflect back onto your skin.
Yellows & Oranges You Should Wear
The closer your yellow & orange is to brown, the better it’s going to look. Think burnt orange but darker. With yellows, you’re looking for mustard or tan shades.
White vs. Cream
Choosing white can be tempting because it goes with everything and is easy to find year round. But off-white and cream colors photograph better, especially in the fall and winter when everyone else is typically dressed in warmer tones. Whites have a lot of blue undertones and can have a cooling effect on skin tones. Whites will also appear brighter than the other clothing. In the image below you can see how much contrast there is between an earth tone and the white circle as opposed to the cream colored circle.
03. Build Your Color Scheme
Once you know what color you want to include in your wardrobe, find one piece of clothing you absolutely love and want to wear. This can be Mom’s outfit or a kid’s outfit. Then build around that. Use neutrals to balance out each outfit.
If your kid is wearing a mustard yellow sweater, pair it with denim or dark grey pants. If Dad is wearing a cream colored shirt, he can wear dark brown pants. Mom can wear the burnt orange dress with a cream colored cardigan.
Need more inspiration?
Check out these color combinations from past clients at actual sessions. You can find these and more on my Pinterest boards, too!
