I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to family portraits! And, trust me, I know the value of the people in the portrait is what matters most, but it sure doesn’t hurt to really style a gorgeous family photo you will look back for years to come and LOVE! Here’s just a sample of what I’ve learned in my many years of portraiture:

1. Hey moms? Dress yourself first! So, I know this sounds counter-intuitive as moms. We love to be the ones always fluttering around and making sure every member looks amazing and has the right outfit. We often leave ourselves scrounging around at the last minute and throwing on something we don’t feel confident or beautiful in, or something we found at Ross Dress for Less the night before our shoot. When you feel great, your photos will reflect that, and so will the rest of your family. Plus, men and children tend to be a little easier to dress and coordinate.
2. Matchy-Matchy is not always best. I’ve seen families arrive in all solids, which can really make heads and bodies blend together and not add much dimension to the photo. When doing newborn portraits, it is best to wear solids so that it doesn’t distract from the baby, but family portraits turn out beautifully when textures and prints are added and layered. Lace, nubby wools, and subtle things like seersucker are great ways to add depth and interest, and avoid family members from blending into each other. Try to think “coordinating” rather than identical. This family (right image) who recently did their family portraits did an amazing job of choosing outfits! The prints were subtle and not too busy, and the muted, pretty colors helped them stand out from the woodland background.
3. Avoid being too seasonal, and remember your needs: Unless you are specifically doing halloween or christmas photos, try to keep clothing to a more neutral style seasonally. Then, when you display them in your home, they won’t look out of place as the year rolls on.
4. Layers can add different looks, and give you more variety: It’s pretty hard to change whole outfits for a family shoot, so try adding layers like denim jackets, puffy vests or cardigans to change up your look. You can change the style by simply adding or removing layers on your family members. For example, a cute dress can look completely different with a solid color blazer, or throw a vest over husband’s button down to make the look more casual. You’ll get more mileage from a single outfit by doing this, rather than having to invest in multiple outfits (which can get super expensive for a whole family).
5. Remember, for newborn and maternity photos, I supply the outfits! For my newborn and maternity clients (mamas and babies), I offer a selection of beautiful, curated outfits that I’ve personally chosen. This not only saves you money, but gives you options that I already know photograph beautifully. Especially for my newborn babes, this helps parents by eliminating one more thing from the long list of things they are trying to remember as a new mom or dad!
6. Spring’s hottest colors are pastels, as well as bolds like plum (dark purple).  Remember to stick to your most flattering colors when you are dressing your family. If you are very fair, or do not look good in pastels, don’t use them just because they are “trendy”. You want classic, timeless portraits, not ones that you will look back on and regret because they look dated just a few years later. Plum tends to be a beautiful color on families (and it’s not just for fall anymore), especially when mixed with pale blues or mustard yellow. You can always refer to Pantone for the latest color news!

For more information on my family, newborn, or maternity sessions based in Southeast Texas, please contact me today. I’d love to start the process with you!