-Wear a dress. Trust me on this one. You’ll feel prettier, and it’s more flattering than anything in photographs.
- Pick a dress that’s figure flattering. I recommend any kind that has a fitted waist.
-If you’re not a big fan of dresses, choose a skirt and top combination. But again, choose one that’s an A-Line style (fitted in the waist and flows out over your hips). I promise it’ll be 1000x more flattering than anything else you could pick.
-Wearing something more dressy than your everyday. T-shirt material doesn’t hang as well as chiffon, rayon, linen, double knit, or silk, and could look unflattering from some angles.
-Choose the color you want to wear and build from there. We all know it’s hardest to get us dressed, so start with yourself instead of fitting yourself in at the end.
I’ve rounded up a TON of flattering and pretty dress options at the bottom of the post— You’re sure to find something!!
Step Two: Choose your family color palette!
-I have created a Pinterest board with a TON of family photo outfit ideas that will help you decide which direction to go.
-Colors that clash with my editing style are pastels and bright whites. Try off whites or cream colors.
-Colors that work beautifully with my editing style are jewel tones and moody colors such as forest or emerald green, maroon, gold, rust, mustard, navy blue and black. These will be shown on the Pinterest board at the bottom.
- If you plan to hang these photos in your home, consider coordinating outfit colors with the colors inside your home.
Step Three: Choose your families outfits!
-If you look through the Pinterest board I created, you'll notice that most of the outfits have solid colors. If you're going to do patterns, keep them subtle and in small doses. Multiple patters or plaid in photos can become overwhelming very quickly. Play around with textures like a ruffled dress for girls and accessories such as a fashionable hat (please no ball caps or sun glasses).
Step Four: Keep it low key and set expectations!
-A few years ago everyone got really into props for photoshoots. While they can certainly be fun, they're usually more of a hassle than they're worth. My favorite pictures are the ones with families just walking, hugging and playing. subtle and in small doses. Multiple patters or plaid in photos can become overwhelming very quickly. No props needed, just lots of love!
-Bring snacks. I'm not above bribery if it gives smiles, lol! Feel free to bring fruit snacks or tiny candy for during the shoot as an incentive!
A few years ago everyone got really into props for photoshoots. While they can certainly be fun, they’re usually more of a hassle than they’re worth. My favorite pictures are the ones with families just walking, hugging, playing, or snuggling.
Step Five: Make a shot list!
-Make a list of shots you want before the shoot and then tell your photographer when you get there. You'll probably want a variety of posed and candid. Some with just mom and dad, some with dad and the kids, mom with the kids, etc.
-In the craziness of the shoot, we don't want to forget to get all of the shots you want!
