Fall Family Photos…What to wear & most importantly what to avoid wearing!

This is one of the first things that comes to mind when you schedule family photos! What do I wear?

Dressing the whole family doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!

Number one rule: Dress the MOST complicated family member first and then once that person loves what they are wearing, build everyone’s outfit around theirs! Follow these suggestions to dress the family!

1. Earthy and Neutral Tones

Think rust, mustard, olive, cream, navy, and burgundy. These colors not only complement the fall scenery but also keep the focus on your family, not just the clothes. Neutrals and muted shades photograph beautifully and create a timeless look.

2. Layers and Textures

Layers add both style and comfort for fall photos. Cardigans, scarves, sweaters, and vests look great and can be adjusted if the weather shifts. Textures like knits, corduroy, denim, and linen add depth and richness to your photos.

3. Coordinated, Not Matching

Gone are the days of everyone in white shirts and jeans! Instead, aim for coordinating outfits with a mix of complementary colors. Start with one or two main colors, then layer in different tones and textures that tie it all together.

4. Comfortable, Season-Appropriate Shoes

Wear shoes that are comfortable and practical for walking on uneven ground. Boots (ankle or knee-high) are always a great choice. Make sure that kids shoes do not have characters or neon accents! If your family has a little one under a year, please make sure that socks match and are clean without bright writing on the bottom of them!

5. Classic Accessories

Hats, headbands, hair bows, and subtle jewelry can add personality without being distracting. A plaid scarf or neutral hat can be a fun way to add variety to your images!

What not to wear….

1. Neon or Bright Colors

Hot pink, neon green, or bright orange may look fun in person but often clash with the natural fall palette and can reflect unflattering tones onto skin in photos.

2. Large Logos or Distracting Patterns

Bold patterns, characters, or logos can steal attention from your family’s faces. Keep patterns minimal and subtle so they don’t overpower the shot. Small floral pattern is totally fine, but tiny checks are a no go!

3. Too Much Black

While black can be slimming and timeless, wearing all black can sometimes look flat in outdoor settings. If you do love black, mix it with softer tones like a cream cardigan or textures for balance.

4. Overly Trendy Outfits

Trendy pieces may look dated quickly. For family photos, choose classic, timeless outfits that you’ll still love when you look back on them years from now.

5. Uncomfortable Clothes

This is one of the MOST important things to know! If an outfit is itchy, too tight, or hard to move in, it will show in the photos. Kids especially need clothes they can comfortably run, play, and snuggle in.

5. Fabric that I would advise against:

• silk (can wrinkle easily and reflect light awkwardly!)

• form fitting sweater dresses (this look is beautiful, but it can hug in the wrong places and ride up without you realizing it) this can be very hard for a lot of interaction and movement in photos.

• linen (gets wrinkled as soon as you sit down!)

Families with kiddos!

• If you have a little one wearing a dress, leggings tend to go best under a dress opposed to tights. Tights tend to creep down fast! If you choose to dress her in knee highs instead of pants, make sure that she is wearing bloomers under her dress to cover any undies/diaper.

• Now is not the time to experiment with new things! For example, do not put your kiddo in a bow tie, if they have never been in one! Sometimes new clothing things can be super distracting and frustrating for kiddos!

• Shoes! I know I said this earlier, but stay clear of any shoes with neon accents, light up, or character. Socks on babies, make sure they are clean and match! I know baby socks have the little grips on the bottom, just make sure the bottom doesn’t have obvious writing! No one needs to know they are “Carters 12-18 months” :-)

• As much as we love a good Bluey shirt, leave the characters at home for this one! You want your family photos to look timeless, so sticking to non character clothing is a great way to keep that look!

• Hair accessories: If you have a little girl and they are used to having their hair up, but they don’t love bows. Don’t force it! I am a sucker for a great bow or hair accessory, but kiddos pulling them out of their hair causes more hair chaos and stress than leaving it out! You know the look, where the hair sticks straight up as soon as the bow is pulled out and the pony has to be re-done! :-)

  Below are just examples of colors and outfits that coordinate. Sometimes it’s hard to vision what goes together and looks complimentary! I hope this helps you as you plan outfits!