So you found a photographer you love, and booked your family photo shoot. Now what?

Wardrobe, next to choosing a great photographer is the second most important element to those images you are dreaming of!

You can dress your entire family from mom, husband, teen, tween, kid, and toddler with these 5 very easy to follow tips.

Location

If your session is in the spring, among flowering trees and new budding plants a soft and neutral pastel color palette looks and feels the best! Soft pinks, yellows, blues, creams, whites etc tend to be the perfect mix.

On the beach or at the gorgeous beaches of Sandy Hook, Island Beach State Park, or Cape May? Think about colors of the sea and sky, blues, khakis, whites, yellows, pinks and soft purples look great out there playing in the sand and water.

We have the most amazing sunflower fields up here in Sussex County New Jersey, they are always a favorite and popular photo location in late August and September. Yellows, whites, and creams look amazing against the backdrop of golden sunflowers and the setting sun.

Fall session among the New Jersey fall leaves pumpkins and apples? Browns, khaki, mustard, emerald green, burgundy all look great!

DRESS MOM FIRST

Let’s be real, moms always have the toughest choices figuring out what to wear. SO, find yourself an outfit you LOVE before you even think about anyone else. You can then choose a photo outfit for dad and the kids that coordinates with what mom has chosen. If mom’s outfit has a pattern, easily pick out 2-3 colors from that to mix and match throughout everyone else’s wardrobe.

Coordinate, Don’t match

Speaking of mix and match, don’t match… coordinate. Unless you have twins or multiples that you love to dress alike, or usually dress your kids in the same outfits, don’t do it for photos. Make sure everyone coordinates together along the same color palette, tones, and level of casual or dressy and you’ll be golden. Some families prefer to be a bit dressier for photos while others like to keep it more casual, and traditional. Everything goes, just keep everyone within the same style.

Avoid Trends

Keep it classic, simple, and beautiful. The last thing you want to do is look back and CRINGE. Remember shoulder pads, neon colors, and puffy sleeves? Those are all trends we’d wished stayed in the 80s and 90s. So no matter what’s in style now, try to keep your photo outfit more classic. Long dresses for the ladies and jeans with button downs or plain tee shirts will always be staples. Looking 10-20 years down the road they will still be beautiful!

Use Style and Select

My #1 game changer when it comes to styling my clients and families for their family photoshoot is www.styleandselect.com Every client receives complimentary access to this amazingly helpful styling tool! You can dress a family of 5 in 5 minutes flat! Having an extended family session with a million uncles, cousins, siblings and grandparents? NO PROBLEM! Get everyone coordinated and send them over links of exactly what to wear so you will all look and feel great the day of your big photoshoot!

Want to know more tip and tricks to get the most out of your time with your family photographer and receive photos that you will adore for generations? Be sure to sign up for my monthly email list where I share tons of Tips and Tricks, ideas, specials, and promotions! And, if you’d like to schedule a session of your own in the New Jersey, New York, Eastern PA area, be sure to reach out to Ashley at www.reneeash.com

XOXO

Ashley

Ashley is a Family and Newborn Lifestyle photographer based in Sussex County NJ and serving the tri-state area.