I cannot believe it’s that time of year already….family photo taking time! This year is flying by and most days I don’t even know what day it is (lol). But, here we are. It’s almost fall and with that comes the opportunity or obligation (depending on how you look at it) to update those family photos. And, instead of waiting last minute to scramble for some family photo outfit ideas this year, I‘m mapping out my plan of attack sooner than later.
Honestly, sometimes I’m not in the mood to corral my whole family for an hour to get one great photo (topic for another day), but having those photos to put up around the house or on a holiday card does make it worth it. And I do love putting together family photo outfit ideas, even if it’s just for fun!
I know not everyone likes that, so I love being a resource for you. And I can’t wait to share some really cute outfit ideas with you. All are shoppable just incase you’re looking for actual outfits, and not just inspiration. But, as always, no obligation to shop!💕
Your Ultimate Guide To Picking Your Family Photo Outfits
Deciding what the whole family is going to wear may seem daunting and you may not know where to start. So, instead of just giving you a bunch of outfits with no explanation, I’m breaking down exactly how I approach finding family photo outfit ideas. You can’t just give someone a fish, you have to teach them how to fish, right? ….wait, is that the saying? Lol
Where To Start When Picking Family Photo Outfits
If you’re like me, you plan your outfit first and then, plan everyone else’s around it. To me, it’s not a vanity thing. It actually just helps me figure out what color palette I’ll be working with so that I can coordinate everyone’s outfits to compliment one another. And, let’s face it, it’s the Queen of the Castle who cares about these photos. (At least that’s true 9 times out of 10. So, save yourself some stress and find your outfit first.
What I Look For When Picking My Outfit
When I think of family photo outfit ideas, I think of a few pet peeves I have for myself when taking photos with the fam bam (or in general). One, is to hide any arm chub. Is it just me, or do arms always look 3 times as big in photos? It’s the worst. So, to prevent that, I always opt for a look with a looser and longer arm sleeve. Even if they’re just long enough to cover the widest part of my arms.
And just like the arm chub, I like to hide the thigh chub, too. So I always prefer a dress over pants when taking family photos. And in specific, I look for maxi dresses. They create the illusion of an elongated body (thanks to all of that length). And, with the right material, you can achieve beautiful flowy movement in your photos.
So, for example, lets say you want to spin your kiddo in a photo and want that magical, airy look. Well, only certain materials will achieve this for you. So, opt for a dress with a lot of movement. (Chiffon dresses are perfect for this, but there are also other materials that offer great movement…especially anything with a loose ruffled hem…they look gorgeous in photos).
Note: Flatter Your Body By Cinching The Waist
Also, in general, with the wrong dress (or outfit), I’ve ended up looking 3x bigger in our family photos than what I am in real life. Who the heck wants that, right? Especially when you’re paying good money to have photos taken, you want to be blown away by them. And, we can’t always blame the photographer, am I right?
So, I like to play the odds in my favor by opting for a dress that gives emphasis on the smallest part of my waist. Wrap dresses, belted dresses, empire waist dresses, and basically any dress that cinches at the waist, is going to flatter your body the most.
Things to keep in mind:
- If you have a straight figure, opt for a dress that cinches at the waist and drops into an A line. That way it gives you the illusion of curves and still emphasizes a small waist.
- If you are concerned with weight or mom pooch, opt for material that doesn’t cling to your body. Spandex, lace, and knit are notorious for emphasizing every lump and bump, so try to avoid them at all cost. (Unless it’s just a thin lace overlay then that’s ok, you just want to avoid clinging lace). I prefer chiffon and other soft, flowy materials that don’t cling.
Colors/Patterns That Photograph the Best?
Florals in photos as my absolute favorite, as far as patterns go. You just can’t go wrong with a nice, soft floral pattern. I wouldn’t go with anything too tropical or big & bold because it tends to take away from everything else in the photo, like your face…your kids’ faces, your hubby’s face, the scenery…you get the picture (no pun intended lol).
Same goes with color. Really bright colors can also steal the spotlight sometimes, especially if you’re being photographed in front of a lighter background. Make sure to compliment your scenery and your vision of how you want your photos to look by choosing the right colors. If you want airy photos, don’t wear hot pink…etc.
Rich jewel tones like maroon, emerald, burnt orange, bronze, and marigold add that perfect fall feel. Softer neutral colors like white, light gray, nude, and pink always add a bit of whimsy to photos. While a darker color like black adds sophistication.
Just be mindful of your background. If you’re being photographed in front of a black backdrop, you’re not going to want to wear black. Or, if you want soft magical looking photos, black might be a little stark. However, if you’re aiming for a sophisticated shot (or black and white photos), black is always a great option.
Ok, I Have My Outfit. How Do I Pick the Hubby’s?
Probably the question I get asked the most is how do I match all of my family’s outfits. Well, the most important thing is to not think so much about “matching” and more like “complimenting”. Let’s say for example, you’re wearing a pink, tan, and sage dress. Well your husband doesn’t also need to wear pink, tan and sage. Instead, choose one color from your dress and have that color be the boldest color in your husband’s top.
So for example, you’re wearing that beautiful pink, tan, and sage dress. Have your husband wear a sage colored button up shirt or a sage colored sweater (maybe add a collared shirt under it). Patterns are still an option too. Polka dot, striped, small plaid, large plaid, prints, etc, I would just make sure that sage is the boldest color in the pattern. You can even add a plaid collared shirt under a solid color sweater for more layers of style.
How Do I Pick My Kids’ Outfits?
I have two kiddos so we’ll use them as an example. I find a dress for my daughter that has the same or similar shade of pink in my (pink, tan & sage) dress. It’s a feminine color and it’s easy to find. Or, if you don’t like or want pink, tan or gold are also great options. (Tan and gold are similar neutrals to one another). With the pink dress, I’d probably have her wear tan or gold shoes too just to tie that color in. My son’s outfit would depend on whatever color my husband is wearing. I’ll give an example.
My husband is wearing a sage plaid button up shirt and my daughter is wearing pink. Then, I would have my son wear a different color like tan (maybe in a sweater). Or, a solid colored sage sweater. Having one person wear a solid color is the easiest way to find complimentary outfits to match. But, don’t be afraid to mix knits and patterns too.
My son can wear a striped sweater while my husband wears the plaid button up shirt. When working with patterns, you want to make sure that they are not competing with each other (no two bold patterns). If one is wearing a bold print, have the other in a smaller pattern. And that goes for all of your outfits. (Example: If you have a large floral pattern, have your daughter in a smaller polka dot or smaller floral pattern).
Let’s talk solid colors
Going back to the solid colors, lets say you fall in love with a solid color dress. And, now you’re like “Jules, WTH! How do I find everyone’s outfits now?”. Don’t freak out. Use the same steps.
Let’s say you found a black dress. Look for a print for your husband that also has some black. Like a black plaid, a black and white polka dot, a black stripe print, etc. The print will break up that matchy matchy look, but still look cohesive.
For your kids, start with your first child. If it’s your daughter, look for a dress that has black in it but not all of it. You want one that has some other colors that stand out, too. For your next child, play off of your daughter’s dress. If her dress is black and yellow, have your son wear a yellow top, and maybe some black pants. Here’s an example of a family photo outfit idea with mama bear wearing a black dress:
Shop This Look
I know, we haven’t talked about pants for guys yet, and that’s because you can do lots with them. They can wear a darker denim to compliment darker shirts. Or, a slack if you want them to look a little more sophisticated or formal. They can also wear a complimentary color for their pants too. Going back to sage, pink and tan, maybe your son wears a sage sweater and tan pants, while your husband wears a sage plaid with dark denim.
Here’s a family photo outfit idea for multiple children and adding in pants for a boy (dad can wear a dark denim jean or even a maroon pant):
Shop This Look
To sum it all up, all you really need to do is the following:
1) pick your outfit first
2) pick out the colors you like most in it
3) find tops and/or dresses for your clan that match or compliment those colors you like most in your outfit and divide those colors amongst their outfits.
Note: there are lots of colors that compliment one another without matching…for example, browns, yellows, maroons, and dark greens all compliment one another…so, even if one of these colors isn’t visible in your outfit, don’t get hung up on matching colors exactly.
You’re probably like “Jules, easier said than done”. Ok, I get that it may be hard to visualize, so like a genie, your wish is my command (lol). Here is a visual of a family photo outfit idea:
Shop This Look
What If I Have More Than Two Kiddos?
If you have more than two kids, this strategy still works. I would divide the colors among them (but use different patterns, like daughter can be in pink polka dot dress or a pink floral dress, and son can be in a sage plaid or tan sweater with a pink or sage undershirt) and I would put my other kid(s) in a different color/pattern (striped sage button up, tan small plaid pattern button up, tan dress or gold dress, or tan and pink floral dress, tan and sage, gold and sage, don’t limit your color combos).
Choosing a different print/pattern and style of clothing (and material) for each person also helps to create a cohesive look without having to match.
And the point of giving you family photo outfit ideas is so that you don’t fall into a rut of settling for matchy matchy outfits like an 80’s glamour shot (you know what I mean! lol). You just want everyone to be able to stand next to one another withiut clashing. So, here are some more examples of family photo outfit ideas that you can easily throw together to look cohesive:
Shop This Look
Shop This Look
Shop This Look
Women’s Dress Options For Family Photo Ideas
Ok, now that we know the concept of picking family photo outfit ideas, here are some gorgeous and flattering dresses to consider that would make great options for family photos (and your jumping off point for putting your family photo outfit ideas together). I’ll be adding more dresses to this post throughout the next month or two, so make sure to bookmark this post to have first view! Also, I’ve linked everything on my LIKEtoKNOW.it profile for easy shopping (you can also view them by visiting my “Shop” page here on the blog).
Find Your Look Here
If you have any questions, or want to bounce some outfit ideas off of me, please feel free to leave a comment below, and I’d be more than happy to help you! This is what I love!
And remember, no matter what you or your family wears, be in the moment, and enjoy capturing your family as they are now, because time really is so fleeting! And our babies, dont stay babies for very long….ok, I’m going to cry now. Ciao for now babes!
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