I love working with clients one-on-one before their session to prep them with styling ideas so that their final photos are the best they can possibly be. Each family has their own unique flavor but, I find myself typing up the same, reoccurring tips to each family – so I figured I’d make it into a blog post for easy access (and to save my poor hands from an early onset of carpal tunnel!)

1. Coordinate, don’t match.

This is my number one piece of advice. Do not, I repeat, do not think that the best family photos will come from having everyone wear jeans and black shirts. Not only is black not a very flattering color for the majority of skin tones, but your photos will instantly look dated and dull. Matchy-matchy clothing for photos is a thing of the past and the photos that really stop you in your tracks these days are the ones with more variety, depth, patterns and color.

Now, if you are thinking to yourself, “I just had photos taken last year and we matched- this Rebeccah lady sounds like a snob!” Let me say that I, as a photographer myself, dressed my own family in 100% matching outfits up until 2 years ago, so I completely understand the concept. I have simply come to know that photos with variety stand the test of time. Think about it, did Donna Reed get the whole family together for photos and make them wear the exact same thing? Of course not. Little girls wore dresses and dads had suites, moms wore varied colors and little boys had patterns and, guess what, those images stand the test of time. They are still gorgeous photos to this day.

I am always adding to my Pinterest “What to Wear” Guides- take a look by clicking HERE.

2. Don’t wear clothes with logos, writing or characters.

A small Ralph Lauren logo on a child’s shirt isn’t going to be a huge deal, but a big Nike symbol or Adidas letters? Not going to go over very well. Clothes with writing on them are inherently casual. Do businessmen wear suits with writing to the office? Do brides wear dresses with logos? No, of course not. Writing and characters are for athletic clothes and kid’s shirts with Dora the Explorer on them. There is nothing wrong with these clothes! My own daughter lives in Disney princess themed attire and my own personal wardrobe consists of cheesy graphic tees from Old Navy or Gap, but for boutique family photos we want a classic, timeless look.

3. Be mindful of your shoes AND socks.

I cannot stress this point enough. Our feet are the last thing most of us think about when getting dressed. “Do they fit? Are they season appropriate? Do my socks match? Great- this’ll do.” This thinking works every day of the year except photo day. Your feet will end up in the photos at some point- if they don’t, I am doing something wrong!- and you don’t want dirty tennis shoes or white socks ruining all of the hard work you put into your outfit.

I suggest high heels, boots, loafers or Mary Janes for everyone in the family (or dressier sandals in the warmer months) to ensure a head-to-toe polished look.  Here is an example of a client who really nailed the whole package- if I would have taken this photo and mom would have been wearing Uggs or dad would have had tennis shoes, the shot- sweet as the moment is- would have been ruined.

4. For moms: Make up is important!

My general guidelines for make-up is as follows: wear heavier make-up than you normally would, especially eye make up, but not so much that you don’t feel like yourself.

I will use the wedding analogy again: did you just throw on some lipstick and a little eye liner for your wedding and call it a day? No, you probably had a full professional make-up application with fake eye lashes and the whole shebang. And, did you look like yourself in your photos? Of course you did! A glowing, radiant, gorgeous version of yourself that made you stop and think, “Wow- I am beautiful!” It’s the same with family photos. You are investing a great deal of time and money into your session with me and I want your final photos to wow you.

If you are really feeling up for some pampering, I know an amazing professional hair and make-up artist who does house calls for $70; I am happy to pass along her information. Here is an example of some lovely, tasteful make-up that is more than this woman probably wears every day, but would look great in photos.

5. Think about your location.

My last tip is a catch-all to be mindful of where we are taking your photos, and plan your clothes accordingly. Are we going to the Stone Arch Bridge for photos? Stiletto heels might not be the best idea. Are we doing an in-studio session? You may not need a long sleeve shirt, a sweater and a vest as your outfit. Are we going to the Gale Wood Farm? A white dress might not do well having to sit on the grass. Are we having an in-home session? A 3 piece suit might look out of place at home.

Think, plan, re-plan if needed and above all- ASK QUESTIONS of me! I am here for you. You are my client and I am your photographer and just like I wouldn’t expect you to know how to get to my studio without the address, I don’t expect everyone to know what looks best in photos without guidance. This is a team effort and with my tips and skill and your gorgeous family together we will create photos that you can be proud to hang above your fireplace for decades to come.