9 Essential Tips for coordinating family outfits
👋 You've scheduled a photo session for a location you love, and now you're wondering how to show up looking coordinated, yet authentic as a family.
This guide covers the foundations of styling your family so you look great for your session. Let's begin! 📸
1. Start with a color palette
"Color is a power which directly influences the soul."
Wassily Kandinsky
Choose 2-3 Core colors
Your main colors should work together harmoniously, and will comprise the majority of your outfit. They often share a theme (warm, cool, pastel, jewel). You can include a neutral in this set, or in addition to this set.
Examples of core color schemes:
- Blush pink, sage green, light grey
- Rust, Olive Green, Cream
- Navy, Grey, Burgundy
- Beige, Taupe, Soft White
- Burnt Orange, Olive Green, Chocolate Brown
- Light Blue, Sand, Navy
- Emerald Green, Deep Purple, Teal
Add an Accent Color
Introduce one additional color as your accent color, and sprinkle it in. This could be added as scarves, jewelry, shoes or hats. This helps it feel fun, elevated and natural. To choose your accent color, consider something that is a complement (opposite of) the colors in your Core Color Scheme.
💡 Check out this blog post for 3 color palette suggestions for some of the most iconic SF and Marin photo session locations,
2. Shop Your Closet
The first place to start can be your closet. Do you have a favorite pair of denim you love? Start with that piece and build from there. This gives you a baseline of authenticity and resourcefulness, with room to go out and buy something special if you desire.
3. mix textures + patterns
Have fun with textures
Texture adds to much depth to a photograph, so you have freedom to incorporate as many as you'd like. Denim, knits, and cotton all photograph beautifully. For example, you might combine denim with a knit sweater, or a linen dress with a corduroy jacket.
Be subtle with patterns
For most outdoor environments, we want our patterns to be subtle. This is to fit the vibe, keep the attention of your faces, keep coordination straightforward, and to aim for timelessness. Think pinstripe (thin vertical stripes), houndstooth (broken check pattern), gingham (checkered pattern), herringbone (v-shaped weaving), polka dots, plaid or tweed. These patterns are all approved in moderation because they add depth without distracting from your beautiful faces. Steer clear of large, bold and busy prints, logos and graphics, bold horizontal stripes, and neon colors or high contrast patterns.
4. coordinate, instead of Match
If you're going for a natural and authentic family look that's still visually appealing, you'll want to coordinate instead of match. This creates visual harmony with a balanced look that creates a flow through the image, a path for the eye to travel. This also lets people showcase their personality (and we know our kids have lots of it!).
"Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself."
Oscar de la Renta
5. dress for LOCATION + SEASON
Look to the setting for inspiration
If in nature, earth tones are inspired by natural elements like soil, rocks, plants and the sky. They tend to be warm, muted, and neutral which means they're also great for coordinating. Warm earth tones would be terracotta, rust, olive green, or mustard. Cool earth tones would be sage green, slate grey, taupe, or clay. Neutral earth tones would be beige, khaki, cream or mocha.
If in urban settings, you can easily go with bolder or brighter colors in order to match the energy + stand out.
MIND THE SEASON
We know the Bay Area weather can be volatile, so it's always a good idea to bring layers but we don't want to end up with our winter jackets on especially after all that prep to put on our best look. The key is to layer thoughtfully and choose versatile pieces that can handle sudden changes in weather. Start with a well-fitting, stylish base layer that you'd be happy to wear on its own if the weather is warm. Layer with outerwear that's both functional and stylish. This might mean a denim jacket, classic wool coat, or chunky sweater. You might also accessorize with functional pieces to warm you up in a pinch. Scarves are easy to put on and remove, and can add a pop of color for style. Hats like a knitted beanie or fedora can warm you up while adding a stylish element. Nice gloves can also look sleek and coordinated, while keeping you warm.
6. wear FOOTWEAR THAT WORKS
balancing comfort and style
It's important to be able to move in your environment, so be sure to wear shoes (or no shoes) that let you. Style and comfort often can be obtained with neutral-toned boots, loafers or clean sneakers.
7. be prepared with accessories
Accessorizing can elevate your outfit by adding personality, sophistication and a polished touch. They let you show your personality. Examples for the adults include hats, belts, scarves, boots, necklaces, earrings, sunglasses, statement bags, bracelets, and watches. For the kids, you might consider hats, scarves, hair accessories, socks and tights, small bags or backpacks, suspenders, belts, or even functional things like umbrellas and stuffed animals. If accessories are new to you, you could use functionality as a guide. Need a new handbag to carry snacks for the session, this is your moment! Want to make sure you have backup warmth in case the fog rolls in, you could buy that cashmere scarf you've had your eye on.
8. comfort and ease matter
prioritize comfort
We usually remember how we felt when we look at our photos. Dress your best, but don't sacrifice genuine comfort. This goes for everyone. This should help ensure happy memories and relaxed smiles in your photographs.
strive for minimal fuss
Clothing that requires constant adjustments should be reconsidered, because you'll want to stay in the moment for your photos. Skirts that ride up, shirts that need frequent adjusting, or headbands that need repositioning can be beautiful but might be more trouble than they're worth if they become the focus of the session.
9. final tips
Ok so this is a lot! It's totally normal if some of it resonated, and other parts didn't. Trust that you'll take what you need. Before the shoot, throw out the outfits together to see how they look. This can help you identify any clashes or dominating areas that may need adjustment. You might also want to consider general grooming like hair and makeup. Natural styles usually work best, making sure everyone looks groomed while also feeling true to themselves. <3
