Styling Your Family for Fall Family Photos
Ok, so you finally booked that family photo session. Now comes the part that most people find hard, styling. Don’t stress. I have compiled a list of helpful tips to help you style your family for your portraits. If you have booked a session with me already, I also will send you a custom styling board for your family and you even have access to my client closet with women’s dresses available on loan. I keep the styling process completely stress free.
Tips for Styling Your Family for Fall Family Photos
Don’t wait until last minute
I prefer to start styling your family four weeks prior to your session date. This is because it takes some time to put together outfits for you and your family. It also takes time for those outfits to ship to you. Lastly, you need to be able to try on everything to ensure it is a proper fit and comfortable. If it isn’t we will work together to find other items that do work for you. This is especially true with children. You want to make sure their outfits fit and they are comfy in them. I know this seems like a lot of work, but it is not and the time is worth it. I never want you to feel stressed at any point. Your session will quickly sneak up on you and then all the sudden you will be the one rushing around in a panic trying to plan outfits for your whole family. So, make sure you avoid all the stress by planning everything out well in advance.
Consider the Location of your Photoshoot
You want to choose garments that are aligned with the location at which your session is scheduled. You never want your wardrobe to be jarring against the location or seem out of place. Many times clients who book Fall family photos are looking for foliage. So you want to choose outfits that work well withe the location. Fancy formal attire would seem out of place with foliage, so choose something that has a rustic Fall feel.
Start with One Person’s Outfit
I like to start with mom’s outfit first and her outfit serves as the anchor for the rest of the family. If you plan on borrowing something from my client closet, set up an appointment with me to try on the dresses first. If you prefer to shop for your won outfit, take the time to do so. Try out some of the local boutiques in Long Island, NY. If you aren’t into shopping in person, then you can definitely shop online. Look at websites like Free People, Nordstrom, Zara, Baltic Born, and Anthropologie. Ultimately, yu need to choose something that feels, looks, and fits amazing! If you show up to your session and don’t feel good about what you are wearing, it will put a damper on the whole shoot.
Here’s a couple things to consider when thinking about your own outfit…
I know that very loose, flowy dresses are very trendy at this time, but I if that is not your style it is OK to go with something else. You can pair a flowy top with a more fitted bottom or vice versa.
Consider bra and panty lines. Find undergarments that work well with your chosen outfit. You don’t want to be pulling at a bra strap the whole session. Nude undergarments are best with lighter colored materials.
Go for less saturated colors that are neutral, soft, or muted. (i.e. instead of wearing primary red, burgundy would be a better choice)
Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to follow trends if it doesn’t feel right for YOU. You want to aim for an elevated version of yourself. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t.
If someone else in your family is the most difficult to shop for, then start with that person and coordinate from there. For example, in my family I always start with my eldest daughetr and coordinate everyone else from there.
Select a Fall Color Palette
Fall is a great time of year to incorporate color. Colors like rust, camel, olive, mustard and burgundy are great for this time of year. Don’t put everyone in the same color, but rather choose a palette that coordinates. Also, pick a color palette with around three to four colors. This could be a palette of all neutrals or a palette of a few neutrals with a few brighter colors as well. I know that this part can be really intimidating for some people. You can always search Pinterest and look for Fall family outfit boards or check out my board. If you are booked with me, I will suggest color palettes for your family and send over a board with custom outfits that work for your family and the location chosen.
Use Layer, Textures, and Pattern in Your Clothing Choices
Layers and texture add dimension and visual interest to your images. Some good examples of layers are suspenders for boys, a vest for dad, and a cardigan or shawl for mom. Play with texture by adding in faux fur, chunky knits, velvet and lace. Also, adding in a bit of subtle pattern, perhaps in a floral dress for mom or daughter and/or a subtly patterned dress shirt for dad can ensure that not everyone is wearing one solid color. Just be sure to avoid pattern that is too bold. That can take the focus away from your family members.
Don’t Neglect Your Footwear
Shoes are important and sometimes are an afterthought. So, don’t wait until the last minute to decide what shoes you will wear. Boots, sandals, leather shoes, dress sneakers, and neutral slip-ons work well. Heels are great, but some locations do require walking, so you may want to bring a backup pair. Please avoid bright white shoes, athletic shoes, shoes with neon or bright colors, and sparkly/light-up shoes for kids.
Consider the Weather
If you have lived on Long Island, NY for any extended period of time you will know that the weather in October and November varies tremendously. It can be chilly one day and quite wram the next. My recommendation is to dress in layers and have a backup plan in case the weather turns cooler or warmer than you expected. Maybe those knee-high boots you were going to wear can change to sandals if the weather is unexpectedly warm. Maybe you can add a cardigan to your daughters dress if the weather is unexpectedly cool.
Things to Avoid When Dressing Your Family for a Fall Family Photos
Neon Colors or Colors that Are Overly Saturated
Neon and overly bright, saturated colors cause color casting and do not align with my style of editing. Also, they are distracting. aNeon colors should be avoided altogether and if you are considering a primary color such as red, you can always substitute a more muted version of the same color by going with a burgundy instead. If you like pink, mauve and dusty pink is a better option than bright pink.
Bright White or Black
I know the classic white dress is tempting, but bright white will serve as a reflector for the sun. On a sunny day, a bright white dress or shirt can be so reflective that it overpowers the faces of the people you want the focus to be on. A better option is to go with cream or off-white. Black and Navy are too dark for images and are too much of a contrast against a Fall backdrop. These colors will work at certain locations, so I will work with you to help you decide if this is the best option for your session.
Wrinkles
I rarely iron anything. I am just too busy and lazy to do so, but for my own family photos, I always bust out the steamer or iron. You have to take the time to do so as well. Wrinkles in clothing do appear in photos and they can’t be edited out. Also, if you or a family member is planning on wearing a garment that you know will easily wrinkle, consider changing into it once you arrive at your session. Even a quick car trip can easily wrinkle some fabrics.
Transitional Lenses
If you wear glasses daily, it is totally fine to wear them to your session. I want you to look like you in your images. With that being said, transitional lenses can be very problematic when shooting a session outdoors. Because of their ability to darken, they can completely hide the eyes of the wearer. This can not be fixed in Photoshop. If you wear transitional lenses please refrain from wearing them during your session. If you own a pair of glasses that are glare resistant, then opt to wear those to the session.
Athletic Shoes
I know that dressing your kids can be a challenge, but please do not dress them in athletic shoes. They do not photograph well and will give an unpolished look to your images. Rarely, if ever, do athletic shoes work well in photographs. If you have to go with a sneaker, go with a dressier sneaker.
If you are interested in a Fall family session, contact me.