How to Choose the Perfect Outfits for your Family Portraits in Each Season | Nashville Family Photographer Dolly DeLong Photography 

Choosing outfits for your family portraits can feel really tricky each season! While I’m all about leaning into the colors and vibes of each season, I think it’s important to think about the longevity of your portraits, too. When we capture family portraits,  I want you to be able to enjoy them for years to come. I want you to hang them on your walls, print them in your albums, and show them off.  So, let’s talk about how to choose the perfect outfits for your family portraits in each season. There are three main things to consider when picking outfits for the family! 

Think about the season first.

Depending on when you take your photos, the season will lend itself to some unique looks. For example, if we’re doing family photos in the fall, it may be tempting to dress your baby in a cute pumpkin outfit and put them in a pile of leaves. While it’s SUPER cute and would do well online, it may not be what you want to look at on your wall forever. We can totally grab that shot, but I recommend considering a more neutral and seasonal appropriate outfit for the majority of the session. The same thing goes for holiday photos! While we love the matching red and bright green sweaters, is that something you want to have hanging on your wall all year long? I won’t tell you no if that’s what your family wants! But, consider leaning into the season in another way in your outfits. Maybe you can choose more neutral colors and dress them up with a fun bow, piece of jewelry, or accent piece.

Neutrals always look good!

As you plan your outfits, if you find that you’re struggling with color combinations, take a step back. Consider starting with a neutral palette. Look for whites, ivories, tans, and even grays. These can be a great place to start your outfit choices. From there, you can bring other colors in through your kids’ outfits or accessories. No matter the time of year, a neutral palette will always look amazing!!

Coordinate, don’t match.

Finally, no matter what season you choose for your portraits remember that it’s better to coordinate – NOT match outfits. I always recommend starting with one outfit and building from there. A lot of times, that’s mom’s outfit. Then you can start to pull other colors out of her dress or look and dress the rest of the family. Coordinating colors look best instead everyone in the same shade or outfit. If you have a session in the fall, you can consider warmer colors like mustards, purples, and deep greens. Spring lends itself to pastels. Again, neutrals are good all year long!

If you’re looking for outfit advice, feel free to send ideas my way while planning for your session! I am happy to help curate a wardrobe that not only feels coordinated, but that looks beautiful for years to come.

Want more ideas on how to style your session? Grab my FREE Family Portrait Style Guide here!

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