Real Family Photoshoot Outfits & Why They Worked! (Part 2) | Henderson, NV Family Photos

Hi and welcome! I'm so glad you're here! :) This blog post is Part 2 of this series. Whenever clients book a photoshoot with me, I always send over my Client Session Guide that I've created. It is packed with practical tips and guidelines about preparing for their photo session with me, including suggestions for picking outfits and coordinating with the rest of the family. You might find it helpful to see real examples of how my clients have applied these ideas. You can find the first five examples in Part 1 of this blog post by clicking HERE. Here are 5 more, so let's continue!

Tip 6: Choose Mom’s outfit first

Because this was a maternity session, the mama-to-be was always going to be the star of the photoshoot no matter what. Even if it wasn’t though, I ALWAYS want moms to feel beautiful, confident and like a million bucks because she deserves it, and I think her being happy helps everyone else feel good, too! This, of course, leads to beautiful, joyful photos! The easiest way to work toward mom being happy for the photos is to let her choose her outfit first.

I think this Mama chose the perfect dress! I seriously love it so much! First, the pleats add awesome texture to the photos. Second, the color looks fantastic on her. Third, there is a waist-defining feature on the dress, which helps emphasize her baby bump. Lastly, I love that bow and the fact that it is only on one shoulder! It's totally that little extra something that you always hope to find in a piece!

Once Mom’s outfit is decided, then you can build the others around hers.

Complementary colors. Adding a pattern if mom’s outfit doesn’t have one. If mom’s outfit does have a pattern, you can pull the rest of the family’s main colours from the pattern. Neutrals are always great additions. If mom is wearing a long dress, then you can consider a shorter dress for others just to mix it up.

I think this family totally nailed their outfits. At the same time, even though Dad and little ones’ outfits look great, Mom still stands out in hers, which I think is always a winning idea.

Tip 7: Dress to stay cool when it's Las Vegas level HOT

You can't tell, but this extended family session took place on a super hot day in late June. The family did a wonderful job of dressing comfortably for the high temperatures by wearing dresses, short sleeves (or sleeveless) and cooler fabrics. Like the family in Tip 5, each person's outfit shows their unique style, which is awesome. I mean, look at their great grandmother in the cute, light blue jumpsuit!!

Subtle patterns are incorporated throughout the group, which adds visual interest. There is more than one pattern, which is totally fine since it is a bigger group. The many solid colored pieces balance them out and prevents things from looking busy.

Finally, the blues provide a nice contrast to the green shades at the park.

The use of neutral colors (grays, cream, black) complement the blues, and makes it easy for everyone to pick or shop for an outfit to fit in with the group.

Tip 8: Consider the location

This is an older session, but I still love this family's outfits! The location was full of vibrant, happy colors, and this family dressed to match!

The key though is all the solid colored pieces, which prevent their outfits from clashing or blending in with the background.

To add style and interest, without contributing to the busyness of the background, there is only one patterned piece among the group. The navy in the shorts and dress add a welcome contrast to the yellows and white in this urban session. A cute detail is the matching, bright white sneakers among the siblings.

Tip 9: Mix up silhouettes

Imagine everyone's outfits as a black silhouette, so that you are only concentrating on the shapes.

I think that a group of family outfits is enhanced when there is a mixture of different outlines, cuts, lengths and structures.

In the example photo above, consider the ladies' outfits. We have 2 long dresses, a shorter dress, a jumper and wide leg pants. Then, these also vary in that the tube top is strapless, 2 dresses have sleeves (one is a puff sleeve) and the remaining 2 outfits have no sleeves. All of this variety, in addition to the different colours and patterns, makes the outfits more fun and adds intrigue and interest to the photos. While this tip is certainly not a hard and fast rule (see Tip 2 where all the long dresses and tuxes totally work), I think it's one of those elements that can really take photoshoot outfits to the next level!

Tip 10: Dress warm and cute at the same time

This photoshoot took place in early November, so it was a little bit chilly. Luckily, the family came prepared with outfits that helped them stay warm and yet still looked stylish. I’m talking about the light jackets on Dad and big sister. The sweater on little sis and the long-sleeved dress on Mom. Also, little sis had tights on, which allowed her to wear the skirt and not be cold. With their various outfits, levels of layers and lengths of bottoms, the “silhouettes” of their outfits have a lot of variety, which adds interest for photos. Imagine if they all wore their same tops, but then all wore pants. It just wouldn’t be the same!

The last thing I want to mention about this set of outfits is the color palette. I think it literally looks perfect for this desert setting! There are some dark pieces, but because the black is not a main focus, I think it is used strategically and looks great for fall family photos! Also, I like the warmth that the two jackets add to their colour scheme.

Well, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below. I hope these additional tips help when you go to plan your family's photoshoot outfits! Just remember that the most important thing is that each person feels comfortable, confident and beautiful in what they wear. Just look like your best you!

If you haven't booked your Fall family photoshoot in Las Vegas yet, check out my homepage here to take a look at my portfolio and get started! Dates are quickly filling up, and I don't want you to miss out on getting photos this year! I can't wait to hear from you about documenting your special memories!