Family portraits are one of the most cherished and treasured possessions in a home.

But one of the most common questions people ask when preparing for a family portrait session is what to wear.

Finding the perfect outfits for your family portrait session can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you're trying to coordinate everyone's looks.

But, don't worry, I've got you covered!

I understand that choosing the right attire for your family can be a tough decision, but it can also make all the difference in the final result of your portraits.

That's why I've put together this guide on how to choose the perfect outfit for your family photo session.

It's full of tips and tricks on what colours work best, how to coordinate your outfits, and how to make sure everyone looks their best.

With this guide in hand, you'll be able to create stunning family portraits that you'll cherish for years to come.

Coordinate, don't match

Wearing the same outfits and same colour combination for every family member will look overly matching. You can create a great look without every family member wearing the exact same outfit (so no jeans and white t-shirts please like some photographers used to do or still do). Instead, select a colour scheme and put colours together that complement each other, you can have a more natural look. A good start is to select two main colours and then add softer tones to them.

Check your home decor

Often images will be displayed in the living room, dining area, hallways or bedrooms. So you want to consider your home decor style and make sure that the clothing blends in.

Keep location in mind

Another great thing to consider when deciding what to wear in family photos is the location of your photo session. Will you be going to the beach with a lot of neutral tones and blues in the background or will you be in the bush with more greens around you? Select a colour palette for your outfits that will complement the setting of your portrait session.

Wear something that is YOU

It is most important to stay true to yourself. Select clothing that is you, that you would normally wear, that you are comfortable in.

Avoid distracting patterns and big logos

Big logos and text on t-shirts and abstract patterns can overpower your photo. Try and avoid items that clash and stick to one pattern for your portrait session. Be careful with patterns but don’t be afraid of them! Thin stripes can do odd things in photos but large floral patterns on dresses can be great!

Just make sure all the colours are in your colour palette. It often works to have ONE person in a print and base the rest of the clothing colours others wear off that print to tie it all together.

Make sure you don’t put everyone in jeans

Mixing things up will work a lot better (texture and colour). Maybe girls in skirts and boys in chinos while dad wears jeans etc. long skirts for mum work great too!

Make sure nobody ‘jumps out’

When you plan the clothing of everyone involved in the photo session, make sure nobody ‘jumps out of the picture’.

For instance, if everyone is in blues and greens and your daughter is wearing her bright pink dress she will most likely jump out of the picture. To avoid this, lay each family member’s outfit together on a bed next to each other. This really helps to see if the outfits will look good together.

Avoid white on the top

When you look at images your eye will always go to the brightest part of the image. The focus should be on your face and expression, avoid wearing pure white tops as it will draw away attention from your face. Cream colour is a better option!