Choosing your colour palette

Neutrals and soft earthy colours are the easiest to style cohesively.

Think beige, tan, brown, rust, muted greens and soft blues. I suggest choosing only two to three main colours to work with.

Careful use of patterns

Keep patterns to a minimum. I recommend only one family member wear a pattern (usually Mum) and the rest of the family coordinates with similar or complementing block colours. This is perfectly demonstrated in the photos featured below. Too many patterns can look busy and be distracting. 

Add texture

Texture brings interest and depth to your photos.

Think chunky knits, denim or flowy linens. Flowy skirts and dresses help add movement to your photos. 

Styling for larger families

As you can see below, this extended family chose a mix of neutrals and blues to coordinate perfectly. White is worn by all couples/families to create a cohesive look, and the different hues of blue create interest without distraction.

Instead of blue, this way of styling would also work well with muted greens or earthy reds. Think of any colour present naturally around us.

Olive, eucalyptus, pistachio, sage or forest greens,

Sky, ice, sapphire or deep ocean blues,

Rust, terracotta, clay or coral reds,

Apricot, ochre, sandstone or mustard yellows,

dusty rose or sunset pinks

Billy's outfit is white and tan to match Mum's outfit and Dad's pants, where Dad brings an element of blue to tie in with the family.

A white and neutral/brown combo will always be my favourite.

Soft blues that complement rather than match with a touch of neutral.

Comfort is key

Above all, you must be comfortable during your shoot. Don’t choose something you would not normally wear that is not 'you' or you don’t feel your best in, or you will notice it in the photos. Avoid anything that doesn’t fit well or is too restrictive.

Graphic tees... yes or no?

Graphics and large logos can stand out and be distracting in your photos. However, if you're someone who LIVES in graphic tees, (like my brother in the photo below) and a casual shoot is more your style, please feel free to wear the style true to you!

Please avoid the following:

Outfits that are overly matchy. It’s much nicer to have a few colours that complement each other instead of everyone in the same colour. Remember the denim bottoms and white tops trend? Don't be afraid to show your personality - wear what makes you, you!

Clothing that doesn’t fit well. If you are uncomfortable in your clothes, you will notice it in your photos. If you are comfortable in your clothing, your confidence will show, and your focus will be in the moment.

I hope you found this helpful,

Em x