Figuring out what to wear for family photos so you are comfortable and look and feel your best, is stressful. Let me relieve some of that stress by providing you five tips to style your family for a beautiful outdoor desert family photo session.
Focus on Comfort
The most important thing is to feel comfortable! You want to look and feel like yourself. Plus, you're going to be moving around during our session, so consider, 'can I chase my kids around while wearing a certain outfit without worrying about a wardrobe malfunction?' If the answer is no, it's probably best to choose something else. This should include shoes. Outdoor family photos in the desert may not be the best place to wear high heels or have the kids in flimsy sandals. Close-toed shoes are always a good choice to help protect feet from thorns, and rocks. If you're planning a location with water, keep in mind that it may not be comfortable to walk in the water barefoot.
When focusing on the comfort of your clothes, you'll also want to think about the season and temperature your family photo session is scheduled in. If it's 100 degrees (as it often is even in the early fall in the desert) nobody is going to be comfortable in jeans and heavy sweaters (or all black). So when choosing your outfits, keep in mind that you'll want to be warm enough, or cool enough depending on the weather.
Add Texture and Movement
Incorporate texture and movement into the outfits you choose for your family photos. Pick fabrics that flow and move with you, but steer clear of that super stretchy, loose fabric that seems to cling to the wrong places on even the most flawless bodies. Natural fibers tend to work best, so think cotton, linen, wool and avoid anything too stiff. Fabrics with texture and that highlight movement can help create more interest in your photos.
Choose Colors that Complement
When thinking about what colors or patterns to wear, matching is out, complementary is in. This is the part that can often be the most complicated for people when styling family photos, but I'm here to make it simple. Depending on the size of your family choose 1-2 colors that compliment each other. Then for the rest of your family members choose neutral colors such as cream, ivory, earthy browns, tan, beige, etc that will coordinate well with the colors you've chosen. If you want, pick one person to wear a pattern. Just be sure to choose colors that compliment, but don't match. For your outdoor family photos in the desert, earth tones, jewel tones, earthy pastels (think dusty blue, dusty rose, etc) and neutral colors are all good choices. I've included some examples of these below!
Accessorize for your Personality
Deciding what to wear should also include some accessories! Statement necklaces, cowboy hats, etc can all add an extra little bit of your family's unique personality to the photos. If these items fit in with your vibe, they can help complete your look and bring more of YOU into the photos. The only accessory I recommend avoiding is a watch, especially an Apple watch as they're usually distracting in photos.
Find Inspiration
Look for inspiration on Pinterest and from stylists who specialize in styling for photography sessions. These experts often put together mood boards, and have resources to help you find items in your own wardrobe or purchase new items that will help you feel confident and create timeless images. A couple of great resources I recommend are: Styled by Wi and Styled in the Wild.
Ask Your Photographer
Sometimes it can feel hard to be confident in the choices you've made, and you just need another person to confirm that what you've picked is going to "look good." As your photographer, I want you to look and feel your best, so reach out to me and ask. Send me photos of what you've chosen or your ideas from Pinterest. I'll happily give you feedback on what will look beautiful for your family photos. I'm here to help in any way you need!
If you're ready to book your outdoor family photo session in the desert now that you're feeling more confident about styling your family, reach out to me.
If you’re looking for a full deep-dive into comfort + style outfit tips, check out my Phoenix outfit guide here.
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