Tips for Choosing Outdoor Family Photo Outfits
The number one searched for question when it comes to professional family photos is what do we wear for our family photos, or some variation of that. I wrote a blog post all about how to choose outfits for your family photos, and I still consider that the gold standard of advice for choosing outfits. I HIGHLY recommend you check it out.
I’ve also written posts about how to choose outfits for your studio session or your in-home session, as well as one specifically for maternity photos that applies anywhere. Today, though, I’m adding onto all of that advice with tips for how to choose outfits for outdoor family photos. When we decide to have family photos taken outdoors, there are a few considerations that come into play.
Visual Interest- I go into much more detail in this post about how to create visual interest, but a layered, accessorized set of outfits with print, texture and/or color is always going to be more dynamic and visually appealing than just plain shirts and pants.
Movement- While we are outside, more than inside the studio or in-home, movement plays a huge part, especially if there is wind. For women, dresses are often a great way to add movement, but layers that move with you are also great. Always be mindful when choosing outfits that they work sitting and standing, and that they aren’t too low to show more cleavage than you are comfortable, they don’t gape if they have buttons, and that your belly doesn’t show when you put your hands above your head to raise kids in the air (unless you want a little midriff showing!). There’s a lot of running around and interacting with your kids outdoors since we have so much more room, and we want to make sure you are comfortable with how your clothes move with you.
Location- Always consider your location when choosing your outfits.
Vibe- You always want to make sure that your clothes don’t feel out of place for the location (unless that’s the point!). Beach sessions should have clothes that compliment the vibe. That doesn’t necessarily mean summer clothes, but clothes that feel casual, fun and carefree. Formal clothes can be saved for more urban locations that make more sense for them there, like the Presidio Lawn.
Color- Just like choosing outfits that match the vibes, you are going to want to choose outfits that go with the season and the location. I’m a neutral girlie, so I always choose to compliment the location, but you can also purposely plan for a pop of color against the location as well. Just make sure you are considering it when choosing your colors.
Weather- The Bay Area whether is notoriously fickle, and one of the top things you should consider when choosing outfits for outdoor family photos is everyone’s comfort level no matter the weather. Make sure you have layers that you can throw on top that you don’t mind wearing in the photos. We may not need them, but having them handy for the microclimates is crucial. If it’s going to be a very cold day, kids can wear tights or extra pairs of socks under their clothes. Kids that are too hot or too cold are going to be grumpy for their photos, and their happiness is so important for a successful location.
Footwear- Wearing footwear that makes sense for your location is SO important for your comfort and the success of the session, especially for little ones. On the beach, we are often barefoot, at the more urban locations, any footwear works, and in nature, you often want to wear something that is comfortable to walk over rocks and through dirt. I tend to recommend closed toe shoes unless we are in peak summer in Marin or an unseasonably warm day in San Francisco, because toes get so cold so quickly!
If you’ve read all of this and are now sitting here with questions specific to the location you have chosen, please reach out! I’m happy to guide you for what works best for each specific spot and let you know if there are any things that need special consideration.
To book your outdoor session, click here.
Happy shopping!
