Spring Time Style Guide for Families

What to wear? What to wear? And then how to dress the rest of the family, cause you know that mom is planning not only her outfit but the outfits for the entire crew!

Here are some helpful tips for creating the perfect family photo wardrobe.

WEATHER ~ Be mindful of the forecast, but let's be honest here, we live in OHIO. Not the most predictable of states. However, with that said, get a general idea and if we are talking Spring, let's talk layers.

The last thing you want is for your child ( we are talking toddler to teenager ) to be uncomfortable because they are too cold. If you want to go for that sleeveless dress because it's your favorite then by all means do it! But make sure the kiddos have comfort items. Sweaters, light coats, socks that cover ankles if outside in nature. Just things that they can help them have ONE LESS ISSUE - if your kid is that type of kid, which I'm sure none of our kids are...right? But just in case, bring some light layers. : )

STYLE + COMFORT ~ We all want to look good for our photos but if people are uncomfortable in what they are wearing it tends to show. True Story: I forced my son to wear jeans (gasp!) when he wanted to wear sweatpants one time for holiday photos that I was trying to take of my kids and their cousins. The session was torture - for all of us! He wouldn't smile unless tickled and generally was a crab the whole time, pushing me the photographer / mom over the edge. Fun. Not really. If I would have found it either A) in my heart to let him be him and document that moment in his life when sweatpants were his thing or B) worked with him to find a compromise, the photos would have been much better in the end! Lesson learned.

Try to help everyone look their best - but not if it means that they are totally uncomfortable - because trust me, they won't look very stylish while frowning.

MATCHING ~

Yes, you want your family to match - to a degree. But don't overdue it. Find a thread of similarity. And Mom's HUGE TIP HERE, always pick your outfit FIRST. Then match everyone else to YOU! So if you love how you look in that burnt orange floral and cream dress, then think about how to match that. But if you are wearing burnt orange and cream, that doesn't mean your crew has to wear those colors too. Look at a color wheel. (I'm a former Art Professor and taught color theory). There are many ways to create matching color schemes without choosing the same color over and over. I won't geek out on you here, because I'm totally tempted too, and will just share a few examples. Analogous Color Scheme - three colors that sit side by side on the color wheel Complimentary Color Scheme - colors that sit opposite of each other Triadic Color Scheme - colors that form a triangle on the color wheel

While choosing your color scheme make sure to include all those beautiful neutrals! Light grays, tans, creams, smoky gray, coffee, caramel...oh I love my neutrals and in photos they look gorgeous with rich pops of color.

Also, note that SPRING colors tend towards the mid-tones and pastels but you don't necessarily have to prescribe to what's fashionable for the season. Skin tones and hair color matter too! So wear what looks good on you first and foremost. I always get asked about whether or not it is appropriate to wear the color black. To answer that I say, You Do You. But I prefer some tone. So if you have a black shirt that you love, maybe offset it with a scarf or hat or something in some of the photos to add some dimension as well.

Patterns ~ I would recommend weaving patterns in sparingly. If one person wears a plaid shit then the rest of the family may want to pull the individual colors of that plaid out to wear as solids. You could also mix and match patterns with the kids to make it fun, but maybe not for the whole family at once. Smaller patterns work much better in photos than larger patterns. Larger patterns can create overwhelm visually. While smaller patterns tend to add a nice layer of texture to your photos. Location ~ Lastly, keep your location in mind. Examples: Greenhouse Photoshoot Avoid wearing green! Instead look at the color wheel and see what compliments all the green plants you will be standing by. If you are one that loves to play it up, you might want to look at a deep saturated red or orange as a compliment, since opposites make things pop. If you want to blend more, look to the left and right of that color on the wheel and add in some neutrals to tone it down too.

Wildflower Photoshoot What color are the flowers?? There will still be a lot of green. Flower fields tend to look busy - do you really want a busy pattern on your dress? Note the first photo on this post. My beautiful nieces have chosen deep orange and peach with small pattern. Compliments the green and bright flowers nicely. Always keep in mind where your pictures are being taken when choosing your outfit.

Hopefully this answers some of your style questions and helps you plan a successful shoot! xxoo Jessica