Family Session Style Guide
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1. Choosing Your Color Palette
Start with one main color (like sage, dusty blue, rust, or cream) and build around it with neutrals and complementary tones.
Think earthy, muted, or pastel over bright or neon colors.
Keep it cohesive — not “matchy-matchy.” You want everyone to coordinate, not wear the exact same outfit.
If you’re unsure, neutrals always win. Cream, beige, taupe, olive, soft gray, or denim photograph beautifully.
Example Palettes:
→ Dusty blue, cream, tan, and sage
→ Rust, beige, ivory, and olive
→ Mocha, cream, charcoal, and blush2. For Mom
(Or the main female figure)
Choose something that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Long, flowy dresses, maxi skirts, or fitted jumpsuits photograph beautifully.
Look for movement — flowy fabrics add elegance and motion.
Avoid clingy or stiff materials that wrinkle easily.
Choose neutral or earthy tones that complement your family’s color palette.
Consider professional hair and makeup — it enhances your features and helps you feel camera-ready.
Pro Tip: Avoid strap marks or tight undergarments before your session — they can leave lines that show in photos.
3. For Dad or Partner
Keep it simple and classic.
Options like chinos, jeans, or linen pants paired with a henley, button-up, or solid tee always look great.
Roll sleeves or layer with a casual jacket for a relaxed look.
Avoid logos, loud prints, or athletic wear.
Complement your partner’s tones — if she’s in cream and sage, go with khaki or tan pants and a soft gray or olive shirt.
4. For Kids
Keep it soft, simple, and true to their personalities.
Stick to your family color palette.
Linen, cotton, knits, suspenders, or ruffle details add great texture.
Avoid cartoon characters, logos, or neon sneakers.
Barefoot (if weather allows) looks timeless.
For toddlers and babies:
Choose clothes that fit snugly, not oversized.
Bring a backup outfit in case of spills or accidents.
Don’t stress — if they run wild, we’ll capture those real, joyful moments.
5. Coordinating Outfits Made Simple
Start with Mom’s outfit first — it’s the centerpiece.
Build the rest of the family’s look around her tones and textures.
Mix in a variety of solids and subtle patterns for depth (think florals, small plaids, or stripes — just not clashing prints).
Limit busy patterns to one person max.
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Keep jewelry minimal and timeless.
Remove smartwatches and hair ties from wrists.
For shoes: stick to neutrals — think tan, brown, cream, or soft gray. Avoid sneakers or flip-flops unless your session is intentionally casual.
Add small props if they’re meaningful (a quilt, heirloom toy, picnic blanket, or hat).
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You don’t need to go overboard, but polish matters.
For women:
Soft waves, loose curls, or a low messy bun photograph beautifully.
Natural, glowy makeup with defined lashes and lips always looks timeless.
For men:
Clean-shaven or neatly groomed facial hair.
Fresh haircut a few days before the session (not the day of).
For kids:
Keep it simple — brushed, styled, but still them. Don’t stress perfection.
If you’d like, I can recommend local stylists or artists I work closely with:
→ Make-Up Option 1: Nikra Beauty
→ Make-Up Option 2: Christian Diaz Make-up
→ Hair Option 1: Lunatic Fringe Hair Salon
→ Hair Option 2: Landis Lifestyle Salon
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If you’re planning to do your own hair and makeup — don’t stress. With a few simple prep steps and the right products, you can still achieve that soft, glowing, camera-ready look that photographs beautifully.
Skin Prep
Start with a clean, moisturized face. Hydrated skin photographs best!
Apply a light primer to smooth your complexion and help your makeup last.
Avoid heavy SPF or oily moisturizers — they can create shine in photos.
Foundation & Concealer
Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone (check it in natural light).
Blend well into your neck and hairline for a seamless finish.
Use a little concealer under your eyes and on any redness, then set with a light translucent powder.
Eyes
Stick with neutral tones like soft browns, taupes, or golds — they flatter everyone and look timeless.
Curl your lashes and apply mascara to open up your eyes.
Skip shimmery shadows or glitter — they can reflect oddly in camera light.
Brows
Lightly fill and shape your brows to frame your face naturally.
Lips & Cheeks
A touch of blush adds healthy color. Cream blush blends beautifully and looks natural.
Choose a lip color close to your natural shade — pinks, peaches, or soft mauves photograph best.
Avoid glossy or sticky finishes — a satin or matte texture works best for photos.
Hair
Soft curls or loose waves photograph beautifully and add natural movement.
Avoid tight updos or heavy hairspray — we want your hair to feel effortless and touchable.
If your session is outdoors, bring a brush or comb and a little touch-up spray for wind or humidity.
Finishing Touches
Bring powder or blotting sheets to touch up shine during your session.
Keep lips hydrated with balm.
Most importantly — don’t overthink it. You’re beautiful, and I’ll take care of the rest with flattering light, angles, and posing.
Colors
Stick to similar tones without overly matching (avoid everyone in blue jeans and a white t-shirt). Neutral colors are always a good choice – use 3-4 neutral shades as your base, allowing everyone to coordinate their outfits (e.g., grey, tan, cream, blue, lighter brown, and white).
Primary colors or their variations work well (e.g., yellow/mustard, red/maroon, blue/navy/royal). When adding color, choose 2-3 main colors and one accent pop of color. Avoid fluorescent or extremely bright colors – strong colors can be great but not fluorescent. If you wear strong colors, make it a feature rather than the whole outfit (e.g., mustard jumper with denim jeans), and avoid having everyone in strong colors.
Try to minimize black – especially if one person wears a lot of black and another wears a lot of white.
For newborn shoots, stick to simple colors (grey, black, and white with pops of soft blues and pinks) and simple clothing.
Consider the location of your shoot – for a salt flats setting, wear “beachy” colors (e.g., white, cream, soft blues). For a shoot with green trees, consider colors that contrast with greenery, like warm shades of red, orange, or yellow, along with some neutrals.
Style
Textures and layers look fantastic – consider layering a kimono or shawl over a tank top, using lacy or textured materials, wearing a textured beanie on a cold day, adding scarves and boots, or pairing t-shirts with jumpers, jackets, and vests.
Match the style of your clothes to the location (e.g., wearing heels and a fancy dress in the woods may look out of place). For lifestyle shoots, wear clothes you would normally wear at home without trying to match.
If you’re unsure where to start, pick one outfit you love and style the rest of the outfits around it. Ensure everyone feels comfortable in their clothes.
Show off your personality in your attire – don’t feel the need to dress plainly if your style is eclectic. You want the photos to represent the real you.
Think about your shoes – if you’re wearing a nice dress, pair it with wedges, boots, or heels instead of old flip-flops or sneakers.
The most important thing is to feel comfortable in your choices. There's no need to buy a new outfit, though it’s always a good excuse if you want one!
