Deciding what to wear in family portraits can be just as challenging as finding the perfect photographer! These are photos you are going to hang on your walls and cherish for years to come. It can seem overwhelming when considering what to wear, but it doesn’t need to be! Use these tips to help pick out the perfect wardrobe for you and your family.

1. Coordinate colors, but don't necessarily match.

Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and matching. Instead, pick a few colors and choose clothing that will fit into your chosen color scheme. You can do this with a neutral and a few colorful brights, or try a softer palette that has different tonal ranges of the same shades. It can also help to have one "rock star" in the photos who carries a pattern in their outfit that the rest of the group's clothing or accessories pulls from, while keeping everyone else's outfits more simple.

2. Look at your home decor.

Do you like bright colors? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house, you may want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the colors in your home.

3. Avoid blacks, whites, and characters.

Wearing an all white shirt can cause the subject to look washed out, as well as losing detail on the shirt. The same can be said with all black; it’s easy to have clipping on black clothing and the detail is lost. Character shirts can be fun, but you may want to skip them for the family photo session. Just like overwhelming patterns, characters on shirts can be pretty distracting.

4. Don't forget layers, textures, and accessories!

Wearing layers is an easy way to give you multiple looks without having to do many wardrobe changes. Accessories like jewelry, scarves, hats, belts, or ties not only add to your outfit but they can be a unique way to show off your personality during your session! The right accessories can take a ho-hum image and make it "complete" without overwhelming the photo. Choosing accents with a pop of color or a nice texture can add depth to your portraits.