Wondering what to wear for your spring family photo shoot? We’ve got you covered! Even though the changing of the seasons is less obvious here in Southern California, I have a soft spot for spring. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, there are several family-focused holidays—it all just makes my heart sing and gets my creative energy flowing.
It’s also a popular time for family photos, whether in the beautiful outdoors or in-studio for our annual Motherhood Mini Sessions. As the bookings roll in, so do the questions about what to wear for your spring family photo shoot. Here are a few of my top tips:
1. Choose the Piece of Clothing You’re Most Excited About First
My general advice for planning family outfits is to build everyone’s outfits around your “star piece,” the article of clothing that will stand out the most. Especially for our Motherhood Mini Sessions, I encourage moms to spoil themselves a little and pick up that beautiful dress they’ve always wanted.
As a photographer, trust me when I say that when you’re wearing something that makes you feel beautiful, it really shines through in photos!
Okay, I know I just gave you an excuse to go shopping, but don’t leave before reading my next tip about colors!
2. Consider Spring Colors
Given that it’s spring, your background will likely be bright and colorful, no matter if you’ll be shooting outdoors or in-studio. Consider wearing colors that similarly evoke a feeling of freshness, like yellow, pink, lavender, and baby blue. This is something to think about as you’re picking out your “star piece.”
Check out my post How to Color Coordinate Clothes for Family Portrait for more details, but if you’re using the strategy of basing everyone else’s outfits off of the colors present in the “star piece,” you’ll experience a much smoother process if it included the aforementioned spring colors.
3. Don’t Shy Away From Mixing Patterns
Many people are apprehensive about mixing patterns, but it doesn’t have to be difficult as along as you follow a few guidelines. First, make sure someone is in a solid color if you’re going to do any pattern mixing, so that we can avoid having the scene look too busy.
Additionally, you’ll want to think about varying the scale of the patterns—if mom is going to be wearing a dress with large-scale florals, then it would be best if dad’s shirt has small-scale plaid. When in doubt, try snapping a few photos of your clothing items together and see how it looks.
I hope this post was helpful in offering some tips that can assist you in picking out what to wear for your spring family photo shoot. We can’t wait to see your outfits!
As we emerge from a winter spent indoors, let’s celebrate the coming of a new season with a spring family session. Join us for our yearly Motherhood Mini Sessions or contact me to discuss scheduling the family portrait session of your dreams.
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