Styling Guide for Families
Thank you for choosing Britt Udy Photography for you family’s photo session! You may be wondering what to expect and how to prepare for your session so I’ve got a few tips and tricks for you! The most important thing is that you don’t stress during this process. My guide is to take the guesswork out of dressing your family so you can arrive to your session fresh and stress-free! I’ve got you!
FINDING THE RIGHT TIME + LOCATION
TIME
Typically, the best light for your photos will occur during “golden hour,” which is the hour immediately before sunset or right after sunrise, when the sun is close to the horizon and casts soft, rich light on the earth.
To establish a start time for your photo shoot, look up the sunset time for our shoot date (and city) and subtract an hour. That’s usually the best time for us to start, but we’ll be sure to confirm the exact time together!
Remember, the sun sets much earlier during winter and much later during summer, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your portrait session date, especially if you’re taking off work or have evening plans afterward.
Location
The location of your session is completely up to you! Consider the atmosphere and vibe you want to convey in your images, and if you prefer something indoors (like your home), outside in nature, or something more urban.
And don’t be afraid to think outside the box or limit yourself to my locations. I encourage you to brainstorm unique locations that you might have special access to that most people don’t.
Maybe you, or someone in your personal or professional network, can secure permission to a location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate or industrial space. Maybe it’s a flower farm, upscale hotel, airplane hangar or rooftop view. The sky is literally the limit!
If you are unsure of the perfect location, don’t worry- I’ve got you covered. I have included a list of my top (4)favorite locations to photograph family sessions. Please let me know if you are interested in any of these or if you’d like to talk about different locations.
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Scout Mountain
Scout Mountain has so many beautiful places! You can stop at the Nordic Trails or continue up to the top more breath taking views.
Best time for this location would be about 2 hours before sunset.
This location is open late spring to late fall (all depending on weather for the road closure.)
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Sacajawea Park
Sacajawea Park is gorgeous! It has a beautiful area with tall grass and green trees.
Best time for this area would be an hour and a half before sunset.
This location is best May to October.
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Gibson Jack Trails
Gibson Jack is a strong go-to place for me! It is guaranteed to give you the most beautiful backdrop of mountains and trees and grass!
Best time for this location would be about and hour and a half before sunset.
This location is best ALL YEAR! It is open even in the winter months and still gives the best photo no matter the time of year.
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My Green Pasture
I am a little biased on this one! I am lucky to own about 10 acres of land. It gives me the most beautiful landscape of a green pasture or snow covered pasture with neighbors far enough they are not in the view of my lens.
Best time for the location is an hour before sunset.
This location is best ALL YEAR! Since I own it, we can use it if this is the vibe you want in your photos.
Styling Tips for Her
Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flattering on most female bodies, especially on camera. What’s better than a full and flowy skirt?! It’s like a built-in "prop," giving you something to twirl and swirl, and adding effortless movement and interest to your photos. A dress always looks nice, so definitely my recommendation. Don’t be afraid to choose something like jeans or jumpsuits though, especially if that’s the type of look you’re going for.
Earth-tones photograph best, period! Other colors you can incorporate are creams, whites, and blacks.
Stay away from bright colors (neons, bright engine red, turquoise, orange and yellows) and lots of patterns. These do not complement my style of editing and generally do not shoot well.
Check out my Pinterest board for more idea!
*Pro Tip: Momma find your outfit first! Then build what your family is wearing around you. It is the hardest for mom’s to find the perfect outfit. Therefore, my moms should find what they feel most comfortable in and confident.
Place to shop include:
Zara (great for all ages, genders, and sizes)
LettieBoutique (great for simple chic clothes for mom) PLUS they are local! They have incredible style and will help you find the perfect outfit for your photos.
Target (great for all ages, genders, and sizes)
Madewell (great for simple, chic clothes for mom)
Free People (great for simple, chic clothes for mom)
Old Navy (great for all ages, genders, and sizes)
Accessories, Hair, & Makeup
Jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. can add such a huge difference in really elevating your photos. Accessorize to add character but don’t go too over the top (think about a statement necklace or earrings, but probably not both) It adds an extra bit of luxury and appeal to your images and really pulls together your look.
Consider having your hair and makeup professionally done for the session. This will enhance your natural features and make you feel camera-ready. If you prefer to do your own hair and makeup, aim for a natural, polished look. Keeping your eyes nice and bright. Avoid trying out new hairstyles or makeup techniques on the day of your session, better to try something new a few days before to make sure you’re accomplishing the look you’re going for.
Nails + Spray Tans
For nails, I would recommend you either paint them, have them professionally done, or use press-on nails. OR, YOU CAN KEEP THEM CLEAR AND CLEANED OF ANY POLISH. I will not edit your nails in your photos.
This is the same with self-tanner or a professional spray-tan. If it is your first time using tanner or getting a spray-tan, I would recommend doing a trial run. I will not edit your skin tones to try and fix any problems that may come up.
Styling Tips for HIM
The Best Fit
Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes is always my recommendation for Men. Fitted dress pants or fitted solid-colored pants work best on camera. For a casual look, a nice clean pair of jeans works great!
Patterns like pinstripes, plaid, or small busy patterns tend to take away from the subject, and can also look odd on camera, and create a Moire effect so I’d recommend avoiding them. I also recommend staying away from graphic t-shirts and large logos.
Don’t be afraid to add a nice jacket, or a long sleeve collared shirt! All depending on weather, of course.
Details
Wear a watch if you are used to it! Make sure it’s your nicest one!
Get a fresh haircut a day or two before your session to keep your cut looking fresh and cleaned up. Trim your facial hair neatly or shave if you prefer a cleaner look. Ensure your nails are clean and well-groomed, as they’ll be visible in some shots. If you wear glasses, decide whether you want to wear them or go without, considering any glares or reflections.
Styling Tips for Littles
What should my baby and toddler wear?
A neutral colored or muted toned jumpsuit or overall is always cute on a small baby! You’ll do a lot of picking them up and moving them around, so it’s helpful to have an outfit that you don’t have to constantly pull the shirt down or pull up the pants to hide the diaper. Makes it easier on you! If you want to get more creative with the outfit, use some floral pattern, other subtle patterns or textures to add more dimension. I also adore throwing over a knitted sweater over the jumpsuit or overalls for a colder day. If you decide to put a dress on your babygirl, make sure to have some cute shorts or a diaper cover under her dress.
Whatever you dress your baby in, make sure they are comfortable because we want them happy during the photoshoot!
What should my kid wear?
Dressing kiddos in dressy over casual clothes will elevate your photos. Dress them like little adults! Avoid clothing with logos. For girls, flowy dresses, give them something to swirl around and add movement. For the boys, fitted dress pants, slacks, jeans, or shorts all work great depending on the style you’re going for.
Accessories and Hair
Accessories are such a fun touch for kids! Adding in a hairbow or headband for your little girl is such a cute touch and highly recommended! Cute, knitted knee high socks with the dress is also a cute touch. For boys, adding in a pair of suspenders with their dressy clothes are great, or even adding in a hat for your kiddo if you’re going for a more casual look can really add a nice touch too! Don’t be afraid to accessorize with the kids too.
For hair, braids on little girls are such a cute touch and make sure to do up your boy’s hair as well. Using hair gel or hairspray will help keep it styled.
01 Keep Location in Mind
Another helpful item to consider when trying to decide what to wear in your family photos is the location of your photoshoot. Are you going to be on the beach where there are plenty of neutral tones or under a tree at a park surrounded by bright fall foliage? Select a color palette for your outfits that will compliment the setting. Pick out items of clothing in colors that will compliment the background, and not compete with it, or blend in too much.
02 Start with 3 Core Colors
Knowing what colors to wear for family photos can be tricky. Before you go unloading your whole family's closet, you can simplify this process with a plan. You can accomplish a cohesive look without everyone wearing the same outfit. The base colors will be the basics that will make up the core pieces of your wardrobe.
03 Add in 1-3 Accent Colors
If you want to add a bit of variety, or if you can't find a complete outfit from your 2-3 core colors, add in a couple of accent colors, to be used less frequently than the core colors.
These colors should complement the neutrals and nearly-neutrals that you're already using.
Feel free to use other colors that aren’t on this list. These are just colors that are often incorporated and will compliment just about any of the neutrals above.
COLORS:
Coordinate your outfits; DO NOT MATCH
Use these sample Palettes to visualize wardrobe options for your family
Don’t be afraid to incorporate some patterns into your wardrobe too.
The base of your overall wardrobe should be solid colors with some nice texture, but adding in someone to have a pattern like Mom’s dress, your daughter’s skirt, or a throw over jacket for your son is a perfect way to add even more interest and thought into your wardrobe. If you overdo it with prints and patterns the outfits can overwhelm the photos, so always mix with solid neutrals for a cohesive look. Some of my favorite combos are a floral dress for Mom and daughter, neutrals for Dad and Son, and textures like knit a knit sweater and matching leggings for baby girl for a more boho, earthy look.
Want to simplify your family outfit even more? Go all natural!
Does picking a palette sound like too much? You can hit the easy button and still let everyone shine by going all-neutral all the way. Especially if you’re going for a boho look! Start with white, cream, tan or beige for most of the pieces, then mix in a couple nice colors like olive green or khaki pants and finish it off with a couple hits of visual interest with textures. Some I love are lace, corduroy, knits, satin, linen, and waffle cloth.
Feel free to get creative with it, and make it fun! These are your family photos after all!
how to prep your little ones
That being said, don’t be worried about how your kids will behave or embarrassed if things don’t go as planned. They’re little, and their unfiltered, unpredictable emotions and outbursts are part of the reason you want to remember this season in life. It's my aim to help you embrace these moments with them instead of trying to make them act a certain way for an hour or more. We will make sure to get a few shots of everyone smiling and looking at the camera, but for the most part I want you to just have a great time and be yourselves. I’ll go with the flow.
My favorite thing to capture is all of those in-between moments that can’t be perfectly posed anyway. If one of your children starts running away from the group giggling, scoop them up and smother them in tickles and kisses. If they are shy or upset, hold them close and tell them how wonderful you think they are while tucking their hair behind their ear. If you as a parent keep smiling and having a good time, or are frustrated at them, your child will usually pick up on that. Let’s make this a positive experience all the way around, and I will be able to capture sweet moments the whole way through.
Sometimes “imperfect” situations can lead to the perfect photo. And trust me, I know that some of your favorite photos will be of the intimate or silly moments that nobody planned on!
TIP#1: Practice smiling. I know this sounds silly, but try practicing with cues like, "Show me your teeth!"
TIP #2: Find a song, dance, or video that captures their attention and brings out joy. I've learned that small kids can't fake it. They feel what they feel. And you can hack that! Prior to your photo session, practice singing some songs or learn some silly dances that make your child(ren) genuinely happy.
TIP #3: Pack a toys and snacks bag. Before your session, pack a bag with snacks, water, and any small objects (like toys or treats) that might help us get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera.
TIP #4: Give a pep talk. If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior.
TIP #5: Good ol’ fashioned bribery. A lot of families discuss and pick a treat that the kids will receive after the session if they’re good listeners and smilers.