If there’s one part of planning a family photo session that seems to cause the most stress, it’s usually what everyone is going to wear.

And I get it.

You want everyone to coordinate without looking like you bought matching outfits off the same rack. You want your kids to look like themselves. You want you to feel good. And, ideally, you want to choose outfits that will still look beautiful hanging on your walls years from now.

The good news? You don't need everyone in matching shirts. In fact, I think your family photos look much better when everyone's outfits coordinate rather than match.

Over the years of photographing families in Bloomington-Normal and Central Illinois, I've learned a few things about what makes family-photo outfits work really well.

So, if you're staring at a pile of clothes wondering how on earth you're going to get five people dressed for pictures, start here.

1. Start With Your Home

This might sound like a strange place to begin when you're choosing clothes, but hear me out.

Where are you planning to display your family photos?

If you're investing in beautiful portraits to hang in your home, it makes sense for the colors and overall feel of your clothing to work with the space where those images will live.

Take a look around your home.

Do you have lots of soft neutrals, warm wood tones and muted colors? Maybe your style is more light and airy with soft blues, creams and blushes. Or perhaps your home is colorful and full of personality.

Whatever your style, let that be part of your inspiration.

You don't need to match your walls, but you also don't want your family portraits to feel completely disconnected from the space where you'll see them every day.

Think about the colors you naturally gravitate toward in your home. Then build your wardrobe from there.

Once you have a general color palette, choosing individual outfits becomes so much easier.

2. Dress Mom First

And by “dress Mom first,” I definitely don't mean waiting until everyone else is ready and then throwing something on five minutes before you leave.

Start with Mom's outfit when you're planning the entire wardrobe.

Find something you feel really good in.

Something that fits well. Something that makes you feel confident. Something you can move around in without constantly tugging, adjusting or wondering if it looks okay.

Because here's the thing:

If you don't feel good in what you're wearing, it's going to be harder to relax in front of the camera.

And these photos aren't just about what you look like. They're about how you feel when you're looking at them years from now.

So yes, pick the outfit you love first.

Then pull colors, textures and little details from that outfit to build everyone else's looks.

3. Shop Your Kids' Closets Before You Shop the Stores

You don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for your family just because you're having pictures taken.

I repeat: you do not need to buy everyone new clothes.

Start with what you already own.

Once you have Mom's outfit chosen, look through your kids' closets and see what you already have that works with the color palette.

Maybe one child has a pair of khaki pants and another has jeans. One girl might wear a dress while another wears a skirt and sweater. A little one might have a cute cardigan or vest that pulls everything together.

The goal isn't identical outfits. The goal is connection.

Think about mixing:

Different colors within the same palette
Different textures
Patterns with solids
Dresses with separates
Jeans, khakis or other neutral bottoms
Layers like cardigans, vests or jackets

For boys especially, changing up the pants can make a big difference. One in jeans, another in khakis and another in gray can create variety while still making the whole family look cohesive.

And if you do need to shop, don't feel like you have to find everyone's outfit at the same store.

In fact, I prefer when you don't.

Your family should look like your family, not like a clothing catalog.

And if you're completely stuck, send me pictures of what you're considering. This is exactly the kind of thing I love helping my families with before their session.

4. Don't Forget the Shoes

You've spent all this time coordinating everyone's outfits...

Don't let the shoes be an afterthought.

Make sure everyone has shoes that fit, are comfortable and make sense with what they're wearing.

And please—check them before the morning of your session.

Make sure your child's shoes still fit. Make sure nobody needs a new pair. Make sure they're not covered in mud from yesterday's adventure.

Because once we're outside taking pictures, the last thing you want to realize is that your toddler's shoes are two sizes too small.

Simple? Yes.

Easy to forget? Also yes.

5. Finish the Look With Accessories

This is where you can add a little personality.

Accessories don't need to be big or flashy. Sometimes the smallest details are what finish an outfit.

Think:

A simple necklace.
A favorite pair of earrings.
A hat.
A cardigan or jacket.
A cute pair of boots.
A special hair bow.

And for little kids, I'm a huge fan of bringing something that can actually be part of the fun.

A quilt or blanket can add another layer of color and texture to your images—and it can give little ones something to interact with.

We can play peek-a-boo.

We can wrap them up.

We can swing them in it.

We can run underneath it.

And suddenly, we're not just taking another picture of everyone smiling at the camera.

We're creating the kind of moments that make everyone laugh.

And those are often my favorite images.

The Best Family Photo Outfits Don't Look Perfect—They Look Like You

At the end of the day, there really aren't a lot of hard-and-fast rules when it comes to choosing what to wear for family photos.

Coordinate. Don't match.

Choose colors you love.

Pick clothes that make you feel confident.

Let your kids wear something that feels like them.

And most importantly, don't let the search for the “perfect” outfits keep you from scheduling the photos.

Your kids won't always be this little.

Your family won't always look exactly like it does right now.

And someday, these photographs will be so much more than pictures on your wall.

They'll be a little piece of what your family looked and felt like in this season of life.

That's worth documenting.

And if you're looking for a family photographer in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, I'd love to help you plan a session that feels relaxed, genuine and true to your family—not overly posed or perfectly coordinated.

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