It’s no secret that coordinating the entire family can be one of the most stressful parts of a family photoshoot. It’s also one of the most important! Creating a cohesive look can really make the portrait.

Here are five tips that help break down the process into digestible steps. Take a deep breath and dive in - I promise it really isn’t that hard!

2 - Choose A Color Palette

When dressing multiple people you want to coordinate, not match. Those days when everyone wears the same color shirt and a pair of dark wash jeans are over. Don’t do it! Instead, find inspiration around you. If you plan on displaying a large family portrait on the wall, choose colors that compliment your furniture. Consider the season - certain colors look better at different times of the year:

Winter: Cool whites, grey and blue tones work well. Also consider a bold pop of color!
Spring: A nice mix of pastel colors with some dominant greens always work well. Another great option is navy blue.
Summer: Fun florals and bright colors compliment the saturation and warmth of the season.
Fall: Burnt oranges, mustard yellow, red, purple and verdant greens are perfect for this show-stopper of a season.

Focus on finding ONE color you love. After that you can head to one of the many color palette generators online to find coordinating colors. Two of my favorite are listed below:

<< Design Seeds >>

<< COOLORS >>

2 - Choose A Style

Clothing styles have been around since the dawn of time, making it one of the oldest forms of communication. From fine silk robes to everyday denim, style can be used to tell a story about who you are and where you come from. Clothing styles also provide a way for your family to express your collective identity and even show off your culture and traditions. Imagine your new portraits hanging in your home. What feeling do you get when you visualize the pictures? Casual & fun? Formal & dressy? Chic & stylish? What style resonates with your family the most?

No matter what you select, as long as you keep the entire family within the boundaries of that style, your family portrait will look cohesive.

3 - Start With The Most Difficult Dresser

Once you have selected your style and color palette, it’s time to dig in. The biggest tip I have for you is to select an out fit for the the person who is the most difficult to dress first. You want this person to have the widest of choices. Once they find their perfect outfit you can base everyone else off of them. I can’t tell you how much easier your life will be if you follow this one tip!!!!

4 - Comfort is Key!

Choosing comfortable clothing ensures that everyone will feel relaxed during the photo session. It will leave you in a better state of mind while posing and having your picture taken which will help create natural photos with genuine expressions. This is even more important for children. Nothing will sabotage a photoshoot more than a scratchy sweater or tight shoes!

5 - Accessorize

Accessories can pull any outfit (or group of outfits) together. Consider things like a statement necklace or scarf to add a pop of color. Sunglasses or a hat can be added in for a few photos to easily create a different look or vibe. Really, have fun thinking of some small things that can make a big impact. Have fun with it!

Remember, photos should be fun & timeless, which means your outfits need to be too!