Coordinating, not matching

Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and jeans (the exception for this being a newborn session where I encourage parents to dress in neutrals so as not to distract from baby.) You wouldn’t normally go out with your entire family dressed exactly the same, right? Instead, pick a couple of colors as a running theme, throw in one or two neutrals, and choose your outfits accordingly. By choosing a color palette that you love and dressing everyone around it, you will create a family that looks like they belong together while still celebrating everyone’s uniqueness. To get the flow going with wardrobe for your family, I recommend you start with one outfit that you really like and feel is flattering on you. From there, build from it for everyone else. You don’t need to shop and buy a new outfit for every single person in your family!

Think about your home

What colors run through your home? Do you like neutrals? Bright colors? Since you will (hopefully!) be hanging your family’s photos up in your home you want to make sure that what you’re wearing in the photos won’t conflict with the style or colors of your home.

Consider your setting & season

If we’re going to be shooting in a grassy field, it's not generally the place to be wearing a cocktail dress or a tie unless you are really wanting that juxtaposition of rustic/formal. If we’re at the beach, colors that enhance the setting are great–neutrals, blues, greens, blacks… cream in all shades are great for the beach, which is the one place I'd say its ok to dress everyone in very similar tones! Don’t forget to pay attention to your feet -- a cute pair of shoes can make the outfit but should depend on your location. Closed toed shoes for somewhere more rustic and no shoes at all for the beach! Pay attention to the season and make sure everyone is dressed for the same one! If you're layering with that cute sweater, best not to put your daughter in a tank dress. You get the idea! ;)

A few more "rules"

Patterns and textures are your friend! But moderation is key. Unless...that's your jam! If your personal style is out there--work it! Otherwise, half of your family in patterns and the other half in solids (for example, a plaid, a floral, a solid top and a chunky knit sweater) works great!

*Stay away from characters and phrases or any non-fashion hats -- think timeless. On that note, unless you're wearing a family heirloom watch or something along those lines, best to leave your watch behind (I know, I love my Apple watch, too!)

Layers aren't just for cold weather! Layering adds interest and dimension. Throwing on a knit sweater that falls off your shoulder on over a dress is a great example of this, regardless of the weather!