How to Plan Your Family Photos Wardrobe | Cypress TX Family Photographer

September 16, 2024

7 Tips to Plan Your Family Photos Wardrobe

Oftentimes, the biggest hang-up with my Cypress photography clients is how to plan your family photos wardrobe. Understandably so! When you’re trying to coordinate outfits for multiple -often very opinionated- people that work together & will look flattering in photos, it can feel like a mountainous undertaking. But it doesn’t have to be! I’ve been the mom and the keeper of the photoshoot clothes, so I completely understand the pain points. I’m here to help! I’ve compiled a list of my 6 favorite tips to make planning your Cypress family photos as painless as possible.

A young girl wearing a burnt orange velvet bow and a light orange linen dress smiles lovingly at her newborn baby sister wearing a brown sweater dress during a family photo session with Mel B Photo, a Cypress TX photographer.

An example of how to integrate solids and prints into a family photo wardrobe is shown through a young brunette mother wearing a tan dress with deep shades of red florals holding her toddler son in a cotton shirt and brown, linen overalls.

A photo depicting a young brunette mother holding her newborn daughter and smiles at her toddler in an example of how to select complementary colors in how to plan your family photos wardrobe.

1. Build Your Family Wardrobes Around One Piece

When I put together outfits for my own family, I usually start with myself and choose a piece that I really love and I build the others around it. This means choosing colors that are complementary to the color of my sweater or top. Don’t be afraid to incorporate a bold shade, but opt for neutrals for the other pieces. By that, I mean bold, like a red, and add in deeper, more subdued colors, not necessarily what you might think of as a true neutral. Deep shades of green and navy blues can also act as neutrals.

A family of four smiles in a Cypress TX area sunflower field wearing complementary shades of blue in various prints and fabrics. This image is used as an example of building your family wardrobe around one piece of clothing.

2. Mix & Match Your Shirts and Pants

If someone is wearing a green shirt, consider a shade of green for another family member’s pants. Similarly, if your husband is going to wear jeans, putting someone else in a blue top pairs perfectly. This way, your outfits work together while still adding some variety and interest to your photos.

An extended family session in a Houston area studio is depicted as an example of how to plan your family photos wardrobe by Mel B Photography. This family opted for clothing pieces in shades of blue and tan, often alternating the colors in pants & tops. — Note that there is a combo of blue shirts *and* blue pants, and the same is true of the khaki shade. It creates cohesion and variety simultaneously.

3. Aim for Cohesion

It’s a common misconception that everyone should be wearing the exact same shades, but I would urge you to rethink that. Don’t go matchy matchy– it looks cliche and kitschy. Instead, think of colors that complement each other and work together as a cohesive look. For example, complementary colors or adding in denim to work with a blue shirt works beautifully. Save yourself the headache of trying to hunt down identical colors in sizes that work for everyone!

A Tomball TX family photoshoot is depicted as a family of five is seated on the floor of their Houston area home, admiring their newborn baby while wearing coordinating shades of charcoal gray, tan, and denim.

A Houston area family of 5 is shown seated on their greige living room sofa while admiring their newborn as an example of how to plan family photos wardrobe by Mel B Photo. — This family opted for colors that complement each other as well as a variety of patterns, solids, and textures with thermals, sweaters, & denim.

4. Layer

A great way to tie together your family photo wardrobe is adding in layers. Denim jackets, cardigans, & textured jackets or pull-overs can easily add wow factor to an outfit while simultaneously pulling together the look as a whole. Just keep comfort in mind! The Cypress summers here in Texas tend to last well into fall family photo season, so be sure you can, you know, breathe in whatever you’re layering.

Two Houston area toddlers snuggle their newborn sibling in an example of how to plan wardrobe for family photos.

5. Add in Variety with Prints & Textures

Don’t be afraid to mix in some prints & patterns like stripes, gingham plaid or the like. Keep it minimal, but strive for balance between solids & prints. You don’t want it to be too busy, but too many solids look too plain. Keep the texture of the fabric in mind too. It’s a great way to add depth without making things too busy. I’m such a sucker for texture– because light loves texture, it photographs really well! Combining it with solids & prints while layering pieces creates lots of variety in the photo.

A Cypress family photoshoot with Mel B photo is shown to highlight the importance of including variety with prints, solids, and textures when planning outfits for family photos.

Two young Cypress TX parents look lovingly at their newborn daughter cradled in her mother's arms as their older two children, seated on their parents' laps, admire their baby sister during a family photoshoot with Mel B Photo.

A Cypress TX family of 5 (including their newborn daughter) photoshoot with Mel B photo is shown to highlight the importance of including variety with prints, solids, and textures when planning outfits for family photos.

6. Put Everything Together

Lay everything out and see what you think. If your kids are taking pictures together separate from mom & dad, are their outfits cohesive? The same goes for mom & dad. It can be tricky because your wardrobe needs to work as a whole, but they also need to be cohesive separately. Does all but one person have some variant of green? Add accessories or a jacket in that color.

7. Use What You’ve Got

My biggest piece of advice: please, please, please do not feel like you need to go out and buy everyone a new piece! Use what you’ve got on hand. The logistics and planning surrounding family photos is enough without adding unnecessary stress to your already full plate! I practice what I preach with this one. In recent photos my family had taken, every piece of clothing was something we had in our closets with the exception of my son who needed a new shirt. Those in between sizes are killer, aren’t they?

If you want a visual walkthrough of how I dress my own family for photos, I’ve got videos up on my IG. You can take a look those here, here, or here.

Cypress, TX Family Photographer

Hey, I’m Melanie B of Mel B Photo. I specialize in capturing every season of life for Tomball, Cypress, and Spring families in Houston, TX. From the early newborn days to family photos when your crew grows, I’m here to photograph every beautiful chapter. Ready to invest in a stress-free experience and emotion-packed, authentic images to remember every detail of this stage of life? Check out my family packages here and don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest for tips & inspiration! Want to book your session or have more questions? Contact me here. Let’s create memories together!

If you liked this post, check out these related blogs from Mel B Photo:

How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Houston Family Photo Session

The Importance of Family Photos