Family Christmas Photography near Dayton, Ohio
Do you schedule family Christmas photography sessions each year? If so, I’ve got some great tips for you!
If you want to create frame-worthy holiday pictures, it helps to put a little bit of time and effort into deciding what to wear for your family Christmas photo. Your outfits will help set the tone for your portraits, so it’s important to choose wisely. But don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be stressful.
If you are feeling concerned about what to wear, stick to these simple dos and don’ts and you’ll be just fine!
Pro Tip: Pinterest is a great source of inspiration if you want to figure out, or compare, a few color schemes that you can use for your upcoming Christmas photo shoot. Check out my family clothing inspiration boards here.
Christmas Wardrobe Dos
To get started, let’s dive right into the family Christmas photo wardrobe dos:
1. Do consider the backdrop: Whether your family Christmas photography session is in a studio or in an outdoor location that you love, think about the backgrounds you’ll be posing in front of before you settle on outfits for your session. Busier backgrounds require simpler outfits. This stays true for the opposite scenario as well. A simple background can give you permission for a busier, maybe more colorful, outfits.
2. Do coordinate: It’s always a good idea to coordinate outfits, but don’t make the mistake of making your outfits match 100%! Coordination doesn’t mean that everyone in the shot should look exactly the same. It simply means that the colors, patterns and outfit style matches. I suggestion families pick two to three colors and everyone chooses an outfit within those parameters. Or pick one color and have everyone in different hues of that same color, adding in some neutral colors is great to break up the colors.
3. Do incorporate something cozy: Winter is all about cozying up with the people you love, so try and add a cozy item of clothing to your outfit. Think textured sweaters or socks, or a scarf with an interesting knit. Layering is also a great way to incorporate a little bit of coziness. One of my favorite cozy items to incorporate are socks!
Christmas Wardrobe Don’ts
Now that we’ve covered the dos, let’s quickly talk about the don’ts.
1. Don’t overthink it: For your family Christmas photo you don’t have to be super realistic in regards to how you’re dressed. This is the time to get out of your daily routine and add a bit of sparkle to your look. Go ahead and wear that bright, glittery formal dress outside or wear a jacket and boots indoors. Whether you dress up in your fanciest attire or dress more cozy and casual, have fun with it. Don’t overthink what is and isn’t practical for your environment.
2. Don’t over-accessorize: There are a lot of fun accessories and props that you can add to a Christmas-themed shoot, but because of this, it’s also very easy to overdo it. If you are going to wear gloves, hats and your favorite coat, make sure the patterns don’t take away from the people in the photo and that the coats don’t make you look too frumpy. You and your family are the stars of this shoot, not your wardrobe!
3. Don’t make them feel uncomfortable: If the people in the photo feel uncomfortable in their clothing, it’s going to show in your photos. Picking outfits that everyone feels comfortable will result in the most natural smiles and an array of fun shots.
More Family Christmas Photography Tips
Now that we’ve covered the dos and don’ts of your holiday wardrobe, I want to throw in a bonus tip surrounding coordinating colors and patterns. Keep reading to discover a few of my favorite colors to photograph family’s in for Christmas photos.
1. Shades of Blue: Different shades of blues and teals paired with white or silver can be great options for holiday family photos. It gives a hint of the winter holidays without being overly Christmas-y.
2. Red & Green: This Christmas color combo will always be a holiday favorite, and for good reason. I suggest adding in some subtle patterns like plaid. Pairing the brighter colors with some neutrals like khaki, creams and whites, will help these strong colors to not become too overpowering.
3. Neutrals: If you’ll be taking photos with a very busy background, opting for a simple and muted color pallet might be the way to go. Add interested by adding textured knit sweaters and layering clothing. Think cream, white, brown, and gray.
Holiday Portraits with Ashley Lynn Photography
If you’re looking for more tips on taking holiday photos, check out this blog: 7 Ways to Take Better Family Photos During the Holidays. It covers everything from how to choose the right location to how to get your full family bunch involved.
Let me know your favorite holiday wardrobe color combination down in the comments. I can’t wait to see what you all love!
Xoxo, Ashley