Styling Guide
Let’s be honest — choosing outfits for photos can sometimes feel harder than the session itself! To make things a little easier, I’ve put together a few tips below to help guide you as you plan what everyone will wear. I really encourage you to read through the entire guide, as it answers many of the most common questions that come up before a session.
I also want to say there is absolutely no expectation to buy new clothing just for photos. I know that’s not always realistic, and that’s completely okay. These tips are simply here to offer a little guidance and inspiration, whether you’re pulling outfits from your own closet or deciding to add something new.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and like yourselves. When that happens, the photos naturally follow.
let's make this easy.
Need help with outfits for your session?
Take a peek at these Styling Guide sections. They are full of helpful tips and info!
styling guide sections
clothing you feel confident in
earth tones, neutrals, texture
outfits that are cohesive and coordinate
simple accessories - hats, jewelry, socks, jean jackets
footwear that looks good in photos
skip:
focus on:
any clothing too tight or too baggy
logos and neon colors, too many patterns
matchy matchy with everyone
hair ties and Apple watches
sporty sneakers
main color palette
COORDINATE, DON'T MATCH
Gone are the days of everyone in identical white shirts and jeans. Instead of matching exactly, aim for outfits that flow together. Think of your family’s outfits like pieces of a puzzle - different, but all fitting beautifully together through color, texture and tone.
PATTERNS: HOW TO USE THEM RIGHT
Patterns aren’t off-limits - you just want to use them intentionally. Stick to smaller, subtle patterns. Have only 1 or maybe 2 people in patterns and keep everyone else in solids to balance. This keeps things visually clean but still interesting.
colors + coordination
CHOOSING YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Start by choosing 2-4 main colors to build your outfits around. Think of your palette as a soft, cohesive mix rather than everyone wearing the exact same thing.
Neutrals and earth tones are always a great base: creams, whites, tans, browns, soft grays - and then you can layer in a few complementary tones for variety and depth.
BEST COLORS TO TRY
Soft, muted tones photograph beautifully.
Some favorites:
Cream, ivory, and soft white
Beige, tan, and warm browns
Dusty blues and soft denim
Sage, olive and muted greens
Blush, mauve and earthy pinks.
+ shades of these
Top Tips:
START WITH ONE OUTFIT FIRST
The easiest way to build your palette is to choose one outfit you love (often mom’s) and pull colors from there. Once you have that anchor piece, you can coordinate the rest of the family around it using similar tones or complementary shades.
MIX TEXTURES
Even within a neutral palette, you can add depth by mixing textures: knits, linen, lace, flowy fabrics.
THINK ABOUT YOUR LOCATION
Your color palette should complement where your session takes place. The goal is to blend with your environment, not compete with it.
Open fields → soft neutrals, earthy tones
Beach → light, airy colors
In-home → warm, cozy neutrals
style & select
Style & Select is a styling service I offer my clients at no additional charge. You can use it as inspiration, or for actual shopping. It's meant to better guide clients through the styling process and take some of the stress out of the process.
a peek at what this service is:
how it works:
Once you book a session with me, you will receive a Style & Select link and code.
You can then enter the code and click "Start Styling."
You will be asked to choose a vibe for your session:
___ or ___
You can then enter the number of people in your session, sizes, genders etc. and will choose color palettes you like.
The styling service will then pull recommendations for each person in the session and you can choose your favorites.
You enter your email and Style & Select will send you your selections!
You can use those selections as inspiration for what you already have or purchase those exact pieces.
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Instagrammin'
Head on over and follow me on Instagram for a look at sessions, styling & everything in between.
@nextchapter.studio
