What to wear for family photos at home

Hooray, you’ve decided to capture memories in your home! This is the best choice because it means everyone will be comfortable and your photos will have a personal touch. But with that important detail settled, the next question on your mind is probably “what should we wear for family photos at home!?” As a Columbus Ohio Family Photographer, I have a bunch of tricks up my sleeve so you can focus on having fun with the people you love!

1. Prioritize comfort for everyone

Nothing shows more glaringly in photos than kids (or parents) who hate their outfits! Choose familiar outfits that you love and feel confident in. When you feel comfortable, you look comfortable, and your final photo result will be better! Remember: you don’t need to overthink it for photos at home! That’s the beauty of it. 

Here are some choices that work great:

• Comfortable, non-itchy fabrics like cotton & linen 
• Cozy sweaters 
• Bare feet or fun socks
• Loose-fitting outfits you can play in

2. Choose lighter colors

Your house isn’t too dark for photos… but your outfits might be. Dark colors like solid black or navy can be problematic in low light situations because they absorb light vs. reflect it. Dark colors can also make pet hair and lint more noticeable on your clothing, which probably isn’t something you want.

Dressing in lighter colors will brighten the overall look and feel of your photographs. Don’t be afraid to dress in patterns and pops of color, but pair those with some light neutrals like cream or light gray to boost the overall brightness. Lighter colors will bounce light onto your faces. This is a great trick for brightening up the overall feel of your photos, especially if you have a darker home aesthetic with dark walls and dark colored furniture.

If light colors aren’t your thing, you can still get a great result by sticking with earthy tones. These colors will mesh well with your natural skin tones and won’t create any harsh color reflections.

3. Keep accessories simple

Less is more here. Extra accessories can get snagged when you’re playing with your kiddos and get tangled in someone’s hair, or just become pesky and distracting. If you’re looking for a way to “pop” some personality into your wardrobe, try an interesting pattern for your clothes or a colorful bracelet that won’t move around too much when you play. 

4. Let the kids decide what they wear

There might be mixed opinions on this one, but I think the kiddos should be allowed to pick at least some component of their photo outfit! You’ll always cherish the photos that capture what their personality was like at this age. You can still be in charge of the overall choices, but allowing them to pick from some options or choosing a favorite accessory to wear will drastically increase their excitement about their photos and willingness to participate. And if they absolutely demand to wear their favorite tu-tu or halloween costume, we can capture some photos in that too! This is just one of the extra perks of having your session at home.

Bonus Tip!

We all know socks can be extremely slippery. Get some of those grippy socks so you won’t be sliding around the house and risking a slip & fall injury… and thank yourself every day!