It’s not surprise that picking out a wardrobe for an entire family can be tough, let along just deciding what you’re going to wear yourself for your special photos. That is why I have created this style guide so you can dress like a pro for your Fall family session with Lindsay Reed Photography!

Whether indoors or in the comforts of my Franklin, TN photography studio, I always encourage my clients to lean on the ideal of simplicity. When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments, and especially complements our beautiful area.

Mama’s, dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two instead.

Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature.

When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, I’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses photograph beautifully, but if you have little ones in your photos, a floor-length dress or skirt, or perhaps a cute midi-skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera, too.

Below are some color palettes and outfit ideas to draw inspiration from and help guide you in the process of picking out your families wardrobe:

WARM NEUTRALS

This is such a classic color scheme, bringing in the tones of the surrounding nature and making them softer. Another thing to note here though is the mama and her beautiful dress. She brought in a pattern that is subtle and brings in a very tasteful complement of black. Even though her shoes are all black, they don’t stand out and distract. Something to keep in mind if black is your favorite color to wear!

COOL NEUTRALS

Jeans are something that are often avoidable, but if you do wear them, gentlemen, opt for a darker wash, that way your skin tones will still pop in photos and not blend and you’ll create some contrast with your soft surroundings. When selecting a cooler palette, the options are endless. Soft hues of blue are always easier to find in stores for people of all sizes which makes curating a wardrobe much easier. Adding in a neutral element like a scarf and it’s complete!

SOFT HUES OF BLUSH

I am a sucker for blush tones. I feel they are so flattering on every skin tone and body type. They are some of my favorite and also a set of colors that’s easy to coordinate. Simple khaki pants, a neutral dress with dimension, a soft lace cardigan to add in some flattering layers, and a slim fit button up… it’s all a combo that can’t go wrong.

CLASSIC FALL HUES

This is for my families who love to match nature in a timeless way. Also another moment to see how a simple floral pattern can be worn without being distracting! Paired up with a cute pair of boots and this two piece ensemble compliments perfectly with the rest of the family and their bold pant options. Another rule to think about when creating your outfits. If you plan to have your kiddos or partner wear a bolder pair of pants… whether it’s denim, forest green, or mustard, balance it out with an light neutral toned shirt so they don’t all blend in together! Soft contrast makes a difference!

To simplify it all, mamas, dress yourself first and then coordinate your family around that! Pick out your dress or shirt and skirt (midi-maxi length) and then go from there! Don’t stress too much and have fun! Some of my favorite places to dress shop always have an amazing selection at a great price point, reliable, and include articles that you’d gladly wear again.

Some of my favorite places to shop for mom:
BALTIC BARN  |  MORNING LAVENDER  |  ROOLEE  |  ONE LOVED BABE
BELLA ELLA BOUTIQUE  |  FREE PEOPLE  |  MADEWELL

For kids, we all know how stressful it can be to find clothes in a world of bright florals and dinosaur covered outfits, fortunately there are some places that I personally love that really focus on neutral tones, transitional pieces, and clothes that can easily be reworn in other combinations.

Some of my favorite places to shop for the kids:
H&M  |  ZARA  |  JAMIE KAY  |  QUINCY MAE  |  RYLEE + CRU  |  GAP  |  ALICE + AMES

Lastly, don’t forget the ultimate way to prepare for your family session. While looking great may be important, feeling great is what is key. For my parents, I encourage following a neutral palette, at the end of the day, wear what makes you feel the absolute best. However, keep in mind, feeling your best is a different ball game when pertaining to the tiny humans. For your kids, pack a bag with snacks, water and any small objects (like toys or lollipops) that might help me get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera. If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior and how much fun we are going to have. Talk about how cool the camera will be and give them an idea of who Lindsay is so I don’t seem like too much of a stranger to them. A lot of families discuss and pick something fun in advance as a treat after the session if they’re good listeners, like an ice cream cone. It also helps if their bellies are full and they’ve has some good rest beforehand, or potty break for those who are no longer in diapers. Once you prepare them physically and mentally, then it’s all about giving you and your family GRACE! They’re little, and I know that some days don’t always go as planned but these days of them being little won’t last forever, but fortunately the photos we capture together do!!!