Holiday Photo Tips from a Delaware Family Photographer

I’m coming to you here as a mom, not just a Delaware Family Photographer. Picture this… The kids are in bed, you’re scrolling on your phone and remember that you still haven’t selected outfits for your upcoming family photos. You hop on Pinterest to get some inspiration and the next thing you know an hour has passed, you have a board swamped with choices that have no real working links, and you’re no closer to checking off outfit coordination from your mental to-do list. Does that sound familiar!?

I hear it from moms all the time. Deciding what everyone should wear is hard, overwhelming, and time consuming!! As a fellow mom sweating through the juggling act of family life, I feel passionate about making family photos simple & stress-free for other moms. So without further ado… here is your go-to resource for outfit coordination this holiday season, directly from a Delaware Family Photographer who has seen what works and what doesn’t. 

Three Things to Avoid:

1. Matching to a Tee– Matching can be cute when used in moderation. For example – two sisters wearing the same dress. However, if everyone wears the exact same outfit the photos can lack depth. 

2. Overpowering Plaid – Plaid is popular this time of year but should also be used in moderation. One or two family members rocking plaid can look stylish, everyone wearing plaid becomes overpowering. You want your family’s connection to be the main focus of the photo, not your outfits. 

3. Regal Red – Red is beautiful. It also photographs boldly. If red is the main color in your palette, it can become a distraction. It’s also hard for various shades of red to look good together in a photo. Avoid everyone wearing red as the dominant color in their outfit (see below for tips)

Three Things To Target:

1. Coordination – No matter the season, I always preach coordination over matching. Start with a color palette that you love. Something with 2-3 colors that blend nicely together. Picking outfits for each family member within that color palette will look polished & coordinated.

2. Tamed reds – because red photographs so boldly it works best as an accent color. For example – mom wears a red dress while baby’s dress might have a pop of red in its pattern. If one person is in red, use it sparingly in the rest of the family’s wardrobe choices. 

3. Balance – Too many patterns in one photo can be busy and distracting. Too many solids can look flat. Incorporate a mix of solids and patterns to create a balanced look. For example, mom’s dress has a pattern and the rest of the family wears colors that coordinate with that pattern. The kids’ outfits have patterns, but mom and dad wear solids. The inspo boards below have visual examples!

Where to Start:

1. Pick your color palette 

2. Pick mom’s outfit FIRST. Let’s face it… these photos are primarily for us moms until the kids are old enough to appreciate them. AND we are usually are own biggest critics. Prioritize wearing something that you feel good in! Build everything else around that piece. 

3. Take advantage of the Style & Select outfit building tool. All you have to do is enter your family members, pick your color palette, and viola… you have boards of shoppable links for each family member! All Click Joy Photography clients have complimentary access to this awesome resource 

4. Don’t forget shoes! You don’t want to put together chic holiday outfits and then have your son wear his favorite pair of well-worn gym shoes (from the mom of a son who always wants to wear the gym shoes) 

5. When in doubt, contact your Delaware family photographer!! Most photographers that I know, myself included, love to help with styling families.

I hope this takes some of the stress out of capturing holiday family photos in Wilmington, Delaware this year. Below are some inspiration boards to browse. Just comment if you want any of the links! 

Now to get your children to willingly wear the outfits you select… that’s a topic for a different day …