Wearing Black for Family Photos

It’s okay to wear black for family photos when...

• In a big open field

• Near a big, open body of water (lake, ocean)

• Inside a home that is light & bright (or white).

• Only one or two people in the family are wearing it.

• In a home without a lot of clutter

It’s NOT okay to wear black for family photos when...

• In a home with a lot of dark woodwork or colored walls.

• In the woods or forest

• In the city

• In a home with a lot of decor

Should Black Be Worn for Family Photos?

If you love wearing black, keep in-mind there is a time and place for it to be worn if you want your photos to shine for your next family photography session..

The Plus-Side

Black is a great go-to choice for your everyday wardrobe attire. It’s bold, elegant, clean and professional! However it’s not always the best color choice for family photos. Remember to proceed with caution. Yes, black looks good on most everyone. Not only is it easy to find all year-round in boutiques and retail stores, but it can also help hide those insecurities we all share.

When Is Black Doable?

If the space you are being photographed in is light, bright and open, a black outfit can be elegant and really “pop” beautifully in a photograph. However, make sure at least one other person is dressed in a lighter color to compliment the black.

When is Black NOT Doable?

Deciding if it’s safe to wear black or not for you family photos often depends on the setting of your session. If your photos are being taken in the city or inside of a home with a lot of decor, you may want to avoid any black outfits. If too many people are wearing dark colors, and the background is busy, you tend to become camouflaged with each other and the setting. Keep in mind, the goal is for you to become the heart of the photograph.

Still Unsure?

For what to wear, no matter the environment you are in for family photos, you can view this post here. Below are photos of an indoor family session where black was executed perfectly and the family was still the heart of the photo.

Want to see more from this adorable family session? Click Here!

What to Wear for Family Photos

The Do's and Don'ts

When it comes to family photos, nothing is more stressful than deciding what the entire family should wear, except maybe convincing your husband to behave during the photo shoot. All you moms out there know what I'm talking about!

As quickly as the seasons change (with winter as the exception, at least in Minnesota), so do clothes and color pallets. To keep this as simple as possible, I'm going to break down the "Do's and Don'ts" of what to wear for family photos, no matter the location or time of year.

The Do's

1.) Wear Cream, Blush or Earth Tones - If I could give only one piece of advice to my clients when it comes to what to wear for photos, it's to ALWAYS wear blush tones or white tones. No matter the time of year (indoors or outdoors) blush tones always photograph beautifully. For instance, take the spectrum of the rainbow and tone it down from red to soft pink, orange to soft orange, bright yellow to soft yellow, and so on and so forth. Warm tones bring out the best in your skin tone.

2.) Find One Outfit You Love - Whether you found the perfect dress for your little girl or even better, the perfect dress for YOU, take that outfit and use it as inspiration for everyone else's outfits. This will give you a good color pallet to work with, unless the option you picked is white, then you've got endless color pallet options.

3.) Add Textures & Layers - Anytime you can add textures and layers to an outfit, do it! Textures add depth and beauty to photographs. Some of my favorites include, Anthropologie, Shop Doen, Free People, anything knit such as Babaà or linen such as Linen Fox. These brands all provide great options!

4.) Search Pinterest for Inspiration - Pinterest has so many ideas! Check-out my Pinterest account here for ideas or simply search "family photos blush tones" or "family photo outfits". You will come up with hundreds of ideas.

The Don'ts

1.) Avoid Multiple Persons in a Pattern or Print - It's important to remember that PEOPLE are the main focus, NOT the patterns or prints on your shirts or dresses. You want to keep things simple, especially if there's more then one person in a photo. If your entire family is in plaid it can be distracting. Try to find outfits with one solid tone or color. This will leave room for a pattern on your dress or blouse, which quite frankly is always more fun than a husband in a plaid shirt. The key thing to remember, only one person should be wearing a pattern or a print.

2.) No Neon Colored Clothing - This kind of goes hand-in-hand with patterns and prints. You don't want to stick out from the other family members. Therefore, avoid those super bright colors.

3.) Watch-Out for Black - I hesitate putting this one as a don't because it can definitely be an option if executed properly. Everyone loves black! It's flattering and almost everyone feels comfortable in it ( just ask the Parisians). In family photos it can work, but only in the right environment and under the right circumstances. Black is like neon, it can really pull your eye away from the rest of the family. If you are debating on wearing anything black, consult with your photographer first or refer to my blog, "Wearing the Color Black."

4.) Match Eachother - Okay folks, this isn't the 90's anymore! Khaki's and white shirts are no longer a thing. Neither is everyone in a pair of blue jeans and a different colored shirt. Sure, it's much easier to coordinate, but dressing everyone individually will give you a more timeless photo when you look back on it in 10 years from now. Trust me.

Side Notes: There are exceptions to the rules for all of these "do's" and "don't's". More than one person can be in a pattern, someone can wear black, some people can match, but the execution is key. To learn more about how to choose more than one print or pattern, see my post on that here. To find out when black is ok to wear for your photo shoot, read my post here. Neon colored clothing is never a good idea and matching is sometimes ok with kids.

When to Take Newborn Photos

Is it okay if I don’t have photos of my newborn taken RIGHT away?

"When is the best time to take newborn photos," I'm most commonly asked by new parents.

There are two different answers to this. There are the snuggly, sleeping newborns who are swaddled in their cribs or all wrapped in their parents arms. And then there is the stage when your new baby is alert, wide-eyed, reaching hands, wiggling feet, big yawns and curious eyes - my personal favorite.

FIRST WEEKS (0-6 weeks)

Those sleepy, snuggly, cuddly moments when they are fresh out of the oven. But do they have to happen within the first few days or couple weeks of birth?

More often than not, parents want to see those tiny eyes open for the camera.

If you’re seeking a session where your baby is more alert, then newborn photos in the first few weeks of life is not ideal.

I absolutely love newborns (minus a little sleep deprivation). Okay, a LOT of sleep deprivation! It’s really hard adjusting to all the new changes of parenthood And it can really take a toll on your emotions. If you simply don't get around to scheduling your newborn session, it's okay!

FIRST MONTHS (1-3 Months)

Don’t get me wrong, I love those sleepy photos, but I also love when babies start becoming more aware of their surroundings. Even better, when they start interacting with mommy and daddy. If you really want to see those eyes open, yet still have your tiny newborn, then I recommend waiting until your baby is at least four weeks-old to capture those newborn moments.

FIRST YEAR (3 Months +)

If you missed the newborn windows and your baby is a few months old, no big deal. After three months is when newborns start looking like little babies. If your labor was difficult or postpartum strikes you hard and you're not mentally ready for a stranger to walk into your home and take photos, I’m here to tell you, “it’s okay.” There is still PLENTY of time to capture those ten, tiny toes.

Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t muster the energy to have photos of your little one taken right away. The images you will get just might be better than they could have ever been in those first two weeks of life anyways. See for yourself!