Styling outfits for your clients doesn’t have to be time consuming. With a little planning, you can create a look that feels cohesive, timeless, and effortless. Here are five simple tips to keep in mind:
1. Choose a color palette (not just two colors).
Aim for 3–4 complementary colors instead of alternating between just two. This adds depth without feeling overly matched. Aka, don’t do navy, yellow, navy, yellow, on every other person.
2. Stick to one color tone.
Below are some visuals to show you the 3 main families of tones. Which resonates with your editing style? Tone matters just as much as color. If you’re using rich shades like true navy, brick red, and dark orange – skip a pale yellow and opt for a deeper tone like mustard instead. Which tones would conflict with your shooting style? Those are important things to note when trying to educate your clients why you prefer certain colors to wear for a session with you. Lastly, sticking to one color tone makes it virtually impossible to clash. Example, when everything is dusty and muted you can look cohesive in a wide variety of colors.
3. Limit patterns and prints.
A good rule of thumb, (until you feel like you are ready to coordinate multiple patterns on multiple people) is one pattern for every three people to keep things balanced and photo-ready.
4. Mix patterns intentionally.
Small-scale patterns work best, especially when paired with opposites—think stripes + florals or plaid + polka dots.
5. Don’t forget the shoes.
Shoes are part of the outfit! You don’t need dress shoes, but choose casual footwear that blends with the overall look. Could you imagine these cuties in these twirl dresses with pink Nike tennis shoes? Wince.
A little intention goes a long way—and the result is family photo outfits your clients will love and happily wear.
