Winter offers a unique opportunity for some truly beautiful family pictures. Think snow-covered landscapes, cozy backdrops, and the magic of the holiday season. But planning what to wear for family pictures in winter is crucial to staying warm, comfortable, and looking your best.
This guide provides tips and inspiration for choosing the perfect outfits for your winter family photoshoot. We’ll cover color palettes, layering techniques, and how to coordinate outfits to create a cohesive and visually appealing aesthetic that will help you capture memories you’ll cherish for years to come.
Choosing the Right Colors: Palettes for Winter Family Photos
To create visually appealing photos, it’s important to choose a color palette that works well together. Neutral colors are a great foundation because they work well with a variety of winter settings.
When selecting your colors, choose muted or rich tones that will flatter everyone in your group. Remember that you’re coordinating, not matching, outfits, so don’t feel that everyone needs to wear the same color.
Here are a few of my favorite winter color palettes:
- Dark neutrals with green or burgundy. These shades bring out the deep greens in pine trees.
- Dark neutrals with rust, terra cotta, tan, and brown. These earthy tones create a warm and welcoming vibe.
- Navy and cranberry with light neutrals. This palette has a classic and festive feel.
- Jewel tones. Rich jewel tones add a pop of color to winter photos.
Layering for warmth and style
When you’re planning a winter family photo shoot, warmth and comfort are key, especially if you’re including little ones in the group.
The importance of warmth
Prioritize warmth, and plan to have extra layers handy, like tights or onesies, to put under clothing for extra insulation.
Layering techniques
Use blankets, hats, scarves, and sweaters to add warmth without adding a lot of bulk. Choose textures like chunky knits and fringe to add some visual interest to the photos.
Long dresses with warm layers underneath can be a stylish and practical choice. Just keep an eye on bulkiness, and make sure those layers don’t get in the way of seeing a child’s face in the photos.
Footwear considerations
Don’t forget warm socks and comfortable shoes or boots. The footwear should be appropriate for the photo shoot location. If you’re going to be shooting in the snow, snow boots are a must!
Coordinating Outfits for Winter Family Photos
One of the biggest challenges of family photos is how to coordinate outfits. The goal is to look cohesive, not like you’re all wearing uniforms. Here’s how to achieve a unified look that still lets everyone’s personality shine:
- Coordinate, don’t match: Resist the urge to put everyone in identical outfits. Let each person’s individual style come through.
- Choose a color scheme: Focus on a unified color palette and complementary styles. Textures and patterns add visual interest without sacrificing cohesion.
- Let personalities shine: How does each person in your family dress to look like themselves? Let them do that, while still staying within the color palette.
- Consider the location: Think about where you’re taking the photos. Choose colors that will complement the environment. For a snowy backdrop, jewel tones or warm neutrals often work well.
How to make sure your winter family photoshoot goes well
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so here are some things to remember:
- Pack extra layers, hats, scarves, and mittens. Bring hand warmers and blankets if you can.
- Bring snacks and drinks to keep everyone comfortable and in a good mood.
- Plan to take breaks. Little kids (and even big ones!) can get tired and cranky fast.
- Talk to your photographer beforehand and share your ideas.
In Conclusion
With some planning around outfits and comfort, you can have a wonderful winter family photoshoot. Embrace the beauty of the season and capture lasting memories with the people you love.
Most of all, remember to relax, have fun, and let your family’s unique personalities shine through in your photos!