Must-Know Winter Family Photoshoot Outfit Ideas & Tips
Are you preparing for a family photo session? Winter is a popular time of year for family pictures, when the cooler weather approaches and nature provides a breathtaking backdrop!
Here are the top tips you can use for choosing your family members’ outfits, optimal locations, plus pro-tips to have the best family portrait session ever – and have a lot of fun doing it. Read on for winter session outfit ideas… and more.
The Magic of a Winter Family Photoshoot
Winter isn’t always viewed as a ‘perfect’ time for a family photo shoot outdoors, but the colder months can provide a dramatic effect!
{Or, you can take a winter photo session indoors, which creates all the cozy hygge, if the winter cold is too daunting!}.
Either way, it really is one of the best times of year to schedule a family photoshoot, even though we typically view warm weather as the best time for photos.
The good news is that you can have an amazing formal photo shoot any time of year, even winter. It’s a great time of year for photos.
Top 2 Stress Reducers for Family Photo Sessions
It can be super- stressful when you feel like there is so much riding on these pictures and how the day will go. Especially with kids in the mix, there are always unexpected variables, which can make things uncomfortably unpredictable.
Before we get into the technicalities, let me offer two informal pieces of advice:
Be as prepared and plan as much as you possibly can.
Relax and go with the flow when (not if!) things don’t go as planned.
{Those moments often make the best photos… and best memories}.
When my family first relocated to Tennessee, my dear and professional photographer friend Valeri offered to take pictures of me and my sons on the local mountain spot.
We did not plan very long – it was mostly impromptu and candid shots – and the results were stunning. (My profile pic is a candid from that photoshoot!)
All that to say – even if your carefully laid plans collapse, don’t freak out. You can (and will) get stunning results. One of the best things you can do for those amazing shots is to RELAX.
OK, on to the tips.
One Important Consideration Before Planning Outfits
Choosing the best outfit and choosing clothes are typically top-level considerations, but the very first question you should answer before you move on to a color scheme, fashion, and coordinating the perfect outfit for your family is:
Where is the location of your photoshoot?
Location will (or should) directly lead your clothing options.
Do you want your pictures indoors? Outdoors? In your own home and/or yard (think about clothing colors that coordinate with your home decor!)?
At an outdoor winter venue, like a ski lodge or local Christmas tree farms? In the woods, with a snowy backdrop? In an open field with a mountain view in the background? Near a vintage or rustic barn? In a downtown city location?
Will these photos be used for Christmas cards during the holiday season?
Family is foreground in a family photoshoot, but your backdrop will set the tone.
Are you aiming for casual? Candid? Nostalgic? Trendy? Rustic?
Any one of these vibes can create the visual interest you’re aiming for without being too overpowering or distracting for professional photos.
There are so many great location options available for the winter.
Consider the personality of your family as well, and that may help make your decision easier! If you are an outdoorsy family, bundle up with cute hats and puffer jackets, and head out to the winter snow complete with pine trees and bare branches.
If y’all aren’t really into winter outdoor fun, a cozy indoor space in front of a fireplace would be a great idea, too!
The best results come from a space where your family is most comfortable.
Cute Winter Family Photo Outfit Ideas: Fashion Tips and Color Hacks
Ok, let’s get to the details of the photo shoot – family photo outfits. There are a few various things to consider, but let’s talk color schemes for a winter photoshoot.
Color Palette Ideas for Pictures in the Winter Months
1| Choose your primary color scheme.
Again, you want to consider your primary color choices against your backdrop. As I said, that will guide some of your choices.
You can go for more of a warm palette, which is cozy and snuggly, with just a pop of color mixed in.
You may want to go with rich moody tones with darker colors, especially nice for winter photos.
Or, you can go for jewel tones or bold colors, which are energetic, bright, and vivid.
Or you can go for neutral colors (maybe paired with blue jeans and lighter colors), which lends itself to a more ethereal, airy glow (with or without bolder colors thrown in).
Think about your family’s personality and vibe as you’re choosing your colors. Are y’all laid back and feel more comfortable with more casual look? Or are y’all more of a “polished family” with a more ‘dressed up’ feel?
Kids almost always add a playful feel to photos!
You also want to think about the colors that naturally complement family’s skin tone, hair, and eye colors. Every family member should be considered when choosing the colors of your family’s outfits.
While bold or bright colors are fine, be aware of colors can be oversaturated and may steal the spotlight.
You’ll want to have a couple of colors as your main choices – one or two dominant colors – and some supporting accent colors, as opposed to rainbow of different colors.
You can even do variations of your main color choices. For example, if blue is a main color for your shoot, you can also wear navy, chambray, etc. That way, everyone will look slightly different but coordinated, which is the important thing!
If you’re going out in the white snow, consider classic black. The contrast is stunning and dramatic!
2| Use care when including patterns
Let’s also consider patterns. Typically, you’ll want to limit busy patterns as well as mixing different patterns.
Plaid and floral patterns are fine in limited quantities, but you’ll likely want to stick to solid colors, more or less.
3| Avoid perfectly matching outfits
The only real rule when it comes to color and fashion choices for winter family photos is that you want to pick coordinating colors for a cohesive look and not have your outfits be matchy-matchy. You don’t want everyone to be dressed in exactly the same outfit. ↓↓↓
{Well, these are your pictures, so it’s your choice, but just realize that matching outfits will instantly date your photos and almost certainly omit a timeless feel.} The overall look you’re aiming for is coordinated and cohesive, not matchy-matchy.
What Colors are Good for Winter Season Family Photos? Winter Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
Below are examples of popular winter color palettes for your family’s outfits. You can click on the link to see some examples of those color palettes as well as other ideas in a color family.
Dark Neutrals (Taupe, Grey, Olive, Floral)
Olive, Navy, Sweet Potato, Tan
What Should I Wear? Fashion & Styling Tips for Family Photo Sessions
Choosing colors for family outfits are not just the only consideration for hitting a winter family photoshoot out of the park. There are many other tips you can utilize into your family session that will help you and your kids look outstanding.
1| Choose Mom’s outfit first.
Typically, it’s the mom who is planning all this, and it’s smart to make sure that YOU feel comfortable and relaxed in your clothes. Chances are, Dad isn’t going to care, and the kids will just want to get it done with. Usually, Mom is the hardest critic to please, so consider what YOU would feel most confident and comfortable in.
2| If it makes sense for your winter shoot, choose a dress with a waist or a skirt/shirt combo.
There’s something about wearing a dress that adds an instant class. You can certainly choose a casual dress, but dresses add movement, motion, and most of the time, they are flattering and elongating for most body types.
I realize this might be challenging if you’re having an outdoor shoot in the winter, but sometimes the unexpected adds extra interest.
Baby doll dresses or swing dresses are popular, but if a gust of wind blows a certain way, you might appear larger than you are (and who wants that, right?!?).
Try a dress with a waistline if possible. If a dress just isn’t your thing and it wouldn’t look natural – or you just don’t feel confident in a dress, winter is perfect for layering with cardigans, chunky cable knits, or denim jackets, so you can easily camouflage areas you don’t love.
A long dress or skirt paired with boots is pretty adorable, too.
Jeans with boots are popular as well and a great choice for winter- and that’s totally fine. A dress adds a little more style, but always be authentic.
3| Think about wearing heels.
This may or may not be a practical suggestion, depending on weather and location, You don’t need to wear stilettos for an outdoor, snowy photoshoot! But chunky or wedged heels on shoes or boots adds some height, which generally has a slimming effect (and who doesn’t want that, right?!?).
Even a low heel on cowboy boots or hiking boots can accomplish the same effect and is a clever way to add in height.
4| Pick outfits that are just a little bit nicer than your everyday clothes.
Casual is totally fine and usually very authentic, but you’ll want choose clothes that step up what you’d wear running errands or what the kids would wear to school or to play.
You also might want to consider fabrics that are leveled up from everyday cotton: layered linen, soft yarns, wool, and double knits.
5| Choose kids’ outfits that they’ll be most comfortable in.
This may be a struggle, but honestly – family photoshoots usually ARE a struggle with kids involved. Try to come up with they like and are comfortable in.
If you’re able to give them options while setting the ground rules – e.g., no shirts with cartoon characters or logos, no wild patterns – everyone in the family will be happier.
You’re instantly upping the odds that they’ll cooperate with the plan and just maybe, give you the smile of your family photo shoot dreams.
If you’re fighting with them about clothes before you even start the shoot (How I know about that! Trust me!), that will definitely impact the whole mood of the shoot.
6| Layer clothing.
Winter is the perfect time to layer up!
Winter coats, denim jackets, cardigans, hats, vests, socks peeking out from knee height boots… all of that contributes to a cozy winter vibe for the whole family. A crisp white shirt under a chunky sweater or cardigan… that’s another wonderful option if you don’t want a bulky winter coat.
This is also where you can mix in different textures, too.
One caveat – beware of bulky scarves and even super-bulky jackets. They can feel confining (and usually look that way too).
If you really want to wear scarves, choose ones that aren’t too bulky or made with heavy, chunky yarn. Then, tie them loosely or let them hang down loose.
If you’re going to wear a winter coat, try to go for thin ski jackets or puffer coats that are well-insulated but not bulky.
7| Choose classic fashion staples.
The photos you take this winter are pictures that your family will treasure for years in the future. Let that factor into the choice for your family’s outfits. Aim for wear clothes that have a timeless feel. Avoid patterns that are too distracting, and also avoid styles that are super-trendy and will be outdated in a year or two.
8| Flatlay your family’s outfits ahead of time.
The best way to see if all of these great outfits will work together is to lay them all out in a flatlay. Before your photoshoot, spread them all out together to see how they coordinate. Specifically, be looking to see if it’s too busy, monotone, or where you might need to add a little more color.
It’s a great way to do a test run without needing to dress up the whole family.
More Helpful Tips for an Outstanding Winter Family Photo Session
There are a few other things to consider if you want to an amazing experience and getting stellar pictures. We’ve discussed about location as well as outfits; let’s talk through a few more points to really get beautiful photos.
1| Plan as early as possible.
Typically, you’ll want to be thinking about your winter photoshoot before the winter season. While early winter is ideal, when there might be a pretty snow dusting without having to worry about a blizzard canceling your shoot (well, depends on where you live, lol), you probably want to start planning before then, at least by mid fall, if possible.
And if you’re wanting to use these photos for Christmas cards, you’ll want to do the shoot in what is technically late fall (though maybe winter temps in your area, or winter decor in your home).
2| Give your family photographer a list of the pictures you want.
I’m sure you’ve saved ideas to Pinterest boards. Be sure you and the professional photographers you are likely giving a large amount of cash to are on the same page! The easiest way to ensure your expectations are met is to just simply give them a list.
Generally, you want pictures with the whole family, some photos of just Mom and Dad, some of Mom and the kids, then Dad and the kids, some of all the kids together as well as individual shots of each child.
Give some thought to other shots you want – posed or candid. And then communicate that with your family photographer. No photographer is perfect but clear communication helps. Remember, you hired them.
This post has some ideas you can think through for creating ‘natural’ photo ideas for your family!
3| Have a Plan B in case of inclement weather.
This is a very real possibility for a winter shoot. If you’re doing your shoot outdoors, be sure you have an additional indoor location you can use.
{However, if it’s snowing and everyone is agreeable and it’s safe to do so, winter photos in real time snow look amazing!}
Chances are, you’ve booked your photographer well in advance, and it’s probably that you can’t get another slot anytime soon if you need to cancel.
Again, talk this through with your photographer, to see the procedure if you have bad weather – not just if you need to move to an indoor location, but also if roads are closed due to snowstorms, etc.
This is especially important if you’re under a time crunch for your photos, such as having them for Christmas cards or a Christmas gift.
The last thing you want is an unforeseen glitch that can send this lovely event you’ve so carefully planned right into a tailspin.
4| Aim to have natural light, as much as possible.
Photographers are absolute magicians with lighting and editing. But natural light is where it’s at.
Think about the time of day you’re scheduling your shoot (I’m sure your photographer is experienced with all that). Harsh noon light is hardly ever ideal; evening golden hour is just stunning.
Even if you’re having your shoot inside, see if there are some shots you can do outside in natural light.
Also think about the time of day when you have the most and best indoor natural light coming through windows at your home or the other location you’re using (whether east or west-facing windows provide the best possibilities, etc.).
5| Keep your photo shoot low-key.
There was a time when using props were all the rage. While an adorable backdrop such as skis or sled or an old pickup truck can create a fabulous shoot, your family should be the main attraction.
Even unfiltered nature with a woodsy or snowy backdrop with no props can give you amazing results.
And the candid snaps taken of a family who are interacting naturally, being silly, and just loving each other – just being yourselves in your natural habitat – are breathtaking.
If there’s snow, having the family play in the snow during the photoshoot can keep the mood light and create some amazing photos!
6| Plan for the littlest ones.
Adults – yes even husbands who are forced to be there – are generally cooperative. Little boys and little girls are a whole other breed.
Convincing them to agreeably play along is an intimidating task, even for the most patient parents.
While this isn’t always the best parenting hack, for this situation, whatever it takes for you to get your children to cooperate, do it.
It may will mean bribery, for certain. Prepare want a large slathering of treats (and some toys). Think through the timing and how long you can realistically get your children to cooperate (pro-tip: take pictures with kiddos first).
You may even want to think about hiring a mommy’s helper to help with the kids during the shoot, especially if you’re taking photos with one child, and another is left on their own. A pre-teen or teenage friend of the family might come in handy here, also, to help out.
You CAN Have an Amazing Winter Family Portraits
You may feel like a photoshoot for the winter can take years off your life (not gonna lie, it absolutely could), but there are ways that you can age a little less during this whole thing!
I hope these tips helped…even incorporating just a couple of them can go a long way to give you outstanding results and pictures you’ll treasure forever.
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If you use any of these family picture outfit ideas, I’d love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram or leave a comment on Pinterest!
Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
