What to wear

Outfits cause more stress than anything else in family photos. This process keeps everyone coordinated without looking matched, and it works for a family of three or a reunion of twenty.

Plan outfits in six steps

1. Pick two or three colors that go together, such as cream, rust and denim.
2. Choose one outfit first, usually the one with a pattern, and build around it.
3. Keep patterns small and limited to one or two people.
4. Skip big logos, neon colors and characters on shirts.
5. Check the location photos so your colors do not blend into the walls.
6. Lay every outfit out together and take a phone photo to check the mix.

Palettes that work

Warm tones like mustard, olive, burgundy and cream look especially good with wood floors, leather and gold frames. Bright white can glow indoors, so soft ivory is often safer.

Patterns and textures

One pattern anchors the picture; three patterns fight. Put the pattern on the person with the most room in the frame, often a parent in a dress, and keep it small or medium. Texture does the rest: knits, linen, corduroy and denim add depth without noise.

• Avoid tiny stripes and checks, which can shimmer on camera.
• Mix one smooth, one textured and one patterned piece across the group.
• Match the formality: if one person dresses up, everyone should a little.

Tip: Dress the kids first. Kids' clothes are the hardest to swap, so lock theirs in first. Adults can adjust with a jacket or a different top.

Fit, fabric and comfort

Think about comfort too. Kids who are itchy or cold will show it on their faces, so skip scratchy fabrics and new shoes that have not been broken in. In San Antonio heat, choose cotton and linen for anything outside, and save sweaters for the indoor set or a cool morning in December.

• Steam or iron everything; wrinkles show more on camera than in person.
• Check that dresses work for sitting on the floor and on a sofa.
• Hem pants so they do not bunch at the shoe.
• Remove tags and stickers from shoe soles; they show in seated shots.

Shoes, hair and accessories

• Shoes: clean neutral shoes, or bare feet for toddlers on a rug or lawn.
• Hair: trims a week before, not the day before.
• Glasses: ask for anti-glare lenses or tip them slightly down to cut reflections.
• Accessories: one hat, scarf or necklace per person at most.

Makeup for photos should look like a slightly polished version of you. Matte foundation reads better than dewy in warm light, and a little extra on brows and lashes keeps eyes from disappearing at a distance. Skip heavy SPF foundation indoors; it can flash white in some light.

Extended family

Send the palette to everyone at least a week ahead. A quick group text with two or three example photos prevents the one cousin in a bright logo shirt. Try shoes on kids the week before, and pack a backup top for each child in the same palette.

The final check

Lay it all out a few days early, not the night before, so there is time to swap a piece that does not work. Take one phone photo of all outfits on a bed or sofa. If any single piece jumps out first, replace it. If everything looks flat, add one richer color or one textured layer.

Planning an outfit change

One change is plenty for a 2 hour session. Make the second look clearly different, such as dressy to casual, and ask the location ahead of time where people can change. Pack each person's second outfit in its own labeled bag.

• Look one: the dressier palette for the group and grandparent shots indoors.
• Look two: relaxed denim and soft tops for play in the yard.
• Change the kids last, right before the play part, so they stay clean.
• Bring hangers so the first look goes home without wrinkles.

Mistakes to skip: matching white shirts and jeans for everyone, holiday sweaters with busy prints, and shoes no one has worn before. Each one pulls the eye away from faces, which is the whole point of the photo.

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