• Home
  • About
  • Families
  • High school seniors
  • College Students
  • Blog
  • Contact

Gia Chong Photography

Gia Chong Photography

Families, Outfit Tips, Photo Shoot Tips
/

What to Wear for Family Pictures

It’s that time of year again! It’s “Family Photos for Christmas cards season”! As more and more families book their photo sessions with me, “What do we wear?” is the most common question I get. Here are my tips on “What to wear for family pictures.”

Where to begin: Mom chooses her outfit first, then everyone else picks out their clothes based on her choice. Her colors will be the anchor for the family’s outfits.

What does Mom wear – Dresses or Skirts: I always recommend women to wear full length or mid calf dresses or skirts to photo shoots. These silhouettes flatter various body types. Also, choose flowy type dresses or skirts because the movement they create are wonderful in photos. They also make it easy to sit on the ground or crouch down with the kids.

What Colors: Lighter and neutral colors such as cream, blush or baby blue give photos a light and airy feel. If you prefer darker colors, I recommend navy blue since it pairs well with most masculine outfits.

How to pick out outfits for the rest of the family: Identify the dominant color (the color that occupies the most real estate) and the accent colors (other colors present in smaller doses) of mom’s outfit. You want her dominant and accent colors to be present in the clothes of the other family members. This creates a coordinated and put together look versus a matchy-matchy one.

Practical Example 1: In the photo above, Mom’s only and dominant color is navy blue. Her husband and sons pick dark blue up with either their shirts or pants. Dad’s sweater color is also complimented by his younger son’s sweater and older son’s pants. Note that it is not the exact shade of blue and khaki/brown, and it does not need to be!

Outfits for Family Photos

Practical Example 2: In this next photo, Mom’s dominant colors are dark blue and her accent colors are maroon, light brown and green. Based on her dress, Dad and the younger son pick up mom’s blue and maroon colors with their shirts. Older brother’s blue shirt comes from mom’s blue dominant color and also coordinates with her dress through
green pants. Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the others that pull all the looks together.

What if we like jeans or something casual: Jeans can be a put together choice for family photos. The principles of Mom’s outfit as an anchor and making sure her dominant and accent colors are in other family member’s clothes still apply.

Take for example my family photo below. My outfit is a jean jacket, a red and cream dress, black leggings and brown boots. I choose the jean jacket because I know my husband JB will be in jeans. JB’s sweater also picks up the blue in my jacket. For my son Adrian, I choose a red collared undershirt and khaki pants to coordinate with my dress and boots. I also give Adrian a blue sweater so he ties in with my and JB’s outfit.

Mom can be in jeans too. A variation of the mom as anchor principle can be seen in the next photo. Mom decided that the girls will be in yellow while the men in the family will be in blues and whites. All of them in jeans tie everyone together.

I hope these tips have been helpful and cuts down the stress of what to wear! Check out my site http://giachongphotography.com to see more of my work and to connect with me. You can also follow me on Instagram at instagram.com/giachcongphotography.

TAGS:family outfitsFamily photo outfitsfamily photo sessionsoutfit choicesphotography tipswhat to wear
Pin this Post
Share this Post
2 Comments
Leave a Comment

You May Also Like...

Family Session in the Woods | The Abdul Family | Lodi Lake Park Lodi CA

Family Photo Session | The Fayssals | West 12 Ranch Lodi CA

Fall Family Session | Guzman Family | West 12 Ranch Lodi CA

Family Session | The Scardigli Family | Lodi CA

2 Comments
  • Chauncey Green

    Absolutely beautiful pictures. I can’t wait to meet you and for my son Isaac to start his portfolio session with you.

    Reply
    • Gia Chong
      Chauncey Green

      Thanks so much! Looking forward to the shoot with Isaac and the rest of your family 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel Comment

Previous Post
Hey there! I’m Gia
Next Post
Fall Family Session | Guzman Family | West 12 Ranch Lodi CA

@giachongphotography

Doing a happy dance!  I am officially SOLD OUT for Holiday Mini Sessions for 2022! I am looking forward to serving the 40 families who signed up with me for Oct and Nov. mini sessions.  To my returning and new clients - thank you, thank you, thank you!  This season is going to be EPIC! ⁠
⁠
As always, much thanks to the lovely @morganpotterphoto for my Yay headshot 😊⁠
⁠
#minisessions #soldout #holidayminisessions #redtruckminisession #grateful #yay #stocktonminisessionphotographer #lodiminisessionphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
Doing a happy dance! I am officially SOLD OUT for Holiday Mini Sessions for 2022! I am looking forward to serving the 40 families who signed up with me for Oct and Nov. mini sessions. To my returning and new clients - thank you, thank you, thank you! This season is going to be EPIC! ⁠ ⁠ As always, much thanks to the lovely @morganpotterphoto for my Yay headshot 😊⁠ ⁠ #minisessions #soldout #holidayminisessions #redtruckminisession #grateful #yay #stocktonminisessionphotographer #lodiminisessionphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
1/6
Dina @rodijuha08_doky and her family are avid #HarryPotter fans!  So I was not surprised when they asked if a portion of their #FamilySession be Potter themed!  If the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music stood as Marshall College for Indiana Jones, I then thought the campus would also be a great stand in for #Hogwarts! Check out this #reel to see all the magical fun we had 😃⁠
⁠
#magic #wizards #familysession #themedfamilysession #ravenclaw #gryffindor #stocktonphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #lodiphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #familyphotoshoot #giachongphotography #UOPacific⁠
⁠
⁠
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
Dina @rodijuha08_doky and her family are avid #HarryPotter fans! So I was not surprised when they asked if a portion of their #FamilySession be Potter themed! If the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music stood as Marshall College for Indiana Jones, I then thought the campus would also be a great stand in for #Hogwarts! Check out this #reel to see all the magical fun we had 😃⁠ ⁠ #magic #wizards #familysession #themedfamilysession #ravenclaw #gryffindor #stocktonphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #lodiphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #familyphotoshoot #giachongphotography #UOPacific⁠ ⁠ ⁠
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/6
I feel like I won the lottery!  I have 11 people and 3 out of 4 dogs looking at the camera!  Sioxson Family for the win! 😁 ⁠
⁠
It's been a pleasure to work with Jenn @sunandski and her family for the past 2 years/4 shoots 😊 Last Sunday's session was special because all her kids and significant others were in town. We also had 4 fur babies join us.  They set the bar high for large family sessions!⁠
⁠
#extendedfamilysession #familysession #familysessionwithdogs #familyphotographer #UOPacific #stocktonfamilyphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #lodiphotographer #furbabies #giachongphotography #sneakpeek
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
I feel like I won the lottery! I have 11 people and 3 out of 4 dogs looking at the camera! Sioxson Family for the win! 😁 ⁠ ⁠ It's been a pleasure to work with Jenn @sunandski and her family for the past 2 years/4 shoots 😊 Last Sunday's session was special because all her kids and significant others were in town. We also had 4 fur babies join us. They set the bar high for large family sessions!⁠ ⁠ #extendedfamilysession #familysession #familysessionwithdogs #familyphotographer #UOPacific #stocktonfamilyphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #lodiphotographer #furbabies #giachongphotography #sneakpeek
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/6
Looking forward to photographing Dina @rodijuha08_doky and her family again!  Tomorrow's session would be their 4th family shoot with me since they moved to California.  We'll be shooting at UOP, one of my favorite locations and we'll get to play with some themed ideas.  SUPER EXCITED!! Hope your weekend plans are as exciting as mine!⁠
⁠
#familysession #familyphotoshoot #familyphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #kidphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
Looking forward to photographing Dina @rodijuha08_doky and her family again! Tomorrow's session would be their 4th family shoot with me since they moved to California. We'll be shooting at UOP, one of my favorite locations and we'll get to play with some themed ideas. SUPER EXCITED!! Hope your weekend plans are as exciting as mine!⁠ ⁠ #familysession #familyphotoshoot #familyphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #kidphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/6
Happy National Coffee Day! Make sure you grab a hot or cold one today!  With all my @Starbucks cups, can you guess if I like hot or iced coffee? 😅⁠ Swipe left to see my go to drink. 
⁠
#NationalCoffeeDay #Coffee #Icedshakenespresso #Starbucks #StarbucksCups #IcedCoffee #Headshot #Brandphotographer #Brandphotography #GiaChongPhotography
Happy National Coffee Day! Make sure you grab a hot or cold one today!  With all my @Starbucks cups, can you guess if I like hot or iced coffee? 😅⁠ Swipe left to see my go to drink. 
⁠
#NationalCoffeeDay #Coffee #Icedshakenespresso #Starbucks #StarbucksCups #IcedCoffee #Headshot #Brandphotographer #Brandphotography #GiaChongPhotography
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
Happy National Coffee Day! Make sure you grab a hot or cold one today! With all my @Starbucks cups, can you guess if I like hot or iced coffee? 😅⁠ Swipe left to see my go to drink. ⁠ #NationalCoffeeDay #Coffee #Icedshakenespresso #Starbucks #StarbucksCups #IcedCoffee #Headshot #Brandphotographer #Brandphotography #GiaChongPhotography
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/6
Happy National Sons Day Adrian @emperorchong982! ⁠
⁠
Thank you for always humoring me when I tell you that you will be in a photo shoot (even when you don't want to 😅). You are always ready with a smile when I ask (like here with your Godmother Joy and Ate JD). I thank God for you and how you have enriched your parents' lives. ⁠
⁠
Good luck on race day today at Lodi Lake Park 😀⁠
⁠
#boymom #nationalsonsday #mom #son #portraitphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
giachongphotography
giachongphotography
•
Follow
Happy National Sons Day Adrian @emperorchong982! ⁠ ⁠ Thank you for always humoring me when I tell you that you will be in a photo shoot (even when you don't want to 😅). You are always ready with a smile when I ask (like here with your Godmother Joy and Ate JD). I thank God for you and how you have enriched your parents' lives. ⁠ ⁠ Good luck on race day today at Lodi Lake Park 😀⁠ ⁠ #boymom #nationalsonsday #mom #son #portraitphotographer #lodifamilyphotographer #stocktonfamilyphotographer #stocktonphotographer #lodiphotographer #giachongphotography
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/6
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Copyright © 2023Site Powered by Pix & Hue.