What To Wear In Christmas Photos
With mini sessions fast approaching I’ve received lots of questions about what clothes look best in Christmas photos. Instead of responding one by one with a quick text message answer, I thought I’d thoughtfully put together some recommendations for you.
Now, keep in mind, these are beginners tips. If you are a seasoned pro at getting the family gussied up for picture day, feel free to go rogue. Wear what you like. Get bold, get goofy, be classy. If you are new at the whole pro-photo game…I hope some of these tips will give you some ideas and be a good starting place for you.
Dress for the same season.
This is my first an foremost tip when it comes to Christmas portraits. I’ve gotten lots of {very nice} compliments on some of my previous Christmas Mini Sessions.
You can go super cozy or super breezy–just be sure your family looks like they could all be put in the same setting comfortably.
Jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves.
I’m totally behind sporting outdoor winter wear to an indoor Christmas photo session. But–like most things, there are guidelines. A cute coat on the dressy side is good. Wearing your Colombia ski/sledding parka looks frumpy. A fashionable hat…or even something on the super warm and silly side is great. A ski mask is terrifying. Ha!
Don’t be over realistic.
Staged Christmas card photos are not meant to be a window into reality. They are created to be a little whimsical and fun. So, although you wouldn’t normally wear a jacket inside, or snow boots with cute jeans or hats and scarves without coats–it’s totally cool to do in your Christmas photo.
It’s also totally cool to go classy in your Christmas portraits. You might not want to go super dressy in a photo that will hang year-round in your home. So Christmas photos are a great time to get a little fancy, even if that’s not how you usually roll.
Think about fabric and texture.
Cozy is the word I love to use when I think about winter portraits. With that in mind, try to incorporate something cozy into your outfits. Flannel is a classic choice. It never gets old. Textured sweaters or a scarf with an interesting knit is also a good way to cozy up an ensemble. Layers are also a good choice and they add variety to an outfit.
Going neutral.
Sticking with a dress code of neutrals is a very safe way to make sure your family looks awesome in your photos. Neutrals can mean a variety of things. Mix any of these colors and you’ll look great: Cream, tan, brown, gray, navy blue, pale blue, black, muted yellows.
Adding color.
If you’d like to add color, but are nervous about it–this tip is for you. Whatever you do, don’t panic and put everyone in black pants and a blue top.
Instead, stick with a mostly neutral pallet, then weave a color or two throughout your family. Use the color as boldly or as sparingly as you like, but make it consistent. You can go with one bright pop of color, or weave a color throughout to keep everyone consistent. These images do a great job of demonstrating how you can add pops of color to your outfits without looking cheesy.
Good colors to incorporate are red, green, yellow, blue.
