Calgary Family Photographer | Jillian Faulkner 

The snow in Calgary has finally melted, the flowers are beginning to bloom and spring family photo shoots are in full swing! If you have just booked in with me to get updated portraits of your family outdoors or in studio, you are probably wondering what to wear for your family pictures. This is by far the most asked question by my clients once their photo session has been booked so to help offer a starting point, I have created some wardrobe styling boards below. These spring and summer styling boards will help to provide you with some inspiration and share some of the popular 2021 spring and summer clothing trends! The family photos I love to create are timeless and classic, so I usually recommend to families that they lean towards selecting clothing that has more of a muted color tone with neutral tones mixed in.

Soft pastel color tones will compliment the spring blooms if outdoors!

During the spring and summer months, most families typically like to head outside for their family photography session, so soft pastel color tones in your clothing will work best because they will complement with the vibrant green grass and any spring blooms in your environment but won’t over power your final family pictures. Try to keep rich dark color hues for fall family photo shoots instead. These darker colors are the perfect compliment to deep yellow, orange and red leaves we see throughout the fall season here in Calgary.

The wardrobe you decide to wear to your outdoor or studio family portrait session should reflect each family members own personal style but still co-ordinate together as a family. Consider building your outfits around one key color tone. You will then have a starting point and from there can co-ordinate the rest of the family by adding in different textures, layers and a second color to compliment. In Calgary, early morning and late afternoon spring and summer days can be cool and windy, even when the sun is out and shining. Instead of wearing windbreakers or wearing a heavy coat consider adding layers instead such as cardigans, vests, denim jackets, blazers or light scarves.

Calgary Spring Family Pictures - Wardrobe Styling Boards

Clothing Brands: Men’s Denim & Sweater: Ted Baker, Men’s Shoes: Harry Rosen, Women’s Dress & Sandals: Ted Baker, Girl’s Dress: Abercrombie Kids, Girl’s Shoes: Michael Kors, Boy’s Polo & Denim: J.Crew Kids

Clothing Brands: Men’s Outfit: Harry Rosen, Women’s Dress: ChicWish, Women’s Sandals: Stuart Weitzman, Baby’s Outfit: Janie & Jack, Little Girl Leggings, Sweater & Shoes: Janie & Jack, Teen Boy’s Polo & Shorts: J.Crew Kids, Boys Shoes: Browns

It can be helpful to think about how all of the colors you select will be distributed among your family. If you have selected blue, yellow and ivory for example as your key color tones, try to make sure there is variety in how these three colors are used across the all of the outfits themselves. For example, you will want to avoid everyone wearing a blue top with ivory bottoms. This would bring us right back to everyone looking matchy-matchy which we are trying to avoid!

Instead, have mom wear an ivory full length or 3/4 length maxi dress, dad perhaps can choose to wear ivory chinos with a blue polo or short sleeve dress shirt and the kids can have accents of ivory, blue and yellow throughout their entire outfit. Younger kids can also get away with a stronger pattern as long as you keep that pattern to only one child within a family. Do keep in mind however that your eyes will always go to the person with the most pattern in their outfit.

Accessories in your accent color can add some punch to your images

Accessorizing your outfit with earrings, statement necklaces, skinny belts or silk scarves can also help to pull the all the colors you have selected together but still allow each family members style to be showcased. I recommend for smaller children to keep these accessories to a minimum as they like to fuss and play with the accessories more than actually wear them. I usually recommend parents dress any child under four years of age in simpler, less fussy styles.

Clothing Brands: Men’s Shirt & Jeans: 7 for All Mankind, Men’s Shoes: Browns, Women’s Dress: Max Mara, Women’s Shoes: Kate Spade, Baby Outfit: Baby Gap, Baby Shoes: Baby Gap, Teenage Boy Shirt: JCrew Kids, Teenage Boy Denim: Gap Kids, Little Girl’s Dress: Old Navy, Little Girls Shoes: Joe Fresh

Calgary Summer Family Pictures - Wardrobe Styling Boards

Clothing Brands: Men’s Outfit - LuLu Lemon, Men’s Shoes: Harry Rosen, Women’s Dress: Club Monico, Women’s Shoes: Club Monico, Baby Outfit: Janie & Jack, Girl’s Dress: Old Navy, Girl’s Headband: The Giggling Peanut, Teen Boy’s Polo & Pants: Banana Republic

Clothing Brands: Men’s Denim & Shirt: AG Jeans, Men’s Shoes: Converse, Women’s Dress & Sandals: J.Crew, Girls Romper: J.Crew Kids, Girls Sandals: J.Crew Kids, Little Boy Outfit: Janie & Jack, Little Boy Sneakers: Nordstrom

Green and blue tones are popular options for spring and summer family pictures

Green and blue tones are very popular and selected often for spring and summer family pictures because these two colors do compliment most skin tones and are usually available in varying tones. Adding in pastel color hues as accents and incorporating neutral tones such as ivory, taupe and brown will create a polished overall look for your spring or summer family photos! You can also try pairing a darker toned blue or green piece of clothing with a pastel accent for a bolder look.

It’s is also important to consider the natural pairings within in your family! I will always take a series of naturally posed and candid images in smaller groupings in addition to the large group photo, for example mom with her children, dad and mom alone together and of course just the kids on their own. You may want to consider how each of the outfits will look when paired together side by side in these smaller groupings as well!

Clothing Brands: Men’s Outfit: Ted Baker, Men’s Shoes: ShopStyle Women’s Dress: Ted Baker Women’s Shoes: MaxMara, Girl’s Dress & Sandals: Janie & Jack, Little Boy’s Outfit & Shoes: Janie & Jack

Clothing Brands: Men’s Outfit & Shoes: Harry Rosen, Men’s Belt: Gucci, Women’s Dress: Lacoste, Women’s Shoes: Browns, Girl’s Dress: Lacoste, Girl’s Shoes: Browns, Little Boy’s Outfit & Shoes: Janie & Jack

Looking for some additional tips on the best clothing to wear for outdoor summer family pictures, visit the link below.

Best clothing to wear for outdoor summer family pictures!

If you have any additional questions about spring and summer styling for your upcoming photography session, please leave me a message in the comments below. If you haven’t yet booked your family in for a spring or summer family portrait session at Jillian Faulkner Photography, get in touch here so we can discuss creating a family photography session designed just for your family!

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