Planning your next Santa Clarita family photo session? Use this Style Guide to make your family look their very best on camera. 

When you take a new family portrait, of course you want everyone to look their very best. 

After all, you get to see their adorable smiles every day. You watch them grow and change into incredible little people. 

And you want that to be captured on camera, so you can remember it forever. 

That means, when it comes time to choose your family’s outfits and get ready for your portrait, you want everything to be perfect. 

To help you prepare for your family portraits with ease, we put together our top tips on wardrobe, color schemes, hair and makeup. Here’s how to get your family ready for the most beautiful family portrait session you can imagine. 

The SchlickArt Style Guide For Your Santa Clarita Family Photo Session

Wardrobe

Wardrobe questions are some of the most common ones we receive. That’s why we like to share a few simple guidelines to help you make choices that look great on camera. Use these simple tips to get started, but don’t be afraid to add your own personality or style if you feel inspired!

1. Solids Over Patterns 

We typically recommend choosing solid colors, rather than wearing patterns. Why? Sometimes patterns can distort on camera, which doesn’t look great in the final images. On the other hand, solid colors won’t distort on camera or distract the eye. All that being said, a little bit of pattern is fine, such as a patterned tie or belt. 

2. Fitted Over Baggy 

When it comes time to pick an outfit for a photo shoot, it’s pretty common to grab something that’s loose-fitting and baggy in an attempt to hide our perceived flaws – especially if you’re not feeling super confident about our weight or figure. Understandably, most people assume it hides the weight and makes you look thinner. But it’s actually the opposite. 

If your figure is hidden underneath clothes that are too big and bulky, then the photographer can’t see your shape – and more importantly, she can’t edit it. Instead, your shape is completely lost in the clothing, and your figure ends up looking as wide as your too-big clothes. With form-fitting clothes, however, the photographer can edit anything you feel self-conscious about.

3. Classic Over Trendy 

While it might be tempting to wear the hottest new styles, be mindful of how long you want your portraits to last. If you want your family portraits to stand the test of time, we typically suggest classic looks. 

For example, an A-line dress always looks beautiful on camera. For men, a navy suit is also nice, and you can dress up the look with a patterned jacket, tie or pocket square. Just be sure to avoid pinstripe, which doesn’t photograph well. For kids, opt for a matching A-line dress and little suit, or a classic T-shirt and jeans. Then add in some trendy items with accessories that you can take on and off, so you can include them in some of the images but not all of them. 

Color Scheme

Coordinating a color scheme for the entire family can be one of the most stressful parts of planning your portraits. But it doesn’t have to be hard! All you need is a little direction. 

When it comes to choosing your color scheme, most people naturally want to match colors exactly. For example, you may want the whole family in white T-shirts and dark jeans. While uniformity can look absolutely fantastic on camera – especially with classic colors – you can get more creative if that suits your style.

If you’re feeling bold, we suggest choosing colors that complement each other, instead of going for an exact match. You can stick to one color palette to make sure everyone’s outfits work well together, but you don’t have to choose the same color for everyone. For example, you could stick to muted neutrals if you’re shooting against a bright outdoor landscape, or you stay within a jewel tone palette for classic in-studio holiday photos. Pastels make a great color palette to work with, too. Check out some sample palettes below. 

Hair & Makeup 

When it comes to hair and makeup, stick to the same guidelines as choosing your clothes: classic over trendy. Timeless colors and styles will look good no matter how long your portraits stay on the wall. Consider a champagne eyeshadow to keep things classy, or opt for a red lip if you want a pop of color. That way, your look will be as timeless as your images. 

When it comes to the amount or intensity of your makeup application, we suggest doing your makeup as you would for a night out on the town – a little more than your regular day-to-day look, without going overboard. You want to look like you, but on your very best day. That’s the goal. 

At SchlickArt, we offer professional Hair & Makeup Services during our In-studio Portrait Sessions, for an additional cost ($150). We only work with highly experienced red-carpet artists who know how to style for the camera, and they will help you choose a look that’s perfect for your session and meets your vision. 

Regardless of whether you opt for professional services or do your own hair and makeup at home, it will be stunning on camera. If anything doesn’t come out exactly the way you expected, we can always adjust things during the editing process. We’ve got you covered.

About Sonja Gilhuys, Your Santa Clarita Family Photographer 

With her two young boys as her muse, Sonja Gilhuys first picked up a camera because she didn’t want to miss a single moment of their childhoods. Everything changed after that, and Sonja quickly began photographing family and friends on a referral basis. In 2019, she joined the SchlickArt Photography & Video team as a Junior Photographer and Studio Assistant, and today, Sonja heads up our indoor/outdoor family line, SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja, which captures your family’s most precious moments with a candid yet polished style that looks as luxurious as the shoot feels.

About Our Santa Clarita Family Photo Session 

Our SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja are the perfect way to capture your family’s legacy while still enjoying the magic of a luxury SchlickArt photo shoot. We really take care of Mom in this special pampering session, giving her the full treatment with red-carpet hair and makeup services and custom posing instruction. By making sure the entire family is having fun, we help Mom relax and have a great time, too. We take care of everything, so you can walk away with a set of gorgeous family photos that you’ll cherish for generations to come.