What To Wear To Your Holiday Photo Session
Professional photographer Melissa Maschek shares how to achieve an effortlessly coordinated look without being too ‘matchy matchy’
I don’t know about you, but whenever someone says ‘holiday photos’ my mind immediately flashes back to something that’s straight out of the 90s: A family of 5 decked out in the same exact outfit — a Christmas sweater, light jeans, and of course, Reeboks.
Luckily, times have changed, and it’s no longer the thing to wear the exact same outfit as your mother… and your dad… for family portraits.
But that begs the question… What do you wear? It’s hard to wrap your head around, especially for fashion-averse people like me. And when you’re in charge of picking out looks for the entire family (ahem, moms), it can be particularly stressful. It’s no wonder 90s-era mamas were such a fan of those “wear this so we can match” knitted sweaters.
That’s why I sat down with professional photographer, Melissa Maschek of Melissa Miley Photography, to chat about what to wear to your holiday photo session. It’s my hope that her tips will help you plan an effortlessly coordinated look for your holiday photos.
What are some of your favorite outfit color palettes for holiday photos?
I love earth tones for a winter palette. Red and green tones are the typical, but I really like when families mix it up with something like denim, cream, camel tan, and crimson plaid. Emerald, black and Ivory are also nice, along with maroon and brown. When you add more layers of different tones within the same palette, it gives it a much more sophisticated look!
How do you create a cohesive look between family members without being matchy matchy?
The key to coordinating outfits in a large group is choosing a color scheme to mix and match tones. For example, rather than everyone having cream shirts and denim, just tell the group that you are going to wear "light neutrals” and see what they come up with.
This end result will have your group looking 'mixed and matched' with cohesive tones — rather than 'matchy matchy.’
What are your tips for incorporating bold holiday patterns like plaid and gingham?
Bold patterns can look really cute on kids and babies, and you can always add a jacket overtop if you want options or think it might be too loud. Scarves are another way to add a pattern subtly.
What other factors should you consider when planning your photo shoot outfits?
Think about which colors compliment you and your family's skin tones. If pale colors make your skin tone look washed out, aim for a darker palette, or just have the lighter colors worn by family members whose skin it compliments.
For families that live in warm climates (who might be shooting on an 80 degree day in November), do you dress for the season, or the weather outside that particular day?
You can do both, actually. Ladies can wear lightweight flowy style clothing that will keep you cool, and in a color scheme that looks seasonal. Another idea is to wear a dress with boots. Guys can bring along a jacket or vest that can be taken off if they feel too hot.
Fill in the blank: When in doubt about choosing colors, ________________ .
Stick to Neutrals. They are timeless, easy to match, and always in season!
© Melissa Miley Photography
Melissa is a professional full-time photographer based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina servicing families and couples with micro-wedding, elopement, and family portrait photography.
Contact Info:
Website: www.melissamileyphotography.com
Instagram: @MelissaMileyPhotography
Facebook: @MelissaMileyPhotography
Yelp: @MelissaMileyPhotography
