Introduction on What to Wear for Family Photos by Laura Mariani:

As a photographer, I’ve always believed that what to wear for family photos can deeply influence the overall feel of my clients photos. Outfits can tell a story, enhance emotions, and bring my signature soft, authentic aesthetic to life. That’s why I reached out to Helene Cardon, a French sustainable personal stylist based in Boulder and owner of “Your Wardrobe Nerd,” for her expertise. Together, we’ve created a style guide to help my clients select outfits that reflect their personality while perfectly complementing my photography style.

Look my Family portraits portfolio HERE – To book your Family Session HERE

Guidelines on What to wear for family photos by Helene Cardon:

Working with Laura Mariani is always a pleasure. As a talented photographer, Laura has a signature aesthetic that truly sets her apart. Her photographs are soft, authentic, and heartfelt—each one telling a story that celebrates the beauty of her subjects and their relationships.

When Laura reached out to me, Helene Cardon—a French sustainable personal stylist based in Boulder and owner of ‘Your Wardrobe Nerd’—for help crafting guidelines on what her clients should wear for family sessions, I was thrilled to collaborate. The goal was to ensure the outfits reflected Laura’s gentle, minimal, and authentic vibe while allowing her subjects’ unique personalities and connections to shine.

Below, I’ve outlined the principles I shared with Laura to help you choose outfits that will create the perfect visual impact in her photographs.

1. Why Soft Contrast Matters

Soft contrast is a key component of Laura’s aesthetic. Here’s why:

• Gentle Atmosphere: Soft contrast creates a delicate and minimal look in the photos.

• Focus on the Subject: By avoiding harsh or overwhelming colors and prints, the photo’s focus remains on your unique beauty, facial expressions, and the relationships between family members.

How to Achieve Soft Contrast

• Color Palette: Choose colors that are similar in tone and blend harmoniously. These colors will avoid creating harsh lines or distractions in the photos.

• Earthy Palette: Ivory, tan, faded marigold, sage green.

• Classic Palette: Bone white, dove grey, soft blue, and dusty rose.

• Fresh Palette: Cream, muted mint, soft lavender, and light peach.

• Prints: Delicate prints are welcome, but avoid high-contrast patterns like loud black-and-white stripes, big polka dots or other animated colorful prints. Instead, opt for prints of softer combinations like ivory and white, light green and dusty pink, soft brown and olive, grey and beige

2. Authenticity Through Fabrics

Laura’s photographs also shine because of their authenticity. Natural fabrics help enhance this vibe, as they feel more genuine and embracing.

• For Warmer Seasons: Linen, cotton canvas, lace, crochet, silk, or chiffon create a light, breezy look.

• For Cooler Seasons: Suede, chunky knits, denim, shearling, or leather accents add warmth and depth.

3. Bringing It All Together: Themed Outfit Ideas

Choosing a cohesive theme for your family’s outfits can create polished yet unique photographs where your personalities shine through. Since my expertise is storytelling though clothes, I couldn’t help but share three examples to inspire you:

• Classic: Neutral tones, timeless essentials,  simple outfit combination, high quality textures, family heirloom jewelry

• Boho: Soft, flowy shapes, natural fabrics (linen, straw, suede..), embroidery, handcrafted jewelry

• Colorado Style: Cozy knits, flannel, shearling and leather accents with a palette inspired by the mountains

4. Finalizing Your Outfits

Once you’ve chosen a theme and narrowed down your options, shop your wardrobe first to see what you already have that aligns with these principles. If you feel like something is missing, consider visiting secondhand stores for unique finds.

Check out my blog post on the best secondhand stores in Boulder for some great local options. For children’s outfits, Childish Things is a fantastic resource for high-quality, pre-loved pieces.