The best family photos look effortless but truthfully require some planning for them to turn out great. Clothing is a detail that people immediately notice and has a huge impact on the outcome of a photo. What to wear and where to shop are two of the most common questions I get as a photographer. Below I’ve included some information on what to wear along with amazing San Luis Obispo boutiques to shop for your family.
Shopping for Mom at San Luis Obispo Boutiques
When picking outfits at San Luis Obispo boutiques, I recommend using similar color families to keep the outfits cohesive. For example, if Dad is wearing a pastel plaid shirt, then Mom may want to choose a long, soft pastel dress. Avoid matching because you don’t want everyone to look too similar. Here is a list of stores that have a beautiful array of options for moms:
- Able
- Zara
- Mango
- Nothing Fits But
- Sezane
- Hill House Home
- Reformation
- Rachel Pally
- Nuuly
- Christy Dawn
- Rylee & Cru
- Clad & Cloth
- Ivy City
- Shopbop
- Everlane
- Rent the Runway
- ASOS
- Morning Lavender
- J. Crew
- Anthropologie
- Free People
- Petal & Pup
- Pink Blush (Maternity)
- H&M
- Vici Dolls
- Virginia Dare Dress Co.
- Baltic Born Clothing
- Madewell
- Kate + Grace Boutique
- Ambiance (San Luis Obispo locally owned small business)
Shopping for Dad
I get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. It is important to make sure that you feel like yourself no matter what you are wearing. That said, the details for you matter as much as they do for the woman, especially because there are fewer of them. Make sure your shirt and pants are clean and well-pressed — no dingy whites. Shoes should be dirtless. Socks should match the pants, not the shoes. Nothing like a white athletic sock peeking out from a pair of khakis to throw off a whole shot. Here is a list of San Luis Obispo boutiques that have a variety of options for men:
- Rent the Runway
- ASOS
- Suit Supply
- J. Crew
- Zara
- Leather & Cotton
- Jack Threads
- Frank & Oak
- Nordstrom
- Cuts
- H&M
- Urban Outfitters
- Madewell
- Lululemon
- Everlane
- Banana Republic
- Mango
- Reiss
- Alex Mill
- Untuckit
- Amazon – GoodThreads
- Bonobos
- Abercrombie
- Rag & Bone
- Marine Layer (San Luis Obispo locally owned small business)
Shopping for Kids
With the growth of online shops, shopping for your kids is more fun than ever! If you’re looking for some inspiration or some of our favorite shops for kids, check out the list below! Make sure the youngest doesn’t wear the same color as mom and dad. The baby of the family is most likely going to be picked up by either parent at some point during the session. Make sure her outfit contrasts nicely with mom’s and dad’s clothing.
- Zara Kids
- Target
- H&M Kids
- Crew Cuts by J Crew
- Roolee
- Alice & Ames
- Fin and Vance
- Little & Co.
- Gap
- Old Navy
- Boden
- Hanna Andersson
- Ecobambino (Locally owned San Luis Obispo boutique)
Rosa Clark is an award-winning San Luis Obispo Photographer specializing in family, maternity, and senior portraits. She has been recognized by the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP) as a Master Photographer in the category of Lifestyle Family Photography. Her work has appeared in local publications like New Times San Luis Obispo and SLO Life Magazine. Rosa is a volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a childhood cancer non-profit organization.
In addition to photography, Rosa has been a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years. She brings that same level of professionalism, care, and attention to detail to every photo session. Rosa takes on a limited number of clients each month to provide a personalized, relaxed experience—and her calm, natural style has earned her over 60 five-star reviews on Google.
If you’re looking to thoughtfully document this chapter of life, get in touch to reserve your session and begin planning a personalized experience your family will value for years to come.
Sessions are limited each month to ensure a personalized experience. Booking early is recommended, especially during peak seasons.
Great tips in here! Love all the suggestions for where to shop for clothing for family photos!
Oh these are such good tips! I will have to check some of these stores out!
This is a great list of places to shop!
So many great suggestions for everyone in the family! Love this blog post!
So many great tips! Thanks for all the store recommendations so helpful!
This is such a helpful guide – definitely bookmarking this for future reference!
This is super helpful. I’ve already spotted some of my favorite store locations on the list, too 😉
Such wonderful tips for family photos! I’m always looking for creative ways to style my family, especially my daughter!
I love a good list! This is a very helpful guide and would be so useful to see as a Client Guide too! I’m saving it for the future.