How one Warrnambool family nailed coordinated outfits for their winter family photos... without matching, overthinking, or anyone feeling uncomfortable
When I reached out to one of my recent clients about how she pulled together such a stunning set of outfits for their winter family session, she gave me the most genuinely helpful answer. Chocolate browns, warm beiges, linen textures, a mood board... and a whole lot of trust in the process. Here's exactly what she said, in her own words.
What inspired the colour palette you chose for your session?
I was drawn to chocolate brown and beige because they’re warm, earthy colours that feel timeless and suit the relaxed country setting perfectly.
You pulled together such a beautiful mix of browns, beiges and creams. How did you approach coordinating without matching?
I picked a few colours I knew worked well together and then made sure everyone wore a different mix of them. Chocolate brown is very in this season too so I wanted us to stay relevant.
Your textures photographed so well. Was that something you planned intentionally or did it come together naturally?
Honestly, it was a bit of both. I was drawn to linen and other textured fabrics because they felt relaxed and suited the country setting, but I didn’t overthink it too much it all came together naturally when I put the outfits together
You sent me a mood board before the session. What was helpful about creating that, and how did it guide your outfit choices?
I’m such a visual person, so having the mood board really helped. I could see how all the colours, textures and outfits worked together, which made it much easier to choose pieces that complemented each other without everyone wearing the same thing
Was there anything you kept in mind to make sure everyone felt comfortable and themselves on the day?
Absolutely. It was really important to me that none of us felt uncomfortable or overly dressed up. I chose outfits that reflected our usual style, were comfortable to wear, and allowed us to move around easily. I wanted everyone to feel like themselves so the photos would feel genuine and natural :)
If another family was planning their outfits, what would be your biggest tip after going through the process?
Pick a colour palette you love, lay all the outfits out together, and don’t overthink it. Aim for a coordinated look rather than perfect matching, and make comfort a priority.
Mel, Jono & Leo
