What to wear for family portraits | The Woodlands Family Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family portraits and can help with what to wear for family portraits.  See more family photos in the gallery.  Contact me to book your family portrait today!

What to wear for family portraits

Planning for the annual family portrait session can be stressful!  But it doesn’t have to be.  Here are some tips for coordinating what to wear for family portraits.

  1. Plan ahead.  Give yourself plenty of time to coordinate outfits – enough time to run to the store in case you are missing something.
  2. Start with the person with the fewest wardrobe options.  Or start with one piece that you absolutely love and coordinate everyone else.
  3. From the piece that you selected, build everyone else’s wardrobe.  Pick 2-3 coordinating colors and keep in mind that neutrals like khaki, white, black, and grey (and sometimes blue jeans) go with everything.  Use bold colors as accents.  Try not to put everyone in the same color (i.e. jeans and black shirts) but coordinate a couple of colors instead with the neutrals.
  4. Layers and texture are good.
  5. Lay everyone’s outfits out so that you can see what they look like together.  And don’t forget the socks and shoes…put those out too so everyone is completely ready.

These tips will help reduce the stress when it’s time for the actual session.  If everyone’s outfits are set aside and ready to go, there’s no stress about what to wear!  Win!

Here is a link to my Pinterest page for more ideas on WHAT TO WEAR FOR  FAMILY PORTRAITS.

Family Portraits for the Caldwells

The Caldwells had a beautiful family portrait session at their home in The Woodlands.  Their outfits are coordinated with the dark blue and a splash of red for color.  We started at the front steps which gave us a perfect spot to arrange the family, including grandma!  I love that she was included in the family portraits.  I love even more that we got some pictures of the kids with grandma.  Then we moved out to the beautiful green yard.  Again, it was a perfect backdrop for their family portraits.  Finally, we ended the session at the street in front of the garden.  The sun was shining through the trees and provided a gorgeous backlight to the images.  I’m so glad we captured these special family portraits!  All my best Caldwell family.

What to wear for family portraitsWhat to wear for family portraitsWhat to wear for family portraitsWhat to wear for family portraitsWhat to wear for family portraits

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family portraits.  See more family photos in the gallery.  Contact me to book your family portrait today!

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@taraflanneryphotography

A small snapshot of the teams I’ve worked with recently 📸👇🏻

Headshots are one of those things that are easy to put off… until you realize your photos no longer reflect where you are now.

Outdated images, inconsistent team photos, or a mix of styles across platforms can quietly take away from how your brand is perceived.

A headshot refresh doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional.

If your team’s photos haven’t been updated in a while, this is a good time to take a look at what you’re currently using.

📩 If you’re ready for a headshot refresh, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
Some of my favorite senior photos always include something personal.

Instruments, sports gear, pets, cars—these are the details that make your photos feel like you.

Senior sessions aren’t just about getting a few good pictures—they’re about capturing this season in a way that feels real and meaningful.

And with senior year right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about it.

Spots tend to fill up quickly once the school year gets going, so planning ahead makes all the difference.

If you’re ready to start planning your senior session, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
“Pick something you’d do for free…” It sounds simple—but building a career around it is anything but.

There’s a lot that goes into turning photography into something sustainable—learning your craft, understanding lighting, figuring out your gear, working with clients, and continuing to grow.

But if you’re willing to put in the time, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do.

If you’re just getting started, I have a few free resources to help you figure out what actually matters (and what doesn’t).

🔗 You can grab them with the link in my bio.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you.

For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it.

Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off.

That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish.

📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.
If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio.

If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting.

Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time:

1️⃣ Lighting from below 
  Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level.
 
2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light 
  Softer, controlled light will always look more professional.
 
3️⃣ No direction to your light 
  Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth.
 
4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources 
  This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones.
 
5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights 
  Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes.
 
Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional.

Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.