From the beach- and sunshine-filled days to bonfires and star-studded nights, you’re making the most of the summer months. You still have a few things on your to-do list before school begins and routines get underway, including getting family pictures taken at your local JCPenney Portraits.

After you schedule your session, it’s time to start getting excited. Family pictures are a great way to spend time together and capture memories, but before the fun gets started you need to select the right outfits for everyone in your crew. Let the warm weather be your inspiration for attire that looks and feels fantastic. You can get some great ideas by visiting the summer photography gallery now!

It’s easy to mimic the vibe of summer by having some fun with your style in preparation for your photography session. Here are top summer style tips for family photos from the experts at JCPenney Portraits:

Embrace color: Summer is ripe with color, so thoughtful touches of vivid hues are a playful addition to your family’s wardrobe. Blues of various shades are trending for 2019, so whether you prefer sky blue, royal blue or ocean-like teal and turquoise, you can’t go wrong, as they all translate beautifully in your images. It’s easy to find stunning accent colors for blues as well: Salmon, mustard, ruby and wine are all great options.

Select a color palette: Forget matching outfits and instead select clothing that complements. The easiest way to do this is to choose a color palette you can reference when shopping or filtering through closets. So if your main colors are teal, salmon and white, you can ensure everyone’s outfits look great individually as well as when grouped together in poses.

Focus on feminine: Dresses are a staple of summer design, so feel free to dress up mom and daughters in favorite pieces. The maxi dress is comfortable and looks great on any body shape. Pairing blouses with colorful skirts is also in vogue for summer 2019, adding a lighthearted look that elevates but doesn’t overwhelm your images. Of course, floral fabrics are quintessential summer attire and are good options as long as they aren’t too busy.

Play up guys’ wear: When dressing fathers and sons for family photos, summer’s easy-breezy style is a great inspiration. This doesn’t mean board shorts and T-shirts, however. Great options for guys’ summer photos would be polo-style shirts or cotton button-ups. Easy trick: Add a casual summer feel to long-sleeve button-up shirts by rolling the sleeves to three-quarter length. For pants, khakis or dark-colored denim are on trend and great choices for pictures.

Add accessories: It’s easy to add personality to any outfit with accessories. Thoughtful accessories add a splash of summer without overdoing it. For guys, hats, watches and even suspenders are good options. For example, light-colored fedoras are great for summer 2019. For girls, there are an abundance of accessories, so have fun selecting the right ones for you. Try a statement necklace or earrings for mom and fun headbands for daughters.

Select summer shoes: Your photographer will try a variety of poses for your family photo session and some of those will likely be full length. That means you must think about footwear! Sandals are great for summer photography: Wedges are popular for women and any strappy sandal is adorable on girls. Remember toenails for any open-toe style shoe and either remove polish or get a fresh coat for photos. As for guys young and old, loafers are a top summer 2019 trend that feel casual but put-together.

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