It’s 7:30am on a Sunday morning in Philadelphia and my house is quiet. I’m still in my pajamas drinking my first glorious cup of coffee. J is out with the kids and I have several hours of precious writing time ahead of me. Later this afternoon, we’re going to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, laundry needs to be washed and folded, and lunches will be made. But for now, I have the joy of writing about personal style. 🙂

Truthfully, I love this time of the year and capturing family photos. Although the process can be chaotic and requires strategically timed snacks and bribery (a trip to Target immediately after), it’s worth it to me. As the years slip by, I love seeing how our kids are growing and changing. It feels like a moment in time that I can already envision myself looking back on when they’re teenagers. Some of my favorite photos from the baby and toddler years are from these annual photo shoots in various Philly neighborhoods.

Of course, one of the biggest questions in anticipation of the photo session is, what will everyone wear? This year, I pulled everything together very last minute so to help you avoid the same fate, I rounded up pieces that are timeless and work whether you’re looking for a casual or dressy look. I start the process with my outfit and use a similar color palette (no matching outfits) for my husband and kids so the photos look cohesive. 🙂

If you have family photos pending on the horizon, here are some personal favorites for what to wear.