How to Thrift the Perfect Outfits for Your Family Photos
You know what they say about thrifting: once you start, you can’t stop. Actually, I have no idea if anyone’s ever said that—but it sure has been the case for me, seeing as though my casual thrifting hobby has turned into a constant hunt for photoshoot props, crafting materials, and cute outfit pieces to show my clients as inspo for their upcoming session! Today I’m bringing two of my loves together—thrifting and family sessions—to help you thrift the perfect outfits for your next family photoshoot. After all, who doesn’t love a good trip to the local thrift store with an overpriced coffee in hand, ready to hunt through the aisles to find hidden treasures you’d never find elsewhere?!
Why Thrift Your Family Photo Outfits?
Let’s start out by talking about WHY the heck you should thrift your family photo outfits instead of buying brand new items for every session you have!
More intentional + personalized curation
First off, it’s, well, a great excuse to go thrifting—but also to spend more time handpicking and curating your outfits than you probably would otherwise. I love to tell my families that their sessions are all about intentionally creating meaningful moments and memories that they want to have captured forever; unforgettable experiences that they’d never forget rather than just posing for stuffy, unnatural photos.
One of the reasons I adore thrifting is because you kind of have to be super intentional about the pieces you pick out: you’re not going to find perfectly-coordinated matching sets like you would at a department store, or stylish outfits dressed up on a manikin for inspo. No, it’s totally up to you to create your outfits out of whatever you manage to find—which is always unpredictable, and that’s part of the fun! You’re forced to get a little more creative with it, to think outside of the box, and to find pieces that truly reflect your personality + who you are to your core. Plus, it’s SO rewarding to feel that high of finding the perfect piece that goes with another item you found, or that exactly matches your vibe, after searching for so long!
To get that perfectly-imperfect vibe
If you’ve ever worked with me (or read anything on my website, or my Instagram feed), then you know I’m all about that perfectly-imperfect vibe. I know it might sound a little cliche, but it really is the core of why I do what I do: I want to capture you and your fam exactly as you are, at this moment in time. No awkward posing, no forced smiles, no trying to make yourselves look “perfect” for the camera; just you. It can be easy to get that super forced, overly-coordinated vibe when you shop for brand new outfits just because you feel like you “have” to for your session, or because you think there’s an expectation to look flawless every second of your shoot.
This is why thrifting is such a great alternative: it gives you an amazing opportunity to find pieces you love, WITHOUT the pressure of everything matching 100%. Because let’s be real, that’s pretty much impossible to do with thrifted outfits—every piece is unique and brings its own distinct charm, and it’s up to you to find a way to make it all come together! It doesn’t matter if the shirt you buy has a tiny stain on the sleeve, or a few wrinkles around the collar; you won’t care about any of that when you look back on your photos in the future. All that will matter to you is that you and your family were documented just as you were, imperfections and all. And aren’t those imperfections what makes each of us (and all the thrifted pieces you find!) so special in the first place?
You never know what you’ll find
I think the best part about thrifting is that you truly never know what you’re going to find! You can find some amazing gems that you would never find online, like a lacy vintage nightgown for maternity photos, or old denim OshKosh overalls for kids. Because kids grow out of things so quickly, you can also find super great trendy or staple pieces that have been donated by families who can’t use them anymore. In my experience, kids' clothes go to the thrift store much faster than adult clothes since they grow so fast; I’ve seen everything from super great knit sweaters to just simple jeans and blank/neutral t-shirts for kids. What you pick is up to you and your personal style/the vibe you’re going for, but know that if you search deep enough, you’ll almost always find a treasure or two!
To cut down on costs
Finally, I want to remind you that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to put together the perfect outfits for family photos! All too often I’ll see people buying brand new outfits for their session just because they think they’re supposed to, and then they never end up wearing them again because they don’t actually reflect who they are/what they typically wear. Thrifting is a great opportunity to save a little money, and to also be environmentally-friendly since you’re giving a second (or third) life to pieces that may not get one otherwise!
How to Thrift Outfits for Your Family Photos
Now, let’s talk about how to actually go about thrifting outfits for your family photos. I’ve compiled my top tips based on all my personal experience thrifting + my time spent working with families who thrifted amazing outfits for their sessions!
1. Find the right stores
Shopping at the right stores is KEY to finding pieces you’ll love, and that are still quality/have held up well over time. There are a couple different ways you can do this: one is to go to thrift stores in “nicer” areas or “older areas,” where people might be donating more high-quality, upscale, or vintage pieces. You can also go thrifting at smaller, privately-owned thrift stores to find collections that are more carefully-curated and sifted through on a regular basis. One of my favorites is Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store in New Braunfels, they have a great kids section!
Looking for the best places in New Braunfels to take your family photos? I’ve got you covered with this list of my fave locations!
2. Have a vision before you go, but stay open-minded
While it is good to have an idea of what you’re looking for before you start shopping, it’s important to stay open-minded since you never know what you’ll find. Having super specific pieces in mind isn’t necessarily the best way to do it since you might find something perfect that you never would’ve known to look for—and on the other hand, you might end up disappointed if you can’t find what you were originally envisioning. Generally, my recommendation is to put together a moodboard to encapsulate the overall vibe you’re going for, so that you know what you’re looking for and don’t get overwhelmed when you start shopping—but don’t get too specific with it. Be open to whatever pieces find their way to you and be curious about the kinds of outfits you could put together!
3. Start thrifting a few weeks in advance
The last thing you want to do is start shopping for your outfits just a couple of days before your session, only to realize you can’t find anything that will work/fit your vision! The selection at thrift stores is alwaysss evolving since they are constantly getting new clothes donated + pieces purchased. It’s best to start shopping at LEAST a few weeks in advance so that you 1) have plenty of time to find what you’re looking for, and 2) can go back to your favorite store(s) a couple of times to see what new pieces they’ve gotten since you last checked. It might also take you a little time to find the right stores that have what you’re looking for; if you start shopping with two days until your session and the first few stores you go to don’t work out, I don’t want you to be stressing + rushing your outfits!
Pro tip: Try going on a weekday morning. Most thrift stores won’t be nearly as busy on the weekdays as they are on the weekends, and since it’s the morning, they’ll have just put out their best pieces. Early bird gets the. . . most amazing thrift finds?
4. Prioritize comfort
Comfort is huge when it comes to picking your family photo outfits, and, in my opinion, should always be prioritized over fashion/style/aesthetics. If you’re not comfortable during your session, you’ll be able to see it in your photos—you’ll notice yourself fidgeting around in that dress that’s too tight, constantly adjusting your belt, or pulling down your kiddo’s shirt that’s just a little too short. Being uncomfortable during your session also just honestly takes away from your ability to be fully present in the moment; if every minute you’re worrying about how you look or thinking about how your clothes are too tight, you won’t be able to truly enjoy this time with your loved ones. Same goes for the little ones! Look for things that both you and your kids will be comfortable in, especially if they’ll be running around or doing anything active during your session that they need to be able to freely move around for, without restrictions.
5. Set the tone + have fun with it
Thrifting is a whole lot more fun when you’re in a good mood, I promise you that! Turn it into a fun outing with your fam and make sure everyone is in good spirits before/during your shopping adventure—bring snacks, water, listen to fun music on the drive there. . . basically just make sure the vibes are right and that everyone is ready to hunt for the perfect finds. You can make it into a little treasure hunt for the kiddos; who can find a pair of red pants the fastest?! Or let’s see who can find the best necklace for mom to wear! Make a game out of it, let your kids explore, and let it be a great excuse to have a fun time together as a family.
6. Don’t be afraid to find finishing touches elsewhere
Remember that it’s okay if you don’t find everything you need at thrift stores. You can always buy your finishing touches at other stores, and blend your thrifted finds with your store-bought finds! There are just some items you can’t often thrift, and sometimes you won’t find what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit and shop elsewhere if that means you’ll find a piece that makes you feel confident + like your best selves going into your session.
7. Ask your photographer for help!
Lastly, you are always welcome to ask me for help as your photographer! I’m a pro at thrifting and knowing what looks good in front of the camera, so I’ll be more than happy to send you my best thrift store recommendations, help you put together a moodboard, or look at photos of the pieces you found to see if I think they’d work well for the vibe you’re envisioning. I work so hard to be more than just a photographer for every one of my clients, and it’s so important to me to help your photos feel so undeniably you.
If you’re loving this energy and are ready to start planning your upcoming family, maternity, newborn, or couples session, inquire with me here—I cannot wait to connect!
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