These crisp mornings we've had these past few days have got me thinking about football, long sleeves, all things pumpkin spice and of course FAMILY PICTURES! Figuring out what to wear is definitely the most challenging part of your whole experience! We have our session booked for the middle of October, which means I need to start planning now! Whether you have a session booked with me or someone else (what? :), I thought I'd pass along a few tips to help ease your search for the perfect look this fall.
Tips and Tricks for Planning your Wardrobe for Family Photos
1. Plan Ahead – Start considering your clothing as soon as you book your photo session. I know, I've been there...it's a week or just days before the session and I'm running all over trying to coordinate 5 outfits! I love to help style my clients. I use boards on Pinterest to help narrow their search. First things first: I always ask my families to consider where their family portraits will be hanging in their home. My home is very neutral and I know that I want to display large canvases of these images. So, I coordinated us in outfits that would flow with my home decor. If your home is colorful choosing outfits with a pop of color would be ideal.Consider your color scheme and what might look best with the colors of your home.
2. Location – Where have you chosen to have your family photos taken? Consider your surroundings. If you are thinking more rural setting you wouldn’t necessarily want to be in high heels, your husband in a suit and tie, and your children in their Sunday best. But if your setting is something more urban or formal, then more formal outfits might be more appropriate.
3. Pick three colors – Gone are the days of black on top, jeans on the bottom. My general rule of thumb is to find three colors (black, gray and tans do do not count as a color- but still incorporate them to balance everyone out). Think coordinating, not matching. Your photographer will want to be able to shoot different combinations and poses without everyone looking the same. Tip: Start with the most difficult one to dress in your family. We all have one! I tend to start with my daughter. She typically has the most colorful outfit and then I choose other pieces to dress my boys, husband and myself. I don't necessarily throw all of the colors through pieces of clothing, but you could consider accessorizing with pops of colors through shoes, necklace, clutch, earrings and so on. Don't be afraid to play with textures, adding layers and patterns, either!
4. Limit DARK colors- Some may think really dark colors make a great choice for outfits. With my style I actually prefer muted tones and pops of color. If you get too dark with your colors, you will look dull. Muted tones give you a really nice warm feel, especially in the fall!
5. Know your photographer- Each photographer has a style, or at least they are striving to find their style! My style is light and bright. I tend to gravitate towards lighter colors. In the fall we have so many dreamy colors from creams to brown tones, soft greens. So when you are thinking about your colors, along with the tips above, think about staying away from really dark colors.
6. Show Me- I always encourage my clients to either meet with me or simply send me pictures of their outfits!
And definitely stay away from...
-White athletic socks...at some point, boys and dads, you may be asked to sit down and those white socks ALWAYS find a way to show!
-Graphic tees can be distracting to the whole look.
-Your everyday comfort zone! I mean, you don't want to go crazy, but don't be afraid to dress things up a little!
-Just say no to florescent colors...they cast weird shadows on other members of your family...not to mention a post processing nightmare!
-Men, no sneakers...like fingernails on a chalk board! Just say no to a perfect outfit paired with a set of Nikes :(
-Cell phones. Make sure these guys are not in your pockets during the shoot!
-Women, check your nail polish (if wearing) and take your hairband off your wrist.
Hopefully this can ease some your anxiety when it comes to coordinating your outfits for your portrait session. The most important thing is to enjoy that moment when all of your loved ones are with you. You'll never get that moment in time back! Enjoy!
