The hardest part about having a family photo taken is picking out what everyone is going to wear! Here are some tips that we hope will make it a little easier!
Find A Jumping Off Point: You can get a great look by building your clothing around one person’s outfit. Start with the person in the group that is the hardest to pick out an outfit for. Use the colors and style of the outfit to build around!
Make sure everyone in the group is wearing the same style: Formal (suits, dresses, etc.), Casual (jeans, t-shirts, etc), Contemporary (a mixture of classy and casual – a dressy top with jeans and heels or a suit jacket and jeans).
Keep your location in mind: Is the area paved, muddy, rocky, grassy? Will the colors you chose go well in that setting? It’s also a good idea to wear clothing you feel comfortable sitting on the ground in.
Keep the end in mind: Where are these pictures going to be placed? Will the style you chose work in the area you intend to hang the pictures? What kind of framing do you like? (If you only use black frames in your living room, incorporating black into your outfits will help the finished results look professional!)
Avoid sharp contrasts in outfits: Be sure that you haven’t selected anything that is going to overpower anyone else in the photo. Try laying everything out and then squint. You want the colors to blend and compliment each other. If anything sticks out, it might be a good idea to choose something else!
Avoid matchy-matchy: This tends to direct your eyes right to bodies and clothing and will detract from faces. It is also boring to look at and someone always ends up looking dowdy. Clothing from the same color palette or based on colors in one outfit tend to create a cohesive look without feeling too "matchy." Adding small patterns or a small about of texture can break up monotony and create some interest.
Don’t overdo the patterns: Small patterns can spice up a photo, but keep it to one or two people in your group. Patterns should compliment each other and not draw away from faces. Balance out patterns with solids. Also avoid large logos or text on shirts.
Avoid overexposure of skin: The most important feature of a family photo are the faces. Your eye is automatically attracted to flesh. It is a good idea to avoid low cut clothing and sleeveless tops. Exposed flesh also makes you look bigger. You might also consider clothing that covers the knees and elbows. These areas don't photograph as well as the rest of the body so it may be wise to choose clothing that covers them.
Dark colors are more slenderizing that lighter colors!
Hands and Feet: Often, we will take photos of details like hand-holding, rings, and family feet! Remember to clean and trim nails for these shots. Your shoes will show in some of the photos. Shoe decisions are just as important as clothing decisions! Make sure they coordinate with your outfits and don’t stand out. White shoes really stand out, so make sure they are clean and nice looking. Old dingy tennis shoes can ruin a photo!
Accessories: Using props and accessories is a good way to get different looks out a single outfit! Think about things that characterize your personality: scarves, shoes, purses, jewelry, and hats can really add to a photo!
Avoid different shades of the same color. If one person is wearing a bright red shirt, you don't want another person wearing a light red shirt. It will just look like you attempted to match but didn't quite succeed.
Large Group Tips - Another consideration in clothing selection is the number of people in your photo. For a smaller family photo you can add in some pattern without it being too distracting. If the family photo was a large group of people – more than 8, numerous people in prints or patterns will be extremely distracting. For a larger group go with variations on a theme – everyone in the same color scheme but just vary the shade/tone of the color and the style of the clothing. Don’t put everyone in white polo shirts and jeans – instead have some people in white polos, white button downs, and white blouse with varying shades of denims. Even adding in a few white bottoms in a skirt etc. with a white or blue top will create cohesiveness without distraction for a large group.
And the best tip for last:
Your family portrait should convey a sense of your family's personality!
