Family Portraits - What to Wear
These photos will be hanging on your walls and treasured by your family for years to come. This is why we do our first consultation and wardrobe consultation in your home, for all of us to make the best decisions together.
WE LOOK AT YOUR HOME DECOR
Do you like bright colors? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house you want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home. We also look at the areas you want to hang them. What sizes and types will look best, would a beautiful glass folio box or an album be better for your coffee table?
Before the in-home wardrobe consultation, get some things together. Here's a list to help you!
Plan ahead.
Once you book your session, start thinking of the clothes right away. You may think certain clothes will fit you or your kids or that one dress is clean. It's best if you already have that done prior to the in-home wardrobe consultation. If you wait until the day of or day before you may run into an issue of clothes not fitting, being dirty or need to be dry cleaned. The day before the shoot, make sure that everything has been ironed, and you bring them on hangers. We have steamers, irons, and just about everything you could need, but it will save an enormous amount of time the day of, and wouldn't you rather spend that time being pampered in front of the camera?
REFLECT YOUR STYLE
You need to be sure that your clothes represent your personal style, but you should also wear something you are comfortable in. Something that you feel beautiful/handsome in. If you feel good, that will be reflected in your photos. Don’t try and hide behind baggy cardigans and tops, or try and squeeze into jeans that won't allow you to sit down. Garments that fit and make you feel beautiful will make you look the best in photos.
The times of standing nicely seated and smiling to the camera in Sunday clothes are over. Our interest as photographers is to capture the beauty that is your family being yourselves. These are photos you will have for years so when you look back at them make sure your outfits portray your family’s personality & be true to you!
Smart casual is the most popular level of dress. Opt for classic pieces over trendy. You’ll want to look back at these photos and focus on the time you had as a family without thinking about what year and trend was in at the time.
REMEMBER SEASON AND LOCATION
When choosing your outfits, be sure to keep in mind where and when we’ll be shooting. If it's in the middle of winter outside in the snow, choose warm clothes and appropriate shoes. However, steer clear of being too seasonal. We’re all for the holidays, but if you plan to display the pictures year round, try to stick to looks that can be worn all year so that it doesn’t look like you just forgot to take the pictures down after the holiday season is over. If it's in a field, you will want shoes that you can walk out there in, you can always switch once we’re out there. If it’s going to be a July session in Texas, you may want to choose lightweight clothing. If you are taking photos in front of a backdrop, consider what you are wearing or are you taking photos in front of pink flowers? Try to avoid wearing pinks. You don’t want to blend in with and/or compete with the background.
AVOID ALL BLACK OR WHITE CLOTHING
It’s so important that people don’t stick to the traditional thing of all wearing one color. There’s definitely the possibility of you all blending into each other and look like floating heads in a monochromatic cloud! Just like your family, what everyone wears should be diverse.
If you are wearing an all white shirt then it is very easy to blow out parts of your shirt causing it to lose it's detail. Same can be said with all black, it’s easy to have on black clothing and the detail is lost. There are exceptions to this rule, we’ll help with all this during your wardrobe consult, don't worry! Always feel free to send us pics or questions at any time!
COLOR AND PATTERNS
When you are wanting to go neutral with your outfits remember white isn’t the only neutral. Men wearing a light blue oxford and a woman in a blush dress is still neutral! Other neutral options: black, tan, blush, light blues, nudes, navy, gray. Spice up your neutrals with going with other textures, patterns, & playing around with more than just white. Choose a max of 2-3 colors. 1-2 neutrals and one fun accent color to build from. Then try to keep everyone’s clothes in this color scheme as much as is manageable. Don’t stress about each person wearing the EXACT same color – just keep it in the same color family/shade. You want the colors to be complementary to each other, not match. Stick with one or two people in subtle patterns and the others in solids. If you are a large 6+ family in the photo, two or three patterns won’t be too much. It’s best to avoid large patterns or a bright color that stands out from the rest, that's where your eye will be drawn to.
TEXTURES AND LAYERS
Using multiple textures such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc. can really add something more to your photos. Wearing layers is a plus, too. Layers can add some flair to your outfit, and as a bonus they can save you an outfit change if you throw on a sweater and a hat and have a whole new look… Or take off your jacket and shoes and have a new, more casual outfit.
DON'T FORGET ACCESSORIES
Accessories not only add to your outfit but they can be fun to use in photos. Have the man wear a tie for the woman to hold. Necklaces for the kids to play with or hats to hide behind, and scarves depending on the time of year can really add something to the image. If you have any accessories you think might work, bring them! They really make a big difference!
SHOES
For little ones barefoot always looks great, but that's not always possible, definitely no white tennis shoes unless that's the focus of the shoot. They draw the eye right to feet and away from faces! Neutral shoes are usually best, but sometimes a pop of color is perfect on your feet, so it's not a rule. We love sassy heels and flair on your feet, but bring along a pair of flip flops or flats to walk around in when we move from location to location. Sometimes those killer heels can be… well…. killer.
CHILDREN
Worried about having a boy and a girl? Think bows and bow ties. Have a pet? Give them a pop of color with a collar! There’s all kinds of fun ways to show personality in any color scheme!
Dress them in clothes that fit rather than ones that they will grow into. Bring a couple of different outfits along. Avoid logos and large patterns that take the emphasis away from little ones. Choosing simple, classic clothes will help give your images a timeless feel. Pick something that is comfortable for your little one to run around in and get dirty if they feel like it. They are kids. They will play dirty and run around like maniacs. So dress them up how they love to dress up.
Have a baby? Bring an extra outfit or 2 and a sling that goes well in your chosen color scheme not matching the baby’s clothes. You never know when your baby will get sleepy or clingy. It’s nice to have the ability to be hands free and keep them near you!
Lay out the outfits so you can see what they look like next to each other. It’s the best way to ensure you’re happy with how it looks! Also, clothing often looks a bit different in person than when you order online.
Then, snap a picture on your phone (make sure it’s good lighting and not dark) and look at the photo. This will give you confidence in knowing that it looks great together, and will be even greater when your family has the clothes on in their smiling faces!
Just want to touch on the subject of makeup real quick. For family sessions, makeup should be just the tiniest bit heavier than you would wear on a normal day. For engagement sessions you can choose to keep it natural. Some looks will be very trendy or glamorous, let us know what kind of makeup looks you're comfortable with.
For more ideas – head to our Pinterest page HERE