10 tips for What to Wear in Family Pictures
It’s a little overwhelming to dress the entire family for pictures and make it all look good! This process can definitely be a challenge. Here are 10 tips to think about when putting your family’s outfits together for family pictures…
1. Take Some Time To Plan It Out
Think about what look and feel you want the photos to have. Go online to my Pinterest galleries to get inspiration. Do you want a vintage or more modern and simplistic look? Do you want to be more casual or dressy? I usually lean towards a more casual look, so I go for clothes that are nice, but have a more lived-in, timeless look. Stores like the Gap, Old Navy, Primark usually have shirts or jeans that are reasonably priced and you are able to quickly coordinate outfits. Or better yet, check out your closet…Don't forget this one, there may be a great outfit you’ve forgotten about…no need to buy one! All in all, you are investing in capturing your family heirloom photos, so take the extra time to make sure your clothing is a priority.
2. Pick A Color Scheme
For family pictures, it helps to have complementary colors, so picking a color scheme you like works best. I would say 2--3 main colors (for example – tan, gray and blue or blue, burgundy and gray) and then adding some pops of colors looks really good in photos. If you’re planning on hanging the pictures in your home, you might find inspiration there. What colors do you decorate with? What room to you plan to display the images in? What colors make you feel and look good?
Do you want the best color combinations and ideas for what to wear?
Feel free to check out ideas in my Pinterest galleries, an inspirational site where I collect photos
to share with my clients to help them visualize what to wear, poses and locations. http://pinterest.com/wendycampo/
3. Don’t Try To Match Everyone
Sure, matching can be totally cute if you have little ones, but usually matching everyone in the picture just doesn’t showcase each person's personality.
Simple outfits can be timeless...try to avoid clothing that can leave your photos feeling dated or trendy. If you want your photos to have character and depth then coordinate, don’t match your outfits! This also lets everyone put a little piece of their personality in the picture. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration.
4. Go For Classic If You Can
You will have your photos hanging on your walls for years to come, so keep it simple and classic to make them more timeless.
5. Think Texture & Layers
I think it adds dimension to have some texture and layering in your outfits. For the boys, that’s usually a couple of shirts – maybe a plain tee under a cool checked shirt, knit sweater or vest. For the girls that could mean a skirt, shirt, sweater, tights and maybe a hair accessory. A printed scarf over a plain shirt is a great layering piece without adding too much.
6. Limit Patterns
I personally like to see a little pattern in the clothes we choose for photos, but too much can ruin the look all together. For a large family, a couple of the members could wear complementary patterns in varying sizes, but all would just be too much. The others then would look best in solid colors.
7. No Graphics
Graphics can be very distracting in a photo and take our eye away from the face-Try avoiding them.
8. Accessories Can Add A Lot
Scarves, necklaces, hats, hair bows, and socks can also bring a lot to your images. It’s that finishing touch that brings everything together. This is also where you can add your pops of color. We usually have the girls wear a colored headband, belt or bow that matches each other if we want to bring the color scheme all together. Also remember to keep in mind everyone's shoe choice.
9. Lay It Out & Take A Pic
This is so helpful! Laying everyone’s outfit out and seeing all the colors and textures next to each other tells you a lot! This way you’re not guessing what it will look like in the end. Take a picture of what you laid so you can see how the family will look without dressing everyone in their clothes. For a busy family, this is a time and hassle savor! Also, Send your photo to me. I am happy to help coordinate your outfits and give you suggestions.
10. Consider Your Background
Where are you taking pictures? Is it more industrial or urban…or out in nature? What you choose to wear should somewhat go with your setting. Also, if you’re taking pictures in a studio and going to use a black background, wearing black would make you disappear, so not a good idea. Same goes for white.
It’s a little overwhelming to dress the entire family for pictures and make it all look good! This process can definitely be a challenge. Here are 10 tips to think about when putting your family’s outfits together for family pictures…
1. Take Some Time To Plan It Out
Think about what look and feel you want the photos to have. Go online to my Pinterest galleries to get inspiration. Do you want a vintage or more modern and simplistic look? Do you want to be more casual or dressy? I usually lean towards a more casual look, so I go for clothes that are nice, but have a more lived-in, timeless look. Stores like the Gap, Old Navy, Primark usually have shirts or jeans that are reasonably priced and you are able to quickly coordinate outfits. Or better yet, check out your closet…Don't forget this one, there may be a great outfit you’ve forgotten about…no need to buy one! All in all, you are investing in capturing your family heirloom photos, so take the extra time to make sure your clothing is a priority.
2. Pick A Color Scheme
For family pictures, it helps to have complementary colors, so picking a color scheme you like works best. I would say 2--3 main colors (for example – tan, gray and blue or blue, burgundy and gray) and then adding some pops of colors looks really good in photos. If you’re planning on hanging the pictures in your home, you might find inspiration there. What colors do you decorate with? What room to you plan to display the images in? What colors make you feel and look good?
Do you want the best color combinations and ideas for what to wear?
Feel free to check out ideas in my Pinterest galleries, an inspirational site where I collect photos
to share with my clients to help them visualize what to wear, poses and locations. http://pinterest.com/wendycampo/
3. Don’t Try To Match Everyone
Sure, matching can be totally cute if you have little ones, but usually matching everyone in the picture just doesn’t showcase each person's personality.
Simple outfits can be timeless...try to avoid clothing that can leave your photos feeling dated or trendy. If you want your photos to have character and depth then coordinate, don’t match your outfits! This also lets everyone put a little piece of their personality in the picture. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration.
4. Go For Classic If You Can
You will have your photos hanging on your walls for years to come, so keep it simple and classic to make them more timeless.
5. Think Texture & Layers
I think it adds dimension to have some texture and layering in your outfits. For the boys, that’s usually a couple of shirts – maybe a plain tee under a cool checked shirt, knit sweater or vest. For the girls that could mean a skirt, shirt, sweater, tights and maybe a hair accessory. A printed scarf over a plain shirt is a great layering piece without adding too much.
6. Limit Patterns
I personally like to see a little pattern in the clothes we choose for photos, but too much can ruin the look all together. For a large family, a couple of the members could wear complementary patterns in varying sizes, but all would just be too much. The others then would look best in solid colors.
7. No Graphics
Graphics can be very distracting in a photo and take our eye away from the face-Try avoiding them.
8. Accessories Can Add A Lot
Scarves, necklaces, hats, hair bows, and socks can also bring a lot to your images. It’s that finishing touch that brings everything together. This is also where you can add your pops of color. We usually have the girls wear a colored headband, belt or bow that matches each other if we want to bring the color scheme all together. Also remember to keep in mind everyone's shoe choice.
9. Lay It Out & Take A Pic
This is so helpful! Laying everyone’s outfit out and seeing all the colors and textures next to each other tells you a lot! This way you’re not guessing what it will look like in the end. Take a picture of what you laid so you can see how the family will look without dressing everyone in their clothes. For a busy family, this is a time and hassle savor! Also, Send your photo to me. I am happy to help coordinate your outfits and give you suggestions.
10. Consider Your Background
Where are you taking pictures? Is it more industrial or urban…or out in nature? What you choose to wear should somewhat go with your setting. Also, if you’re taking pictures in a studio and going to use a black background, wearing black would make you disappear, so not a good idea. Same goes for white.