Here are some of the Do's and Don'ts
DON'T wear all WHITE shirts (or black or red or ANYTHING where everyone is in the same color). This is a very dated look (think 90's). Also everyone blends together too much and makes the image less interesting.
DO wear patterns! Colorful plaid or stripped shirts are a great look for men and little boys. Have the other family members bring out one of the colors of the print shirt and wear a plain colored shirt and pair it with a cute scarf, boots or heels.
DON'T wear logos. No NIKE, PATAGONIA, GAP or other labels. This is VERY distracting in an image.
DO layers! Put a polo shirt under the little guys plaid shirt. Bring a denim jacket to wear over the dress. A cute pea coat with matching heels is just darling! Scarves are always a GREAT layering tool! Switching out layers changes up the look and feel of the photos.
DON'T wear something unflattering. (This seems like a given right?) Women complain that they hate their arms yet they choose a short sleeve/sleeveless shirt. Go with 3/4 length sleeves!
DO go shopping and purchase new clothes (or at least some new items). I figure, if you are investing in a photo session then you would like the images as awesome as possible right? Put some thought into the outfits.
I like to try and follow what I call the “Three Colors + POP” rule:
1. Pick three colors: The main color being a neutral (black, white, gray, khaki, etc.) the other two colors being complementary together working with your neutral tone. Put everyone’s outfits together with those colors only. More than three colors can seem a bit busy.
1. Pick three colors: The main color being a neutral (black, white, gray, khaki, etc.) the other two colors being complementary together working with your neutral tone. Put everyone’s outfits together with those colors only. More than three colors can seem a bit busy.
2. Add in an unexpected POP of color. Be aware that this POP will become a focal point in the picture, so I wouldn’t advise adding this color in an area that you don’t want others to look at too closely.
1. Think coordinating, not matching. Again, unless you want your family picture to look straight out of 1990, try to not match outfits exactly.
2. Try and pick colors that complement the surrounding environment. So, if its fall and the leaves have turned a pop of mustard yellow perhaps with scarves blends beautifully with the trees’ golden leaves.
You can take this one step further (if you plan on displaying this picture in your home), try and choose colors that will compliment your home decor.
3. Use your brightest color as accessories. You don’t want the brightest colors detracting from the most important part of the picture: the people.
4. It is ok to mix solids and simple patterns. SIMPLE patterns add interest and texture to a picture. If you stick to a color scheme, everything just naturally blends together.
5. It is ok to break the Three Color + POP rule and go ALL neutral! Just remember to break it up so every in not perfectly matching. Neutral Prints/Patterns will help achieve a diversified look but keep everyone in a monochro-matic theme.
