Family Photography Style Guide (AKA What Should We Wear??)
One of the most common questions that families ask me when we are planning their photo session is about what to wear. My advice is that, well, it depends. The number one goal in my photo sessions is to document the love and connection in your family, which means I need everyone’s smiling faces, which means wearing clothes that aren’t radically out of the norm for your comfort and typical style so that you’re distracted by an itchy collar or snug bodice. That said, a major difference between a casual snapshot and an heirloom photo you want to hang on the wall for generations often comes down to the clothes that you choose to wear.
Making a plan for specific clothes to wear to your photo session shows an attention to detail and creates an overall aesthetic cohesiveness that comes across in the images, both to you and to others who view them.
While my general rule of thumb is to suggest that families try to avoid prints and loud patterns (and to avoid plaid, always), because solid colors help the eye focus on the most important part of the photograph: your faces, there are still two basic approaches to the sartorial question: matching clothes or complementary shades. Either approach lends itself to timeless portraits of your family and really comes down to individual preference.
Matching clothes means some-to-all family members are wearing the same clothing item (but likely in different sizes). This approach highlights the similarities between family members and creates a unified look throughout your portrait.
Complementary clothes means all family members are wearing shades of a similar hue - for example, everyone is wearing a shade of blue, though they are not wearing the same clothes (or even the same hue), or they are wearing colors that complement each other or that draw on the same palette. This approach creates a cohesive look while also letting everyone express their individuality.
There is also this variation on a theme: matching clothes, but with a new color every year (this is one of my personal favorites, as it also means I get to see your children grow and change year by year). This approach draws attention to the similarities between family members, but also to the differences over time (though it does take some advance planning and preparation).
Whatever you wear, I can’t wait to photograph your beautiful families. In the busy season (summer months), I do book up in advance, so get in touch today to schedule your session with me…