You’ve scheduled a family photo session and visions of adorable framed portraits are dancing in your head. But then the panic ensues: What to wear, and what not to wear?
My husband recently surprised me for our anniversary by booking a mini-session with a portrait photographer. My husband is an excellent part-time photographer; booking a professional session with someone else was a big deal, as he is often the one shooting pictures of our children. He knew, however, that I wanted the true family portrait of the entire family all together. Once he broke the news that this was going to happen—and it was going to happen in only two weeks—I started to stress out about what we would all wear.
Apparently our photographer faced this fear often, and she had already sent out an email regarding clothing choices. The first and most important item on her advice list: Don’t match.
Instead, she stressed the word “coordinate.” And beyond colors that meant coordinating style too–if one person is casual, make sure the other person is casual as well. No tuxedos on one person and jeans on another.
Since our photo was going to be taken outdoors, there is also the question of weather. Fall in New England can be unpredictable; it could be 80 degrees and humid or 50 degrees and windy. We didn’t want to look sweaty in sweaters if we had an Indian summer day or ridiculous in summer gear with foliage behind us. I decided to go in the middle of the weather barometer and hope for the best. No short-sleeve t-shirts and no wool sweaters for our fall afternoon session but a happy long-sleeve medium.
Coordinating several outfits across generations can be a daunting process. Our five-person family includes all ages and genders: There is myself and my husband, as well as tween daughter and toddler boy/girl twins. Following the photographer’s advice on beginning with a child’s outfit, I decided to start with my oldest, the tween daughter, since I knew finding something without graphics and words would be difficult. I knew whatever I chose for my tween would springboard everyone else’s colors. I found a pale pink shirt in The Gap and picked out a new pair of dark jeans. The denim set the tone; just a few shopping doors down in Gymboree, I saw a red-and-white checked button-down shirt with red-cuffed jeans for my son.
Our photographer suggested avoiding certain colors: bright white, bright teal, super hot pink and fire engine red. However, those colors could still be on clothing in patterns or designs; just not featured as an entire piece of clothing. The pale pink and cranberry red avoided these bright hues, coordinated with the casual denim, and our family palette started to take shape.
With my tween daughter’s and toddler son’s outfits picked out, I knew a denim dress in my toddler daughter’s closet would be a good fit for her in the picture. I found a pair of leggings in Gymboree to coordinate both the red and pink colors, and magically, the kids’ outfits were done.
I planned on wearing a new black cardigan, so I just needed a coordinating top to wear under it. My husband wore black pants and had a shirt in his closet that was a cranberry red plaid, similar to my son’s but not matching it.
Accessories like hats and headbands are adorable on little ones, but if they never wear them, don’t magically expect them to want to keep them on their head on photo day. My oldest always wears headbands, so having her accessorize was easy — a black headband with a flower matched her shoes and my cardigan. For my toddler daughter, I stuck to pigtails, which keep her hair neat and allowed me to add hair accessories which matched her leggings and my son’s shirt.
Shoes also matter in portraits, especially outdoor sessions. A dirty or sloppy pair of shoes can ruin an entire picture. Take a moment to shine the family’s shoes or even purchase a new pair if necessary. The three kids all needed new shoes, so it was easy to use this portrait session as an excuse to outfit their feet, too.
If you are struggling to choose clothes, start a Pinterest board with ideas. You can save clothing idea choices and compare them side-by-side. Think about favorite colors, and what you will want to see on your wall in your home for 20 years. If you despise blue, then don’t pick blue clothing. Make sure the hues are pleasing to your own eye.
After the clothes for all family members are chosen, lay them all out on a bed and see how they colors and textures and styles go together. You can even snap a quick picture of them to see how they will be featured on film.
On picture day, consider dressing on location, especially if you have a long drive to your photo shoot destination. Kids can ruin clothes in a matter of seconds with snacks, crayons, and drinks in a car; and the family can be a wrinkled mess from seat belts on a long drive.
