What to Wear?
One of the most frequent causes of stress when planning for your family photo session is…WHAT TO WEAR? It actually is a great question and since these photos will live in permanent history, it’s worth investing some conscious thought into it. However, don’t stress - I got you! Let’s look at some good examples of what works well and things to avoid.
Ok, let’s talk logistics first!
Location, location, location!
Since we live in Colorado and the weather literally turns on a dime, let’s make sure you’re dressing for the weather. This is common sense, but it can still trip people up, especially when it’s 90 degrees on the front range but snowing in the mountains. Take the time to think about the weather, but more importantly, where will you be? Let’s not wear a spaghetti-strapped dress for a winter shoot. Remember, photos will reflect how you feel. Also, if you’re doing a winter shoot, consider NOT wearing white if you want to be seen - lol! Take into consideration your background so you don’t get lost in the photo. Wait…what about shoes? YES…this can make or break a shoot, literally. If you want to wear heels in your shoot please bring an extra pair of shoes that you can easily walk in and get off and on, especially when in outdoor settings. It’s pretty challenging walking in a wet, grassy area, for ex., when your stilettos are sinking with every step! Dress for your environment!
Dress for the occasion
Meaning, if you want a formal photo, do it up with fancy dresses, suits and shoes. However, if it’s a more casual shoot, feel free to wear the jeans, polos and blouses. Don’t try to be something you’re not - be you and you will shine!
Wear things that make you feel comfortable
If you’re not comfortable in your outfit, it WILL show in the picture. This is really important for kiddos! Yes, we want them to wear the cute dress and hat, but if you spend the majority of time picking up the hat they just threw and/or crying that the dress is itchy, the likelihood of you walking away from the shoot feeling defeated is increased. Also, if you don’t like the way your arms look in a sleeveless dress, don’t wear it. Bottomline is to be comfy so all you have to do a relax and smile :)
A color Theme
Most families go with a “color theme,” which is typically taking one or two colors/shades and one accent color. Here you can see they went with shades of blue and an accent of a pinkish/red. What I also like about this combination is that they have solids AND patterns which sets everyone off from one another. If everyone is dressed in all white, people can blend together.
Seasonal Hodgepodge
This idea works really well with bigger groups! This photo was taken in the fall, so this family told everyone to just wear “fall colors” - burgundy, mustard yellow, darker blues and greens. That way “most” people don’t have to go out a buy a new colored shirt. You might also notice that some wore solids and some wore patterns - yay!
Monochromatic
Who doesn’t LOVE black?!?! This is not an option I see a lot of, but occasionally I see a mono-colored theme - meaning only one color. You tend to see people wear all white in beach photos. Sometimes it just works well for your family and it can make for a nice, uniformed look. Yes, there is technically blue with the jeans, but I think you get my drift ;-)
Neutrals
Neutrals are timeless and you can’t really go wrong with them. They look good displayed in any home and everyone looks good in them - it’s really a win/win!
What to avoid
Moire! Wait, what is moire?
When odd stripes and patterns appear in your images, this is called a moiré effect. This visual perception occurs when a fine pattern on your subject meshes with the pattern on the imaging chip of your camera, and you see a third separate pattern. To avoid this from happening, please don’t wear tiny, tight patterns like pinstripes, for. ex.
Character Logos
Yea…you might love the Broncos today, but what happens if they trade their best players and you become resentful? You might regret that jersey then and have to explain yourself when like-minded company comes to visit. I write that in jest, but just don’t do it. Cool?
Matching outfits
It might have been the “thing” decades ago, but it’s a bit frowned upon now. You don’t normally do it in your everyday dress, so why do it in your photos. Let each family member show a bit of their own personal style (or lack thereof) and the photo will be a true reflection of who your family is :)
Do you wear transition eye glasses?
This is JUST a suggestion, because safety is ALWAYS more important. If you wear glasses and they have transitional lenses, please consider wearing a spare pair (if you have one), contacts, or not wearing anything for the photoshoot. Otherwise, it will look like you're wearing sunglasses in the photos.