One of the most frequent questions I receive from clients
prior to a photo shoot is “What oh what do I wear??” Family shoots in
particular seem to cause a lot of anxiety, and since I want my clients to enjoy
the entire photo shoot process I thought I’d put together a few tips to
(hopefully!) remove some of the stress.
1.) Pick One ‘Key’ Piece
I admit, it can be a little tricky to coordinate without
seeming too ‘matchy’. So my first tip is to pick one article of clothing or an accessory
to build around. This could be the busiest pattern or include the most colors.
In the above picture the sweet baby girl’s dress is the
perfect example of this. Her parents coordinate seamlessly and mom’s scarf
gives a perfect pop of color!
It seems so simple but I truly think that scarf is what ties
the ensemble altogether! Imagine this image without the pop of pink- no one
would clash but they wouldn't seem as unified as they are now. This leads be to
my second tip…
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2.) Take Time to Coordinate Accessories!
I absolutely love how well these four coordinate! Look in
the upper left family photo- doesn't mom’s simple necklace tie it all together?
Dad’s shirt as well as the boys’ orange and brown stripes now match her, too.
Everyone ties together without the color palate being too obvious. I love it!
And accessories do not have to mean jewelry! Hats, scarves, vests, boots- it
goes on and on!
One word of caution: notice how there is one black and white
image? That’s because I thought the two solid bold shirts together detracted
from this beautiful picture. It’s simply a matter of preference but if you are
hoping for many couple images I would advise against two very bold, solid shirts.
But like I said, as part of their family image? I loved it! And hey, you can
always bring along a cardigan or jean jacket for a quick add-on and you’re
golden!
3.) Spread the Wealth! (Of Color, That Is!)
I love how the two colors (blue and purple) are spread out
on different planes. Dad’s shirt being up high and mom’s pants obviously being
lower. The same holds true with the way the black clothing is dispersed- two
black shirts, two black bottoms. Perfect! (Not to mention how much I love big
sis’s shiny skirt!)
4.) Can You Do the Family Shuffle?
One: When photographing the whole family it
didn't matter where anyone was sitting. Or who was holding who. They could simply
interact naturally without me gently hinting that maybe mom and dad should
switch spots for a more pleasing look. This is easier for both them and me!
Two: Although the focus of a family session
is, of course, the whole family, typically clients enjoy pictures of the
smaller groupings (just the kids, just the parents, mom or dad with the kids,
etc) If your family’s outfits can ‘shuffle’ then each of these photos are likely
to come out great too.
5.) Lay It Out!
(On your Bed, Couch, or Even your Floor!)
I’m a visual learner and thus, a visual planner. But as easy
as it is for me to litter my bedroom floor with discarded outfits in search of
the ‘perfect’ one- I don’t suggest a full family fashion show. (Unless your
kids (and your husband- what a trooper!) would enjoy it- then go for it! It’s often
hard enough for me to keep my one-year-old clothed, let alone coordinated!)
So lay the outfits out. It will help you see if you need
another pop of color somewhere (accessories?!) or if you need to disperse the
colors a little more. Switch the order to see if your family can ‘shuffle’.
6.) Last Considerations
Give
yourself time to Plan:
Please, please don’t try to figure out what you’re wearing the very day
of your photo shoot. You will most likely be stressed and will probably
discover the ‘perfect’ accessory moments after walking back in to the house.
New Clothes Warning:
If you’re going to be rocking new clothes- wash them
first. It sounds obvious but I’ve had allergic reactions to the ‘freshening
agent’ that one store sprayed on its clothing. Especially for kids, it’s not
fun. Also, double check that there are no plastic tags left in the clothes.
Borrow:
If you are like me and don’t typically attempt to coordinate your
family’s outfits when shopping then you may be lacking an item or two. Borrow ‘em!
Ask your sister, your friend, whoever! Please don’t think that you need to buy
all new things. I can almost guarantee that if you don’t already have it you
can find someone who does. Especially true for accessories!
And the most important rule??
Enjoy Yourself!! Above all- a family photo shoot is an opportunity to
capture your family’s love. Sure, all this coordinating can be fun but please don’t
let it stress you into forgetting the main goal: photos of you and your family!
And if worst comes to worst?? Get a few in black and white ;)
I hope these tips help you! And, as always, feel free to contact me with
any questions or comments!
Lots of Love,
Jessi
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