"What should we wear?"
I get asked this question quite a bit from clients before their family portraits, usually by the default family wardobe coordinator, aka Mom.
I'm a Mom, too, I know it's tough to manage the outfits of a gaggle of kids, that just want to run around in pajamas, or worse, naked, all day, every day.
Hope this post can help you sort through their closets, and give you some idea of what to wear...or at the very least...what not to wear, since that may actually be more important when it comes to the family portait.
So, while there is no uniform code for what to wear to your next family portrait shoot, there are some good guidelines to follow, namely:
- Coordinate. Do not match. You're trying to look like a family, not like a marching band. The subject of the photos should be your faces and your family bond - not your clothes. If Mom shows up in a plaid skirt made with the same plaid fabric that Dad and brother's pants and ties are made out of, and little sister's jumper is, too, do you know what the theme of the photo is? That's right, it's not your family anymore...it's that plaid pattern. Nobody will see your faces when they look at the photos, their eyes will immediately be drawn to the repetition of that plaid pattern. "Oh how cute, you all match! Adorable...NOT!"
So, try to coordinate colors and blend similar colors that go together well - browns and reds, blue and white, etc. I always tell clients the neutrals are a safe bet...black, white, khaki, and gray.
- Along the same lines...stick with solid colors. Avoid stripes, plaids (see above!), checkered patterns, logos, or those "so-ugly-they're-cool-now" holiday sweaters with reindeer or snowmen knitted across the chest. As I said before, the subject of your photos should be your faces, your family bond, emotions, and relationships - not Rudolph's red knitted nose, or the black and white checkered pants Junior is wearing while he passes through his wannabe a rock-star phase. Patterns are HARD if not impossible to coordinate without "matching" cutesy cutesy. And if the patterns on your clothes don't match or coordinate, they clash. Another big "no no" for your family portrait.
- Formal or Casual? You must decide! For casual family photos for the holiday card or celebrating another year together, jeans and comfortable clothes like khakis and polos, dress shirts, or sweaters are perfectly appropriate. (Solid color sweaters...not reindeer-themed, but I digress...) If you're trying to capture a formal family portrait to commemorate a special occasion, hang in the gallery of formal portraits on your staircase walls, or just show that you do, indeed, have a dapper side...jeans aren't going to cut it. Suits, and skirts, nice dress pants and shirts, and nice dress shoes, too. Coordinate the colors and the fabrics as best you can.
Again, neutrals work well here, as they can be dressed up or dressed down, and can range from black-tie formal attire to clothes that just look nicer than the playgroup sweat pants you wear every day. The neutrals are also classy enough to allow some flexibility with the kids' outfits. So if Mom and Dad are dressed to the nines in the little black dress and Hugo Boss tailored suit, the picky little brother who refuses to clip on his tie, or wear a jacket with his dress shirt, should still look just fine if his black, khaki, gray and/or white clothes are solid colors that coordinate and blend with Mom and Dad's.
- Consider the season and the setting. If you're taking the annual holiday card portrait in October and the days are hitting 75 degrees (woo hoo) the week before your shoot, please don't take this as the burning bush message from Mother Nature that you were meant to wear shorts and flip flops on this year's holiday card, featuring snowflakes and hot chocolate. Unless your family is well-known for its quirky sense of humor or original break-the-mold way of life, you should still dress with the card in mind. Dress fall-appropriate to emphasize the season you're celebrating. Think autumn classy for more casual shots and suits and long-sleeve dress shirt and dresses, for more the more formal portraits. You don't necessarily have to throw the kids in their Xmas outfits for Grandma's house, but you probably shouldn't be in bikinis and beach towels, either.
Likewise, if you've decided on the local family park to get some portraits posed near the changing leaves and candid shots of the kids playing on the playground, you probably shouldn't wear the Hugo Boss suit and tie or little black dress and high heels. Think about the setting you choose for your portrait, and dress accordingly.
- Lastly, Be yourself. The best family portrait showcases the personality of your family. It's nice to dress up and look grand once in a while, but if the kids refuse to smile while wearing their shiny mary janes and loafers, is it worth it? If your family spends every weekend playing and watching baseball and singing "take me out to the ball park," don't show up in football jerseys because your cousin Joe said that's what his family is doing for their family portraits this year. On the other hand, if you love football and obsess every Sunday in front of the TV as a family, by all means, wear your jerseys! Or, at the very least, bring them along for a shot or two. Capturing the spirit of your family, is my goal.
So, show your true colors.
For more help with color coordination and examples of what to wear for Mom, Dad, son(s) and daughter(s), check out my Pinterest board "What to Wear." It's loaded with photos to help you choose the "look" you want for your family portrait, and helpful hints on how to get it.
http://pinterest.com/winnphotography/what-to-wear/
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