Remember seeing those awkward family photos, where everyone is wearing the exact same Hawaiian shirt?
For generations, families have had this strange urge to arrive at a family portrait session in the most matchy matchy clothing they can possibly find. I somewhat understand the thought process of not wanting to clash by wearing all different things; but they’re trading that for causing everyone to blend together. Don’t make this same mistake!
Choose one ‘star’ outfit. Does dad want to wear a bold, plaid shirt? Great! Make sure to coordinate the rest of your outfits with solid colors that play off of that plaid. Don’t just do another form of plan with the same color. You don’t want the photo to look busy or distracting from your faces. In the example above, mom has a scarf that matches dad’s sweater, but the rest of her look has been drawn from the grey color that is barely peeking out on his plaid under-layer. Their daughter is wearing another shade of grey, which allows them all compliment each other beautifully. Our eye is naturally drawn to their faces, rather than trying to make sense of their clothing choices! Think textures instead of patterns. Things like knit sweaters and tights, velvety dresses, corduroy pants… tend to look more subtle, and photograph better than patterns and prints- such as plaid and stripes.
Consider your home decor. If you have a living room with very neutral tones, you likely won’t want to frame and hang a family portrait where everyone is wearing neon green and hot pink shirts. Maybe everyone can wear a different shade of brown or beige- those colors are really not as boring as their reputation suggests! Add texture with layered clothing. Scarves, cardigans, hats, etc.
Make sure everyone is comfortable. Especially mom! Wear something that makes you radiate confidence! Discomfort shows through your smile more than anyone ever thinks. If you can’t find a dress you feel good in, but you have a pair of skinny jeans you know you can rock, go for that option. If you can barely walk in heels, maybe choose some cute and comfy flat boots or sandals.
We all know that fashion is a form of self-expression, so show up representing the most flattering version of you!
