Choosing the ideal clothes for family photos can be as tricky as choosing the right photographer. You will keep these photos on your bookshelves, in your office, and on your walls to enjoy for decades. While choosing the right outfit can be daunting, it should not be the case. According to Cincinnati Wedding Photographer | Kate Legters Photography, style, and clothing are subjective and individual decisions. As such, it is crucial to go by what feels best. That said, some basic standards and tips can help you make decisions more quickly and effectively based on what works. However, the entire process should be fun and a breeze. Understand that your outfit can improve the outcome but will not make or break your shoot. The shoot is all about showcasing your different personalities.
1. Ensure You’re Comfortable And Confident In Your Wear
One of the most critical factors is ensuring everyone in the family dresses comfortably to feel confident. It can help create calm and natural photos that reflect their personalities. Since modern family photo shoots in the studio often take place sitting down and occasionally on the floor, your clothes should be comfortable. You should also consider maternity dresses for photoshoots if you have a mom-to-be in the family.
2. Choose Neutral Colors
Considering it’s a family shoot, making you and your kids the center of attention is best. Very bright clothing, famous brands, or super matching ensembles like the blue jeans and white t-shirts popular in the 1990s are likely to distract from the people in the photo. Neutral clothing, on the other hand, can help you and your loved ones stand out; this doesn’t mean that you have to match your clothes with a designer’s accuracy unless you are passionate about it. Still, with a color palette, you can easily decide what each family member will wear. You can opt for dark colors like maroon, purple, and blue. Alternatively, dress everyone in light colors like cream, white, or pastel shades.
3. Start With Your Favorite Outfits
If you need help deciding where to start, it’s worth laying out each family member’s favorite clothes to see if the colors go together. Using your intuition doesn’t require adhering to strict rules. To achieve a beautiful result, sometimes you only need to pay attention to one or two outfits. It’s also worth considering the esthetic decor of your living area. What color palette would look great in your home if you hung the pictures from your photo shoot on the wall?
4. Communication About The Outfits
Once you’ve decided on a color scheme, no matter how extensive the theme, it’s essential to communicate the information to all participants in the shoot, especially if you’re organizing a generational shoot involving multiple families. You’ll be surprised how often families forget this stage.
5. Patterned Vs. Solid Colors
Stick to solid colors whenever possible. The overarching theme is that personalities and faces should be the focus when looking at the final images. The clothes should not compete for your attention or that of your loved ones in a family photo. Jewelry is also acceptable, but it should not dominate the imagery.
6. Skin Tones: Light And Dark Colors
You should wear tops and bottoms in similar colors. Light colors often make people appear taller, so if you wear a light top with dark pants, your top will appear taller and vice versa. Choosing comparable shades for tops and bottoms helps prevent one from looking more prominent than the other.
For a similar reason, choosing a blouse with sleeves that reach at least to the elbow is advisable because bare arms have more flesh than faces and can draw unwanted attention. They can make you appear taller. In addition, dark socks are also more effective.
7. Family Photoshoot Props
After the family group photos, some individual portraits are generally a good idea. Since these pictures don’t focus on the striking features of a family group, props add originality and variety – and often enhance the personality of the portraits. It’s in the best interest of families to include recreational items such as footballs, cricket bats, toys, and musical instruments. So don’t hesitate to bring lots of cute baby headpieces and babywear. You can also encourage your teens to show off their fashion sense in a way that highlights their individuality. Accessories and fashionable items are excellent ideas, as is anything that highlights their personality.
The most crucial factor in choosing an outfit for a family photo is that your pictures represent you and your memories. Throughout your life, you will look at these photos daily in your home. Choose suitable clothes you feel comfortable in, and you can enjoy your family photos even more in the decades to come.
