"Three Colors + POP” rule:
1. Pick three colors (one being a neutral) and put together outfits with those colors only. More than three colors can seem a bit busy. Neutrals include black, white, gray, khaki, etc. Ex. - navy blue (dark wash blue jeans), gray, and mustard yellow. 2. Add in an unexpected POP of color. Be aware that this POP will become a focal point in the picture, so don't add this color in an area that you don’t want others to look at too closely. {Disclaimer: RULES CAN BE BROKEN. However, these guidelines generally work well to produce a cohesive, vibrant family portrait; a modern take on the whole “white shirts and blue jeans”, if you will.}
Other tips:
1. To get the flow going with wardrobe for your family, start with one outfit that you really like. From there, build for everyone else.
2. Think coordinating, not matching. Coordinating color is what really brings wardrobe together.
3. Try and choose colors that will compliment your home decor.
4. Layer, layer layer! Layers add dimension and depth. In the summer? Layer your dress with a cute belt and pendant necklace. In the fall and winter? Cardigans, belts, statement necklaces, scarves, hats, blazers, etc.
5. Use your brightest colors as accessories. You don’t want the brightest colors detracting from the most important part of the picture: the PEOPLE!
6. It is ok to mix solids and simple patterns. SIMPLE patterns add interest and texture to a picture. If you stick to a color scheme, everything just naturally blends together.
7. Steer clear of fluorescents. Fluorescent colors tend to color cast on faces, necks and hair. They’re harsh sometimes. We always recommend versions of primary colors. Yellow (mustard), red (maroon, brick), and blue (navy, royal).
8. Stay away from wearing a lot of green when having photos taken in grassy/wooded areas. It’s just too much green. Green as an accent color is great, though! You want to stand out amongst all the greenery!
9. Wear what you feel good in! Moms and dads, this tip is for you specifically. If you aren’t comfortable in what you’ve chosen for pictures, it will show. If you can’t find a dress you feel good in, but you rock a good pair of skinny jeans, do that. If you can barely walk in heels, there’s no harm in doing cute and comfy flat boots or pretty sandals. If you can’t do a heel, a wedge is a great alternative.
10. Purchase clothes to fit. And fit well. We all have a hard time buying clothes for our kiddos that don’t leave a lot of room for growth, seeing as they do grow so fast. However, keep in mind that for pictures, too large of a polo shirt, saggy ill-fitting jeans or a jacket that’s falling off the shoulders looks sloppy. You’ll be purchasing outfits specifically for pictures, most likely, so choose something that fits perfectly.
11. Dress for the weather, and be flexible. If you’re from any state in the Midwest, you know that it can be 50 and cloudy one day, 75 and sunny 12 hours later. So, be prepared to be flexible with wardrobe, in case you have to switch it up last minute. If you have plans for a cute sundress for your daughter, and the weather ends up being 20 degrees colder than you were anticipating, switch it up a bit by adding layers. Tights, boots, scarf, slouchy hat, cardigan. Dress appropriately for the weather that day, even if it doesn’t go with your original plan. If your child is sweating profusely in a sweater during his shoot, he won’t be happy. And on the same token, if your child is wearing a tank dress and the weather dips too much in the evening, she’ll be a grump, and it’ll reflect in the final images.
Color Schemes
Here are some color schemes you can use to choose your coordinating colors.
So, that’s it! Hopefully, the above tips will help you do a little advance planning for what to wear for family photo shoots to create a beautiful family portrait you can be proud of.
