I am definitely not offering fashion advice here, because I am sooo not fashion savvy!
Instead, think of this guide as from the eye of the photographer or artist composing a scene where the colours are pleasing to the eye and harmonise.
I hope that this short guide will give you some peace of mind on the day of the photoshoot because deciding what the whole family will wear can be a little daunting! And when you’re looking at a photo, you want to remember the good times………not an outfit clash.
PLAN AHEAD
Pre-plan what everyone is going to wear before the day of the shoot. It helps to lay it all out on the bed, that way it is easier for you to see if the colours coordinate and nothing is too distracting.
COORDINATE NOT MATCHY-MATCHY
The days of everyone wearing white tops and denim jeans are out!! Coordination is waaay better than exact matching. Pick 3-4 colours that harmonise and coordinate among those colours.
LIMIT PATTERNS
Patterns are great, but not on every person. They are a fab way to add interest and coordinate outfits together, because they contain colours that you can match the rest of your outfits to. However, not everyone in the photo should wear patterns as they may distract from the final image. It is best to have one person wearing a pattern and the other family members in complimentary solids.
NO LOGOS PLEASE
Try to avoid Big logos, and writing. This distracts the eye. We want the focus to be on your beautiful faces, and the love you have for each other……………Not Wu-Tang! (Although my husband would argue otherwise!)
You really want to cherish and show off your family portraits, and not have them date terribly when fashion trends have passed. By choosing simple, classic clothes you will help give your images a timeless feel.
LOOK AT YOUR HOME DECOR
Since you will be hanging these photos in your home, you want to think about choosing outfits with tones that will flow well with the style of your home decor.
If your decor is more bright and spunky, bust out those bright clothes! If your home decor is more muted and calm, think about outfits that have more natural tones…..
CONSIDER YOUR LOCATION
Your location this year will be the beautiful silver birch forest! With light green leaves and white trunks as the background. And the Christmas decorations are light pink and gold. So lots of light and airy vibes going on. Try choosing the tones and the style of your wardrobe so it will compliment, not clash with these surroundings. Here’s an example below. All these colours will work fantastically. Light blues, light greys, light pinks, light tan, white. Darker colours can work as bottoms, balanced with light coloured tops.
BE COMFORTABLE
These are just a few tips to inspire you as you browse through your wardrobe before session day! Most importantly, choose outfits that you are comfortable in! Families who feel comfortable and confident in their clothes will reflect those happy emotions in their portraits.
That’s the hard part done! Now all you have to do is turn up to your shoot and let the fun begin! woohoo!
I can’t wait to see you!!!
xxxx Jo