What To Wear - Part One

Fall is a big time for family photos; not only is it beautiful out there with the deep blue skies and the brilliant leaves, but people are starting to think about photo Christmas cards and a framed picture of Junior for Grandma. I really only do sessions for family and friends, but nearly every time, I get asked the same thing - what should we wear?

The first and biggest thing you can do is throw out any notion that you should match. Your clothing should compliment each other; similar tones, similar styles, but DO NOT MATCH. Everyone in the same wash denim pants and identical red polo shirts looks ridiculous. Everyone in khakis and white t-shirts looks ridiculous. However, don't go to the other end of the spectrum; if your daughter is wearing a vintage-style dress with boots and a little jacket, don't dress your son in track pants, flip-flops and his 'nicest' t-shirt.

Complimentary tones/colours/styles work best. Pick a few colours that look ncie together - maybe navy, cream, pale blue, and denim, or perhaps browns, tans, and burgundies, and go with it. If your daughter is in a casual dress, put your son in nice pants and a shirt and vest, mama in a casual skirt and boots, and dad in his best-fitting jeans and sweater.

If you can do that, you're off to a great start. However, a few extra tips that will really make photos stand out:

Some things to avoid:
No sunglasses on tops of heads.
No cell phones/fire radios/pagers/whatever hooked to belt buckle.
Kids/teens: no ponytail holders, rubber bracelets, or wacky bands on wrists.
Absolutely NO t-shirts with princesses, pirates, animals, "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas", or loud logos. For really little kids, I especially stress no little outfits with words on them.
No contrasting patterns on the same person, and make sure if one kid is in stripes and another in plaid that they go together.
No athletic gear - running shoes, sweatpant materials, track pants, etc.
No ball hats!! This causes all kinds of wonky shadows and whatnot. Old-fashioned hats for boys or cute knit hats for girls can be acceptable, as long as the rim is not large enough to cast shadows.

Things to do:
Wear classic but modern clothing. Don't make it uber-trendy, but yes, current style makes photos look that much better. Guys in nice jeans and a fitted sweater, girls in stylish jeans and tops, or knee-length skirt and boots/jacket, etc. Classic but stylish.
Put an effort into hairstyle, especially women. Sloppy ponytails or wet hair just don't look good. Look neat!
Pay close attention to footwear. Feet show up in photos, too. Aim for polished, stylish, demure shoes or boots. Stay away from ratty flip-flops, Crocs, rubber boots, old sneakers, etc.
Put some effort into what your family wears. You're paying money to get some beautiful photos done. Even if Junior's favourite band t-shirt never leaves his back, make him change. It's only for a couple of hours, and I guarantee you'll later regret "I just let Junior wear whatever he wanted because it makes him happier!11!"
For newborns, I normally take photos of them with just a diaper (covered up). However, I will do clothing as long as the clothing is very simple and very understated. Plain onesies or sleepers are best. Frilly dresses or jeans and vests on newborns looks silly in most photos.

Hope that helps for those planning photos in the future. My next post will give you some examples of good, solid clothing choices for all kinds of photos. (All photos are ones I have taken.)