Family Portrait Clothing Guide by Kateri Hartman!

   

By Kateri Hartman

 Fall is the perfect season to have family photos taken. There’s no children complaining of being too hot, and the leaves provide a perfect back drop for you and all your little munchkins.  If you’re planning on taking a family photo session this season, but aren’t sure what to wear, check out these five tips:

1)      Color.  Fall is a colorful season.  There’s no need to have your entire family in a black t shirt and jeans, or matching outfits.  You can pick three colors that all fit into one color scheme, and coordinate from there.  Possibly think about the colors in your house if these pictures will be hanging in there, you may want them to match your clothing color scheme to the colors of your rooms.  Here are pantone’s colors for fall 2015.  These colors help you remain in style while still having fall elements in your clothing. 

(photo  via http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2015/02/pantone-colour-forecast-for-autumnwinter-2015.html)

2) Simple is stylish.  If your child wants to wear his favorite Mickey Mouse t-shirt, you may want to direct him to another fashion choice.  Often times solid colors work much better in pictures.  Large patterns can have effects on the way you look, the way you mesh with your family and the background, and can distract from the final photo.  

3) Don’t be afraid to accessorize.  I’m sure you’ve heard that “less is more”, however, textures and layers add much more depth and pop to you family photos.  For fall, easy ways to add textures are a scarf over your sweater, a flannel overtop your basic tee, and chunky necklaces and bracelets. 

4) Plan ahead.  Once you book your session, it’s best to start thinking of outfits right away.  You don’t want to wait until the last minute to find out that your child has grown out of that new sweater.  You can use polyvore to create a style board and see all of your outfits laid out by each other.  It helps to split up colors rather than have all the colors grouped in one area for the picture.  Have each family member try on and lay out the clothing they plan to wear on picture day, and your day will be hassle free.

5) Have fun!  Family photos can often seem like a stressful time, but if you plan ahead and know what you want, the rest will be easy.  This is a rare occasion and will create memories and images that can last a lifetime, so don’t be afraid to let loose and laugh a little!