Autumn is now well and truly underway and I’m determined that giving an extra thought to your groups outfits, really can make all the difference to your portraits.
With the weather being so changeable, it’s incredibly important that you don’t get cold, especially your children. So layer up with t-shirts, jumpers, cardigans, hats, gloves and scarfs. This way we can remove layers if the weather is great, but we also aren’t caught out if there is a cold wind and no sun.
WORK IT.
- First, ask yourself what look you’re going for? Bright and colorful with vivid splashes of color? More subtle and sophisticated? Hipster? Formal? Once you nail that down, it’s easier to plan outfits.
- Coordinate your family’s outfits. Find a common color and “weave” it through your family. For example, let’s say you choose the color gray (awesome, neutral color). An idea would be gray slacks for dad, mum wears gray scarf, son wearing gray polo, or choose a dress with small prints that have gray (or a similar shade) in them, etc. Not every member of the family has to wear it, but you’re aiming to try to tie the look together, and color is one of the easiest ways to do it.
- If you’re going for more subtle, softer colors, consider adding pops of color through your accessories (shoes, scarves, belts, hair accessories, etc.)
- Consider allowing one person in your family to be the “wild card.” Maybe that person is wearing a bold shade of green or a fun print. If so, make sure that the other family members are complimenting that person and not competing with them. In other words, you shouldn’t have other people also wear green or bold prints that might clash.
- Layer up! Fall is the perfect time of year to layer your clothes. It adds texture, and also gives you more options of different looks without the hassle of changing outfits.
- Wear clothes that you’re comfortable in. Now isn’t the time to break in new shoes or wear anything tight or constricting. If you’re not comfortable, it will show in the images. Pick clothing that accentuate your best feature or make you feel good. It will show in all the best ways!
- Neutral colors (grey, beige, tan, white etc.) look classy and timeless and never go out of style.
- Make use of textured fabrics (like lace, denim, or suede) to add an interesting visual element to your photos.
- Do try to avoid styles that will become quickly outdated.
- Make use of accessories, such as hats, headbands, scarves, and jackets to really add to your look.
- When dressing a younger baby (a few months old), avoid clothing that might “swamp” them. Stick to simple, somewhat tight clothes like a cute, funky onesie or romper or cool, colourful nappy covers.
- A fun little tutu makes a great accessory for little girls. Flowing tulle skirts or other items made of similar material can add a wonderful sense of movement to your images.
FORGET IT.
- Don’t have too many competing large prints (i.e. mom in polka dots and dad wearing bold stripes).
- Moms and girls: watch out for those hair rubber bands wrapped around your wrists. (I do this a lot as well). You’d be surprised how distracting they are in photos, so I’ll be asking you to remove them before we begin our session.
- Don’t make your clothes too matchy-matchy and avoid all-white or all-black combos. Instead, try to find outfits that compliment each other in both colour and design.
- Avoid clothes with logos/characters or loud patterns. They act as distractions and draw the viewer’s eyes away from the photo’s main subject– you.
- Don’t forget about your shoes!! They will also be showcased in your photos. Boots, for example, look great with many different outfit combos (jeans, leggings, skirts, etc.) and can really tie your family’s outfits together. Avoid trainers, crocs, and white socks.
- Avoid wearing watches and sunglasses, and please do not keep your mobile phone in your pocket during the shoot (it creates strange line patterns on your trousers)!
Here are a few family outfit combinations to use as a guide. Happy planning!
Some great Autumnal Colour combinations
And finally, to find your own palette, I absolutely adore Design Seeds – click here !
Lucy White Photography 