Family Session Guide

COLOR – Through color selection, create contrast between family members by choosing a a range of color shades for each person to wear, from light to medium to dark (not too dark). When a group is photographed close together, members should stand out from each other rather than all blend together. I’d avoid solid black shirts (bottoms are okay) and solid white tops if you have very fair skin (this may “wash out” your complexion). These colors are okay if they’re layered with other colors or if they’re part of a pattern/print. Avoid very bright tops (especially red & green) as they tend to cast/reflect the color onto faces. Muted versions of bright colors photograph much better. Also, think about your location when choosing your color scheme. If there’s a lot of greenery, I’d avoid wearing much of that color. If you’re familiar with the color wheel, choosing complimentary colors to wear with your location colors will help you “pop” nicely.

 

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TEXTURE/MOVEMENT – Adding texture to your outfits creates interest and the easiest way to do this is by incorporating a variety of fabrics and adding a few accessories among members of your family. Too many accessories could be distracting, so be careful not to overdo it. “Less is more”, right? Layering clothing adds texture, too. Examples of texture: corduroy, pleats, ruffles, seer-sucker, knit sweater, crocheted pieces, denim, lace, cuffed sleeves, hair bows, headbands, jewelry, bow ties, neck ties, suspenders, beanies, hats, scarves, knee-high socks, boots, fur, satin, vests, etc. Movement creates a lot of interest, too. Since my sessions involve a lot of movement, wearing flowing dresses or skirts will pick up wind and move with you and create beautiful interest in your images.

 

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PRINT/PATTERN – Patterns can add dimension, texture and interest. Avoid logos and text (I don’t edit those out). Only a few members of your family should wear patterns or busier prints to avoid an overall “busy” or clashing look. If you do mix a few different patterns between family members, scale them. Have one person wear a small print, another wears a medium sized print, another wears a large print. Examples of prints/patterns: plaid, polka-dot, gingham, stripes, color block, floral, checked, paisley. I suggest starting with Mom’s or daughter’s outfit first (whichever one has the most interesting print/pattern) and then build from it by pulling colors from that outfit and assigning them to the rest of your family members. Don’t worry about the colors being an exact match, as long as they’re close you’ll be fine!