First and foremost, everyone should wear something they feel comfortable in. Simply put, the more relaxed everyone is, the better your finished photos will look.
Aim for a co-ordinated look, navy & white is popular!
Group photos tend to look more visually appealing if everyone has a casually co-ordinated look. By co-ordinated, I definitely don’t mean a matchy-matchy 90’s style image where everyone is wearing jeans and a white t shirt!
Think similar tones of colours, such as pale greens and creams, or colour tones that complement each other. Softer tones tend to be more timeless than harsh blacks and severe navys. Stay away from large logos, big jewellery and watches as these can date your images and be visually distracting.
Or break the rules, add patterns, florals & colour!
In saying that, if you plan to do a shoot every year of you and your kids, I say go big or go home!
I happen to LOVE chunky jewellery, hats and the “fun” of fashion, and my daughter loves wearing four tutu skirts, three necklaces, a tiara and cat ears with gum boots! I want to record all of this and it tells a story… our story, my family’s story. It captures me and my crazy family now, at this moment in time… a time I want us to remember forever. It’s the story of my larger than life daughter and I, and my quiet and contemplative husband and our son. It’s an interesting mix, but one which is just ours as we change and grow and exist together.
It’s important to me to capture “us” year after year. It’s fun and it tells our unique story, which we will treasure for all our lives. Perhaps you want to tell the real story of your family too.