Family Pictures - Holmen,WI

Updated on July 20, 2010
M.C. asks from Holmen, WI
6 answers

My husband, our son and I are getting our family picture taken this Saturday. We're having them taken outside at 2 different locations. The first location is going to be near water, so think "beachy". The second location is going to be "naturey".......near woods/flowers. I'm stressing out about what to have all 3 of us wear. I don't want to be triplets, but I don't want to clash either. Does anyone have any good advice about picking out outfits? What has worked for you in the past? Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

B.W.

answers from St. Louis on

As a professional photographer who works within the web design and development market, neutrals and uniformity are going to be best. Beach Scenes look lovely when everyone is dressed in white. It is crisp, clean, and airy. For more rich-colored backgrounds or naturistic settings, I like uniformity in that as well but maybe not so matchy-matchy. A nice pair of jeans or khaki pants for everyone and then pick a nice bright color for tops and let everyone pick a "style" of top in that color. For example...one wears a polo, one a T-shirt, one a nice ruffled blouse, one a camisole....you get the point. Just match the tops with color. Maybe red, a nice teal or aqua-blue, and purple is one of the nicest colors when in a setting of trees or grass because it is a complimentary color to GREEN! Make it pop! Those are my suggestions and I know they will work. I do this all the time and that's why I get paid the big bucks for my photos! LOL!

3 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Erie on

I always liked beachy pictures where everyone wears light colors (maybe white shirts?) and sits on a big beach blanket :)

Have fun with the woods one...try to find a bench or picnic table...maybe wear some jeans & hats... either way, they both sound like they'll turn out great!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

we just did our own family pictures at a garden I wore a white shirt with a khaki shirt my daughter wore a pink dress with different colors in it and the boys wore blue shirts with khaki pants and they turned out really good. Have fun with it just put colors together that would go.

1 mom found this helpful

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I always tell people when they are going for family pictures to look on TLC.com for Jon & Kate + 8 (now Kate + 8) family pics... they had a wonderful knack for coordinating - NOT matching - outfits. And they always used really vibrant, lovely colors. I am SOOOO tired of seeing khaki pants or jeans and white shirts in family portraits!!!!! No offense intended, but c'mon people! Is that the most creative we can get? Yes, it's great to keep it simple, no bold prints or obnoxious accessories, unless you are doing a playful shot with everyone having the accessory, but to go so 'Catholic school uniform' with the khaki/white ensemble makes my eyes bleed!!! lol Sorry to be so dramatic...

One thing I sometimes try to do, is say, if everyone in the family has gorgeous blue eyes, maybe choose a color that compliments the eyes, and work with that... or choose 2 complimenting colors, check the color wheel for this, and have your family in shirts of these 2 colors. Or, if your background is going to be primarily greenery, choose a complimenting color for your clothes (green's complimentary color is the red family.) You could all wear something red, maybe cranberry red? (I prefer that to fire engine red... just my opinion!)

For the beachy shots, maybe mom wear a long flowy skirt - they are popular now, so easy to find in just about any color, with dad and son in linen shorts or capris (sorry, I don't know the name of the roll-up kind of pant/short combo for guys/boys). It's especially cute if mom gets in the water and her skirt gets wet on the bottom... maybe squatting down looking at something in the water with son, and dad looking on... of course, you'd want to save these for last, but still makes a gorgeous photo.

You are obviously using a professional photographer, as you are doing on-site photos (yeah - so much nicer than studio shots, imho), so I am sure he/she will do wonderful shots... I do photography as a hobby... and portraiture is my passion, so if you want any more specific ideas, message me...

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I would just go with earthtones. you can go with khaki bottoms and white tops, jeans and blue tops, etc...SIMPLE!!! I learned this when my daughter was taking her infant pictures and less is more. Simple, clean, pressed, and coordinating. We do beach pictures with our kids every spring, and the boys wear blue jean shorts and a blue polo and our daughter wears and all white dress. I really dislike shoes and jewlery in pictures like these. So I take all of mine off except for my wedding jewelry. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.H.

answers from New York on

If everyone where's white you will all stand out against your backdrops and not class with each other or your environment. I've used this technique in the past to great effect.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions