5 Fashion Rules For Family Portraits
December 17, 2010, By Jeffrey Weeks 4 comments
I can never figure out what to wear in family portraits so I always carry several changes of clothes. It may feel a little weird bringing a small suitcase of outfits with you to a sitting, but this is one of those situations where going with your gut and wearing what YOU think is right might not be the best answer. Family portraits are meant to be a reflection of your family at a given point in time. You want that preserved memory to be a little more special than the sweatshirt you wear on game day and those jeans you wear because they're comfortable. It took getting a couple of these portraits done for me to figure out the "rules." Basically, the deal is to keep it solid and simple and take your cue from the family theme and setting.The biggest rule is that the more formal the family portrait is, the darker the colors you choose should be. So while light and white works if you are doing a family beach pic on location it doesn't work most of the time.
The second biggest rule is that trendy or tacky is out. I know you might think that wearing that silk puffy shirt is a good idea because it's a really cool look at the time (not sure when that was, but stay with me), but err on the side of classic. Family portraits should not be dated, they should be timeless. And no matter how much you love your college or sports team, no logos.
Go with Solid Colors
Solid colors are dependable and enriching. You don't want patterns, logos, stripes or any other such distracting designs in your family photo. If you are matching clothes with your family, solids are the easiest way to coordinate with each other. Dark solids make for a very classic look. Jackets and sweaters that are solid and not patterned simply look classier.
Choose Dark and Light Carefully
Don't go with a very light jacket or coat over a dark shirt. Instead, aim for the opposite and wear dark over light. The effect is much more stylish. Solid turtlenecks in gray or white can look terrific underneath dark jackets. In fact, layers overall are usually the best choices for men in the "informal" poses. Just remember to go from light to dark and not the reverse.
The Shirt Matters
Your shirt should be one solid light color, and it needs to be a nice one. For the formal poses you'll want a button-down, and don't shy from wearing a white Tee under it as the impression of more layers always adds elegance. Do NOT wear a shirt with a pattern or a logo as that is exactly the kind of distraction you don't want in a family picture.
Always wear long shirts with sleeves and avoid rolling them up as it looks affected. You want to appear to have dressed well, but casually.
Follow the Theme
The theme of your family picture will help you choose your clothes. Themes (such as beach, informal, holiday, etc) come across as tasteful and sophisticated. One thing that does not work well, however, is having everyone in the family dress up the exact same way and trying to match perfectly. It's a bit cheesy. Instead, you want to match casually so that the family blends together but there is still room for individualism.
However, while being an individual is good, don't let one family member "stick out"...just wear colors that go well together. The family can decide on the theme together and you can match it with classy solid colors whether it is a more formal button-down and jacket or a casual sweater with a turtleneck underneath.
Wear Appropriate Socks and Shoes
Some men show up for a family portrait not knowing that taking some full body shots is the norm these days (I know I did). If you come dressed to the nines but wearing sneakers you're in trouble. Make sure you wear nice socks and shoes that match your formal and casual clothing choices. You will likely need two sets of socks and shoes for those two scenarios.
Finally, make sure you clean and iron all your clothes before the family portrait shoot begins, and bring everything in on hangers without wrinkles. It's the extra steps like these that will turn your portrait experience from something you're uncomfortable with to a nice memory you can share with your family forever.
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