Here are some simple suggestions to help you select something that will give you an edge in your photos. The more people in your group photo the more you will benefit from a little planning.
Select from the options below
option 1
Coordinate with location. Many times I select the location then create the wardrobe, accessories and props to suit the ‘look’ I want to achieve. Eg. An outdoor session with a rustic barn in the background would be perfect for little girls to wear a simple, vintage style dress with gumboots, pigtails and carrying a pail/basket of wildflowers. Or if the parklands are vibrant green (in winter), a pop of pink would look fabulous, or a palette of neutrals to allow the green to be the only ‘colour’ in the shot. However if the parklands are yellow and dry (in summer), yellows, soft pinks, beige’s and grey’s with lots of texture look beautiful.
option 2
Find one piece of clothing that includes colours you would like to use. Plan the rest of the outfits around that piece. Usually a girls dress or a boys shirt has the most colours so select colours from this for everyone else to wear.
option 3
Select a season and then let everyone pick out their own from there. Great for extended family groups where a lot of people are in the photo. This way you’re not the matchy-match family, but you’re also not looking like a group of strangers.
Spring pastel shades look soft and feminine.
Summer bright colours look fun and exciting.
Autumn warm tones look natural, rustic and organic.
Winter darks colours are rich and look great with splashes of white in there.
It helps to lay out your clothes all at once on the bed to see what is and isn’t working.
option 4
Denim with warm neutrals. This is the easiest to tell large families what to wear. So if all other ideas are too complicated, select this method. Just ensure everyone adds layers (cardigans, scarves, jackets in tan, cream or brown colours) to create some depth as basic white can look too flat. NB. Not everyone has to wear denim jeans, some could wear casual cargo pants and someone else could wear a denim jacket with a scarf to break the denim up a bit.
option 5
Select black or navy as your base colour then add one or two colours. Eg. Black (with greys) white and yellow. Simple and easy for a small family session.
I hope this guide has given you a start on planning. If in doubt, call me to chat about some ideas or browser my Photobaby Pintrest board of inspiring clothing combinations.
