Your children grow up, get married, and move far away. No matter how much you wish they could all live on the same street as you it's just not practical. Thank goodness for texting, phone calls, Skype, FaceTime, and summers. Summers are the best time for schedules to relax, and we can make the time to gather together in one spot.
If you're thinking of booking an extended family photo session the thought of planning outfits can be daunting. Here are a few simple tips to make it easier.
1. Pick 2-3 colors you love. Don't forget you'll probably be hanging these photos up in your home, so choose colors that go with your home decor. Once you've chosen those colors you'll want to mix and match them throughout the whole family. This family chose pinks and blues. It's OK to not have them all exactly the same shade of blue or pink.
If you have a particularly large group you might want to consider neutral colors like black, white and grey. Most people have those colors already in their wardrobe and it will be easier to coordinate.
2. You can add interest with patterns. Depending on the size of your family you can get away with a few patterns that go along with the colors you have chosen. Another great way to add interest and variety is to layer your clothing. Think about adding hats, decorative scarves, jackets, sweaters, chunky necklaces, and bracelets to your outfits.
3. Whatever you do please do not ever wear shirts or pants with large logos or wording on them. They will not be easy to read in camera and will look messy and distracting. Also avoid shirts with cartoon characters or other faces. Your eyes will go straight to that shirt in a photo instead of the person wearing the shirt. Movie and TV character sneakers are also distracting. Choose shoes that are more neutral.
4. Be comfortable in what you wear. Don't wear anything too tight or uncomfortable that you can't move around and snuggle your family in. If you're comfortable you'll look comfortable on camera. If you choose a style of dress you don't usually wear it will feel strange and you might regret it. If your children are used to being in casual play clothes, don't dress them up too much. They will feel uncomfortable and may act out. It's OK to dress them up, but make sure they can move around.
5. Don't stress too much about it! While deciding what to wear is important it's not the most important thing about your photo session. Those faces you love are what's important. If you worry too much about the little details it will make the experience unpleasant. Do what you can do and then let it go. If your daughter in law didn't cooperate and shows up in neon orange just let it be. She'll regret it, but you'll still look great.
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