The problem with having an amazing photographer for a sister in law is that no one really measures up to her standards. The other problem is that she lives 2000 miles away.
So, we have been a bit neglectful about getting family photos taken. We haven't even gone to Sears to get one done.
So that's the goal. Get a good family photo taken. It won't be anything like what Allison could do, but it will be something nice to hang on our wall and share with our family.
The other problem I have when faced with pictures, from school pictures to a family portrait is what to wear. (Maybe that's why I like sports pictures.) Allison is always blogging about how well thought out clothes really make the picture, but what would work well for our family? Olive is about the most stylish person in my family. It probably wouldn't do to have a 5 year old pick out the families picture outfits, so I am stuck.
What do you think we should wear? If you were to pick out our outfits, what would you put us in? We are probably going to try some outdoor pictures in the spring. I have a friend who has been working on breaking into being a photographer for about 3 years and she does pretty nice work. She doesn't have a studio so it would be outside in the Tennessee spring. This is your chance to shake up our very plain wardrobe. I will be buying new clothes for this. So please help me make cute choices!
8 comments:
See, this is something I need to be better at as well. And I have the same wardrobe issues that you do. So here's an idea... I'll just fly out there again and we'll go SHOPPING!!! Oh how I wish that I could!
But seriously, you look beautiful in everything. You always have. I seem to remember borrowing all of your clothes when we were in college, because your clothes were SO much "cool"-er than mine were.
Giving you advice on this topic feels like the blind leading the blind, but one thing I tried last year was picking four coordinating colors and then having all of our outfits include at least 2 of those colors. We did deep red, blue, brown and white. It seemed to work, cause then I could choose colors that looked good on each individual as well as colors that looked good together.
I'll bet your pictures will be amazing, with the green Tennessee landscape as the background, and your beautiful smiling family on center stage! Can't wait to see it!
What Cristy said about the four colors is a great idea. I've noticed that with my two daughters-in-law who always come up with great family portraits because they are so careful about color coordinating. (Tonya does that, too, but she just has to worry about matching her hubby so that doesn't count as much.)
I learned in a hurry that when we do big family portraits, like when everyone is actually all together at the same time, the first question I'm asked is, "Okay, what are the colors?" And generally I give the asker a blank stare. Uh, colors? I'm doing good just to get you all together at the same time and you want to know colors? Or styles? And then I come up with something really original like, "How about everyone just wear their Sunday best, or we could all be in levis and levi shirts, right?" Best of luck. I know you'll all look wonderful and I, too, am looking forward to what you come up with!
I say choose a nice color, but don't go matchy shirts or anything. Choose outfits that match the individuals personality just match in color. NO WORDS ON THE SHIRT! Have fun and can't wait to see!
I have no suggestions about clothes.
I've never been the style queen. But your glowing faces in a photograph in beautiful Tennessee makes my heart flutter. Please put your faces in permanent form, no matter who takes the picture. I will love them all. And they will hang alongside my other loves and make me happy every time I walk by.
xoxo
Black n khaki. Collar shirts and plain slacks. You notice the faces instead of the outfit. But, that's me. If you want to wear stylish clothes, then go dig up some photos from the 80s and really think, "Is this gonna look dated?"
Stick with classic, and it won't be the photo that is pulled out and mocked for the "stylish" clothes sown the line. Now, if you do a side pony tail, well, I can't really help you there....
You know I come from the school of hoodie and jeans so I am no help either where wardrobe is concerned. I do always love kids in white (sundresses for girls and khakis, white shirt/no tie for boys) and bare feet in the summer though. Too cliche? Our only family picture is from when Alex was a month old, and it is awful. Chloe has never been professionally photographed. I want to do pics in the Fall this year so we can wear sweaters...so cozy. I can't wait to see what you get.
As for Allison, I am going to have her do family pictures for me one of these days. All my kids have different eye colors and I have yet to get a picture that really shows how beautiful that is to me. Plus, I am the least photogenic person on planet earth and the ONLY pictures I EVER liked of me were the engagement ones that Allison took.
Cliches are good. What about overalls, bare feet, straw hats, and bandanas. Naaa. J/K. or not.
Ok, I guess I better weigh in on this one. The rules I like to follow 1) nothing exactly matching on everyone. I once had a family of five with all late teens early 20's kids. Everyone of them had on a brown and white striped shirt. We had trouble telling the females from the males.... never a good sign. Which leads me to my 2) No stripes/ plaid/ paisley/ flowers or other loud prints (or logos and words). That is one of the fastest ways to date the picture.
SO here's the DO list. First, ask yourself do you want a casual picture or a formal picture, that will give you as start on which way to lean. Second, pick a base like jeans or tans or browns or blacks or whites that can be used for most peoples pants/shorts/skirts. If you choose tans for example let one person wear tan pants, one person wear tan shorts, one in a skirt and one in a dress (this is just an example.) Once you have your base pick two or three colors to mix and match between everyone. When possible try to have your colors in the same tone such as all lights (light blue/ light green/ little pink/ white) or all darks (Black/brown/rust/drk. blue/ drk. green) You will add more attention to the clothing and NOT the people when you mix light and darks together because the eye is drawn to the point of greatest contrast which is the clothes. One great exercise is to gather everyones clothes and lay them out on the bed or floor, if one piece of clothing demands your attention more than the rest...replace that piece. Although it is about having everyone look their best, it is also about look great all together. It is ok for each persons personality to come out in their clothes, but not to the point where they demand all the attention. Clothing is a challenge but so important. If you need some ideas look around on the web at other photographers family galleries and see what you like and what you don't. Wish I could be there for you... good luck!
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