FAMILY PORTRAIT CLOTHING: PICKING YOUR COLOR SCHEME

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to family portraits: what season to photograph in, location , what to wear, and on and on. Family portraits are an investment, an important one in fact, and there is so much to consider when designing your family session.

In this series, we’ve decided to discuss the colors and palettes of clothing and outfits for your family. Follow along the following bullet points to design the most perfect family portraits that will become a timeless treasure for your family to enjoy!

Skin Tones & Hair Colors
The truth is, not every color looks good on everyone. Depending on your skin tone, hair color, and eye color, you probably have a favorite shirt or two that everyone compliments you when you wear it. Think about your family as a whole and consider what color palettes might look nice with all family members. Our family all looks good in blue! So the last couple of family portraits, we’ve found different patterns/tones of blue to blend outfits together and it worked great!
Time of Year
You will want to match your clothing with the current season to get the greatest impact. Bright, bold colors work great in the spring or summer! Jewel tones blend well with fall colors and winter vibes. Neutrals tend to work well in any season!
Location
Where will the setting of your portrait be?
If you are in the studio, great! Anything goes. If you’re having a session at a PNW outdoor location, we suggest thinking about the types of images you will receive from this location. Consider complimentary colors that will pop in your setting. Wooded settings in the Pacific Northwest are mostly green, so avoid greens that blend in and instead, choose reds, burgundies, pinks and oranges. They will be amazing! Tall yellow grass settings look amazing with people in blues. Snowy settings are beautiful with any bright and bold colors.
Home Decor/Style
If you are planning on printing your images (which you SHOULD, but that is an entirely different conversation!), think about where you might hang these portraits. If you live in a home with bold colors, this should be considered when choosing your clothing colors, location and the season. Do you want to have a portrait set in fall color on your wall all year round? How do those colors work in your home? Lots to think about, but definitely important in the early steps of planning your family portraits.
Timeless Colors and Looks
One thing we remind all our families and even bride and grooms is to not pick up the latest trends or fads when thinking of colors and clothing. Trends include the years when everyone in the family wore matching colors and styles, which was done not too long ago, but quickly went “out of style". Our current recommendation is to match or compliment colors but mix up patterns and styles. This way each member of your family can have their own unique look but still connect to the others in the family through a common color scheme.

Would you like some assistance in planning your family portraits? We’d love to help you design the perfect portrait session for your family. Click the button below to chat!

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