What to Wear for your Next Family Portrait

With everyone’s busy schedules these days, it can be difficult to find the time to actually get everyone together for a family portrait. Then once you do, you realize that the whole event can take a lot more planning than you originally thought. Coordinating time, date and theme are a few of the most important things to agree upon, yes, but deciding what everyone will wear is extremely important as well. Luckily for you, it can also be a lot of fun.

Creativity can play a huge role in planning family portraits so I would suggest channeling that creativity to make deciding what to wear much easier.  Be aware of what your surroundings will be and play into them, making the overall look of the portrait cohesive and attractive, regardless of where you are. Additionally, you want to establish a theme early on; are you going for classic? Fun? What you decide could have a significant impact on your wardrobe.

Here are some general ideas for wardrobe based on the theme you’re looking to go with:

Outdoor Portraits

Beaches, parks and family yards are just a few of the places that make a unique background setting for a family portrait. When it comes to beach portraits, your background is going to consist of a lot of soothing and neutral colors, such as tan, white, blue and possibly green. With this in mind, and the fact that the beach is a naturally beautiful and calming environment, you’ll probably want to steer clear of loud, bright colors. Of course you want to make you and your family a focal point in the portrait, but you also don’t want to offset the balance either.

Classic Photos

The classic family photo style serves as one of the most traditional portrait types known today. The mere mention of a family portrait probably brings to mind a scene of smiling faces and impeccable posture. When it comes to planning for a portrait like this, deciding on a color that everyone will wear, such as white or black, can make all the difference when it comes to combining both unity and style together in one frame. Take the time to find a color that will complement each member of your family and keep in mind that you want your photo to look as timeless as possible.

 

Having a Little Fun

Sometimes however, you just get tired of the same old poses and you just want to have a little fun. Say your family is really into a particular sport or you’re all very into superheroes. On the day of your portrait, instead of everyone dressing in shades of blue, consider having everyone dress up in their favorite Red Sox player’s jersey for the photo, or get everyone their own superhero t-shirt and form your very own justice league.

Whatever wardrobe style you choose for your next family portrait, remember that it is always important to show off your family’s overall character and to enjoy each portrait for the unique memory it will add to your life.

Family Portrait Tips: Preparing for the Photo Session

When you take the time to have a family portrait taken, it’s natural to want to show those pictures off to your loved ones when all is said and done. Unfortunately however, that can be the very reason that cause us to over-stress about perfection, turning what was supposed to be a fun experience into an anxious mess. Here at Mirasolo Photography, we want you to truly enjoy your photo session and the time that you are spending with your family; which is why we wanted to offer up a little bit of advice on how to avoid all of the issues and prepare yourself for your family portrait session.

One of the main causes of stress that we hear about for a family portrait is figuring out what everyone is going to wear. Instead of leaving everything until the day-of, plan ahead; first, take a good look at the room that you’re planning to hang your portrait in. Consider the color of the walls and furniture there to help determine what color clothing is going to complement the décor of that particular space best when your portrait is hung up. From there, you can move on to your family’s closets and determine whether everyone has an outfit to match or if a trip to the mall is in order.

You may think that you need a fresh haircut to look your best on the day of the photo session but we would strongly discourage it. If you’re a woman and really believe that you need a change, try to schedule something at least a month beforehand. There is always that slight chance that you may not like your new style and you don’t want that decision to haunt you for the next 20 years as you stare at your family portrait. It’s okay for your husband or sons to get a cut within a week of the session however, and always make sure that everyone is freshly shaven and looking as put together as possible for the big day.

On the way to the shoot, try listening to music that is going to get everyone calm and in a good mood. That way, if someone managed to slip up when attempting to keep calm on the morning of, you can buffer out some of that tension and everyone can take those last few moments to de-stress and get into the proper mindset.

Of course, the last and probably most important tip that we could give you is just to remember why you’re doing this. Portraits are still moments in time that you can chose to put on display or to tuck away but at the end of the day, you’re going to have these pictures to look back on years down the road and remember what it had been like to be a part of each other’s lives at that particular moment. Remember that you’re family and you love each other, and you should have no problem enjoying your session. 

Decorating Your Home With Portraits

Portraiture is a style of photography that enables the subject to be highlighted in a way that accentuates true beauty. While it’s our own opinion that this particular type of photography should be displayed for all to enjoy, there are certain ways to display portraits so that they become a focal point of your décor, rather than simply blending in.

Choosing to make your portraits front and center in the design scheme of your home or office makes the space appear more personal and customized. To create a dramatic effect when hanging portraits, you want to keep these key elements in mind:  size, color, style and composition. 

Size – When you have portraits of various sizes, establish whether a vertical or horizontal display will be better. Most importantly, determine the amount of space you have to work with, and then factor in the sizes of the frames.

Color – The portrait should blend in with the room’s color. Before attending your portrait session, consider where you’ll hang the finished product so you know ahead of time whether or not everything will work as a cohesive unit.

Style – Decide if you want a contemporary portrait, a vintage look or to go more modern with bright colors. This will help to determine the placement of the portrait.

Composition – The right frame can certainly add to the beauty of the image or hinder it. If you’re pairing this portrait with others, you will want to choose a frame that matches exactly or is at least very similar.

When you are ready to hang the portraits, choose a location where you, your family and guests can enjoy them. Consider the subject matter of the portrait, which could ultimately help you distinguish the best place to showcase. Portraits of children growing and extended family over the years are memorable pieces, and deserve special attention.

If portrait photography is what you are looking for, give Mirasolo Photography a call today. Together, I can create something beautiful and highlight this special time in your family’s life, regardless of whether it’s in the form of a single image, family portrait or anything else you desire.

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