Colors to Wear for Family Portrait

From LoveToKnow Photography

After you finally booked a photo session for your entire clan, now you are probably wondering what colors to wear for family portraits. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a professional stylist in order to successfully color coordinate your group.

What colors work best for photos?

Color Coordination Is Key

Whether you are taking a family portrait for your parent's 40th wedding anniversary or you want to update an existing shot because your sister just gave birth to a new baby, formal pictures of all the relatives together are treasured possessions for most people. However, nothing can ruin a group shot quicker than lack of color coordination. Having Uncle Brett show up in denim overalls, red boots and his favorite white cowboy hat while the rest of the family is decked out in khaki pants and mocha sweaters will not make for the perfect family portrait. The key to getting a group shot to look as pleasing as possible is to get family members to wear outfits that feature the same color scheme.

Determining What Colors to Wear for Family Portrait

It would solve a lot of problems if there were set rules regarding choosing the best colors to wear for a family photo. Unfortunately, no one overriding rule exists that will determine the best colors to wear for group shots. Rather, there are a number of factors that come into play when deciding what colors to wear for family portraits, such as:

Setting

In order to figure out what colors to wear for family portraits, you must know where the photos will be taken.

If it's an outdoor photo session, then consider sticking with clothing featuring medium to dark colors, such as blues and browns. A beach photo shoot might require lighter tones, especially if the photographer wants to create a contrast between you and the sky or water. If the majority of your outdoor shots will be taken with a light background, then avoid wearing white colored outfits, so that you don’t appear washed out or blend into the background. Traditional earthy tones, such as tan, gold, brown, and beige also work best for outdoor group shots.

Indoor photo sessions tend to be more formal than outdoor ones. Therefore, you should consider wearing darker colors. Your photographer will be able to tell you what color backdrops he has on hand and which colors he recommends that your family members wear to the shoot. Formal shots, in which subjects are wearing suits and dresses, typically look better in darker shades, such as black or navy blue. Males and females can coordinate outfits by choosing solids from the same color family. Jewel tones, such as burgundy, rich reds, and maroon work well together.

Skin Type

Consider how the color of your outfit matches your skin tone. People with very fair skin should avoid wearing bright white, as it may make them appear washed out in the photograph. Also, people with very dark skin should avoid wearing light colors such as pale yellow or lavender, as the contrast in colors will appear distracting in a group shot. Regardless of your skin type, you should stray from wearing extremely bright colors. Neon colored clothing is not recommended for family portraits. Likewise, outfits featuring bright shades of red and purple or those made of reflective material are best left at home on the day of your photo shoot.

Personalities

Your choice of color may also depend your own personal preference. While most professional photographers recommend traditional head and shoulder group portraits be shot in simple, long sleeved tops in solid tones of brown, burgundy, green or blue, your family members might want to select a color that better suits their personalities. This doesn't mean you should allow everyone free reign over their color selection, rather, consider discussing several choices that will offer a harmonious look, even if it doesn't include subtle shades. Visual harmony can be achieved even if you buck the traditional color scheme of blue and brown and dress in pinks and grays.

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