Help please! Family photo shoot tomorrow

I should have posed this question sooner - I've been pondering it for a while. I just suddenly went, duh... Why not ask YLF?!

My good friend, who is an amazing photographer - she is a story teller with her work - is giving me an early birthday present and is taking photos of our little family of three. She has been there to capture my pregnancies and even came to our home late one night to do a family shoot after our daughter lost her hair from chemo. Those photos became even more precious when we lost Ellie 9 months later. We are going to try to find a way to incorporate Ellie's photo(s) in the shoot.

I am all over the place in what to wear to this shoot. The guys are easy - probably in some form of denim, grey and white with cotton 3/4 length shirts (I am toying with the idea of putting DH in a white open button down with a grey tee underneath that has a converse shoe on it). DS will probably want his skateboard along and maybe even a sword. He's all about the props! The venue is an old warehouse with amazing windows and is full of antique sofas and other furniture That we can use. I really want to keep my outfit casual. I even like the idea of being barefoot. I also love the idea of using my leather boots (despite the fact that it is like 1000 degrees here right now). The things that I know for sure are that I want to be (or at least look) comfortable - able to sit on the ground, etc., and I do care a certain amount about figure flattery. I definitely don't want to go sleeveless.

I am posting some photos here of ideas that I am leaning towards - not the compete outfits, but certain pieces/ideas... I can also pull from other items in my wardrobe if you have suggestions that I'm no showing. I have lots of things that I haven't photographed.

1. Love this top! It is oversized, but I still find it flattering. I could pair it with the jeans in #2 to make more casual.

2-3. Sheer Top that I can wear a multitude of ways. Am partial to the look of #2 with the grey cami over top.

4. I feel so wonderful in this chambray top and love the Audrey Hepburn vibe. I can sort of imagine this look working well with the photos.

5. This pic is to show the boots only, not the rest. I can tuck my skinny jeans from #2, black ponte pants from #4, leggings from #1 or leggings from #6.

6-7. I love these skirted leggings SO mcuch! They may not be the most flattering, and tops are tricky to pair with them, but they might be worth throwing into the mix!

I would love to hear your ideas! Any advice is welcome. (Although the outcome is still totally a wild card, so please don't be offended if I don't end up taking the advice. I'll talk to the photographer this evening and factor in what she says, as well as what the guys end up wearing...)

Thank you SO much!

ETA last photo of DH in his white shirt alone and with grey tee (which may be too busy for the shoot). He also has great tops similar to the white one.

ETA three more photos of options for the guys. My son will have to probably wear the plaid top because I think it is the only thing he owns without graphics all over the place! I'll keep looking. I know that it breaks the rule of simple, but I am drawn to the stipe shirt for DH with the plaid. It's too much, though isn't it?

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9 years ago

Anonymous

I have to say that I am drawn right away to options 3 and 4, for how you look in them (comfortable, yet beautiful, easy, stylish) and for how they will photograph. Every other outfit is a star, but I think photos are great with really simple lines, fewer layers, fewer colours etc. Yikes - having photos taken is stressful enough without having to worry about what you're wearing. Have a glass of wine before hand and all will be fine!

JAileen

Veteran

When we had a family portrait done a couple years ago, the photographer's website had a list of suggestions. One was to limit white and light colored clothes because it puts the emphasis on the clothes rather than on the people.

SarahTheWhite

Thank you, Lisa and JAileen for the great suggestions. I have been second guessing the white ever since I saw the photo that I took... And I agree about the simplicity!

Suz

(website)

I love the simple vibe of #4 -- or similar -- considering everything you have said. You look comfortable, easy, happy, and free to move. And it would be easy to coordinate with what the guys wear.

Love your DH's converse tee!!

Good luck with this. I am sure you will be fantastic models. It sounds as if you have the right attitude toward the whole thing. Go into it expecting to have fun and hoping for a few discoveries -- and you'll have a wonderful day.

Joy

Photos tend to live forever, so I'd go with a fairly timeless look rather than trendy. I like 3 best with dark jeans or #6. Leggings seem too trendy and in 25 years you may wonder what you were thinking.

Thank you guys! I am loving the feedback...

Parsley

I have a personal bias toward solid colors/ no patterns for family photos, because I think patterns end up looking too busy and distracting.
My favorite family photos have been with everybody wearing jeans and a solid colored shirt. It's a relatively timeless look, and lets you focus on the people rather than the clothes.
For that reason, I would pick the plain blue top for you, and either the white or the darker solid shirt for DH. For DS you could pick up a solid colored t-shirt at Target for $5 if he doesn't have any solids.

Zibbets

ITA with what Joy said. I would keeping everyone's clothes really simple and classic, so that when you look back at the pictures decades from now you see your beautiful family and not the trends of the moment.

Rambling Ann

#4 hands down for the top. How does it play with the skirted leggings?

Patterns, stripes especially, can be difficult to resize and print. If there are solids you like, I'd stick with them.

The eye is drawn to the lightest colors in a scene first, so I'd look for something darker than skin tone for all the family.

I love the orange shoes! Take them and try them in a few photos maybe. If you are taking swords, what's another pair of shoes in the arsenal?

Like Parsley, I like no or very little pattern for family photos. I think keeping clothing simple keeps the focus on faces. For that reason I like #1 & 4 for you and the sold shirt for DS. Our last family pics DD#1 had on a dark grey cord skirt with cream polka dots. IRL the dots are sutble but they show up pretty strong in the photos. I really love the casual vibe and cool neutrals you have picked. A single pop of color may be fun. Like your orange shoes in #4 or bright sneakers on DS.

bj1111

I am a big fan of matching outfits in family photos. It would be great if all three of you dress in a chambray shirt and dark bottoms, for example...leggings for the ladies, pants for the gents.

I also like it when the formality of the outfits match the surroundings.

Deborah

These all look fabulous! I like solids for these kinds of photos. My fave here is #1. You could wear it over some skinny pants or jeans if concerned about leggings looking dated at some point, but then photos reflect times in our lives. My wedding was in 1993 and while there are some key elements that date those photos, I don't cringe when I look at them. My dress was simple, elegant and streamlined and my hair was bobbed, not quite today's modern version of a bob, but that was my best in 1993:). As you mention photos communicate stories, so these should communicate who you are, now in 2014:). Just my two cents worth:).

Thanks so much for all of the advice! I have talked to the photographer and have shown her all of these options. We think that #4 is going to be best, although she also really loved #2. Her photos have lots of texture and interesting color mixes, so some pattern could play in very nicely, and she likes us all wearing different colors and not matching too perfectly. I may bring #2 as a backup choice (and she wants to snap some photos of the top in #1 at our house - it just is a little too fancy for the venue). Ethan's wardrobe is still up in the air. The sold color tops in the photos are for DH, not Ethan (and white is definitely ruled out for him). I may be able to layer a darker tee underneath the plaid for Ethan... I'm just not sure yet. The issue with the plaid isn't the pattern but more that he could get washed out in the lighter colors instead of stand out.

Thanks agains! You've given me so many great things to think about!

Jaime

#4 seems like a good choice. Patterns can be distracting as mentioned but I would let your friend decide since she will be composing the shots.

Jules

We've gone with lots of coordinated but not matching texture/colour/pattern for two family shoots now and have no regrets. Ours were taken outdoors by photographers who thrive on these elements and do a lot of processing - I can see how a studio shoot looks better with simple clothes. I agree the chambray shirt is a great choice, it has a lot more texture than the jersey - our photographer specifically suggested denim. I like the plaid for your son and DH's tee outfit is fun. Throw everyone's clothes on a bed together and see how it looks!

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