They did it! This family took our advice, literally! They actually dressed in plum, teal, raspberry and copper from the Crayola bold set of markers :) We usually suggest that families wear colors that don’t necessarily match but are at least in the same box of crayons. Bold colors are perfect for family portraits, especially in the fall. Each family dressed in a single color shirt but when arranged together for the large family photo, they all coordinated. We think that this a perfect example of what to wear when taking a group photo. I hope this helps visualize what we are taking about when we use our box of crayons analogy.
This is one of the questions we get asked the most when families call to schedule their photo sessions… The hard part is, there’s no right answer! There are so many ways to go about dressing your kids (and yourselves) for your family photos– a lot of it depends on your style and preference. One thing to keep in mind is what you want to do with the finished product… Do you plan on hanging a 20×24 canvas family portrait in a room that is primarily decorated with pastels? If so, then you may want to avoid bolds that would clash.
There’s the “matching” approach… a classic and safe bet for good looking photos. Tell everyone to wear jeans and a black shirt, or khakis and white shirts. You know that your photos will look great!
If the matching-game isn’t your style, then there are options for you too! Dress everyone different, but coordinated… since you don’t want your kids to clash with one another, I often suggest choosing colors that would come out of the same box of crayons. Stick with a color-scheme. Pastels, earth tones, bolds… Or, set a color and let the individuals express themselves… Wear shades of blue, white or black.
A great resource for family photo clothing that coordinates but isn’t blatelty “matching,” check out Hanna Andersson! This Swedish company has clothes and accessories for the kids and family that look GREAT in photos! So many times when I’m impressed with how a family is dressed, or a cute hat a kid’s wearing for Christmas photos… sure enough… they’re from Hanna Andersson.
Here is an example of a recent photo shoot where the three kids were perfectly coordinated with clothes from this line.
It’s always a good idea to look at what other people have worn for their photos to get an idea of what you like and don’t like… Look through the pages of this blog, or the galleries inside the main website for more ideas!
Can’t wait to see what you put together…
Photographer:
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈtä-grə-fər\
Date: 1847
Definition of a photographer: They capture some of your most precious moments. They paint a picture or tell a story through images. A photographer records memories, events, time and people through a camera. Photographers capture life as it happens.
What is stated above is all true but the one characteristic that is required to be an excellent photographer is PATIENCE. Whether you have a nervous bride, a terrified child, parents who feel the need to impose, patience is key. Sometimes life happens too fast and sometimes you just have to wait for that right moment. But when the stage is set and everyone is calm and that shutter goes off you know that you’ve captured that perfect moment.
Kimberly Ponsky:
Pronunciation: KIM-bur-lee Pon-skee
Date: 2010 (no she’s not a baby) but this is who she is now
Yup. I’m defining my boss. (biting my lip) She of course possesses many other positive traits but when it comes to photography she has more patience then anyone I know. Kids come in here crying and screaming and yet she approaches each and every child and shoot with a warm smile. She is ready to take on the challenge. And more often then not, parents almost always apologize for their child who seemed to be uncooperative during the shoot and are a bit unsure whether even one good photo was captured. Yet Kim, always responds with confidence letting them know that there will be many great photos to choose from. She’s right. She knows. She’s patient.
So don’t worry. Be happy. Sometimes even the tears are cute…they capture the moment. Kim captures the moment and the moments, even the crying ones, are what tell the story.
August was a great month– filled with weddings, lots of pregnancy and newborn sessions, and tons of family photos, both in the studio and outdoors with natural light! Here is a slideshow featuring a little bit of every photo session from August 2009. Can’t wait to see what September brings…!
Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing 4 month old baby M and her parents. What a happy little girl! She was all smiles… well, maybe until the very end. We got some beautiful baby and family portraits!
