Oh, What to Wear!

The most frequent question I get before any portrait session is "What should I wear?"  While the choice is completely personal and almost anything can work, I always recommend classic styles and neutral colors.  We are past the 1990's look where everyone wore white shirts and khakis/jeans.  Think of dressing for a group picture like adding pillows on a couch--the clothing should coordinate and not take away from the overall look of a group portrait.  You will also want to keep in mind the backdrop (fall colors or a beach scene) and the intention of the photo (a formal First Communion or a casual backyard family reunion.)  Avoid pinstripes, turtlenecks and bright whites when possible.  Following are some combinations I thought were the perfect mix.

No need to buy special clothing.  In the image below, I instructed each child to go to to their closet and choose a nice top and bottom that was light blue, dark blue, grey or tan.  I allowed one girl to wear a print, but told the others to stick to solids.  The result worked perfectly, and the colors coordinated nicely with the beach scene without distracting from the photograph.

Individual portraits allow for more flexibility.  Try spicing up your look with a fun accessory, bright color, or chic look.  But, don't take it too far or you will be laughing at the photo in ten years.