Tips on what not to do:
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just ask them then. we don't know your kids' ages or were the photo shoot will happen duh!

What a helpful answer! Considering I asked what YOU wore...

Will it help if I say we wore dresses, all 4 of us?

It's outside at the Tidal Basin. One adult, two young boys.

Anonymous wrote:just ask them then. we don't know your kids' ages or were the photo shoot will happen duh!

What a helpful answer! Considering I asked what YOU wore...

OP - my suggestion is to google a few child/family photographers and look through their galleries. See what looks you like and don't like then dress your family accordingly. Also ask the photographer about the background - is this outdoors or in a studio?

Do a Google image search for "family photos what to wear" for some ideas.

Anonymous wrote:Please don't be matchy-matchy or all wear the same thing. Please, please don't put everyone in khaki pants or jeans and the same top. You don't want to look like you are in a cult. Wear coordinating styles and colors, e.g., everyone wears pastels but not the same color. If you photographer is not skilled and it is sunny, wearing white can make things difficult for her.

Absolutely. Those pictures are horrible and boring. Also, don't be afraid to reflect your personalities, and it's okay for the kids to look like kids, instead of miniature adults.

I wore a white a-line shirtdress. DH wore a white and blue striped button down shirt and navy slacks. DDs (1 and 2) wore matching blue/white gingham dresses. Everyone says the pics look like they came right out of Town and Country (which is really funny if you knew us).

Please don't be matchy-matchy or all wear the same thing. Please, please don't put everyone in khaki pants or jeans and the same top. You don't want to look like you are in a cult. Wear coordinating styles and colors, e.g., everyone wears pastels but not the same color. If you photographer is not skilled and it is sunny, wearing white can make things difficult for her.

Generally you want to avoid bold prints. You want to avoid your kids wearing colors that clash, and that clash with yours. So for example, you all wear jeans or khakis with coordinating shirts (all gem tones, or all pastels, or all white, etc.). Or you wear a light blue dress and the boys wear pastels.
Avoid taupes, greys, and skin-toned colors that will wash you out (depending on your skin tone).
You might also want to bring a couple outfits for all of you to mix things up.

You could either wear the same color top (all wear brown, for example), or just wear colors that coordinate (beige and brown family, or blue family). Generally solids are better than prints because prints tend to look too busy in a photo where you want the faces to be the focus. Unless you are a dress person, photo shoots where the whole family is in jeans seem to work well. I think another thing most photographers would say is to wear something that reflects your personal style(s), since they are trying to capture your family on film in a way that will resonate with you over the years.

I have 3 children of the same sex and I do put them in matching outfits (e.g. exact same top in 3 different sizes and same color bottoms) for family photo shoots. Not everyone likes that, but that way I don't have to worry about different shades of the same color clashing or scouring the mall for a certain color top in a certain size or whatever. DH and I usually either wear a similar color top or a coordinating color. To me (probably some will disagree), that makes the faces pop and makes the clothes recede in a color photograph. If you are going to be getting a lot of your photos in B&W, the exact colors you are wearing don't matter as much.

just ask them then. we don't know your kids' ages or were the photo shoot will happen duh!

Anyone else have anything helpful.

Obviously they didn't or I wouldn't be asking here...right?

Your photographer should have sent you some tips...

I have a photo shoot with my kids (me & them) tomorrow and wondering what to wear to it..

A friend told me to coordinate, but what does that mean? What colors are best? It's outside.


What did you wear and how did it turn out?

Thanks!!