Anonymous wrote:Come up with the color scheme and let the families pick.

In all honesty, I would tell give them a palette of navy, with white and khaki.

This is easy to shop for or have on hand. Uniform shops offer a lot of good options in this palette, and kids who wear uniforms can re-use this stuff for uniforms or wear stuff from current uniforms. Navy is also soemthing that is good for church, weddings, and funerals, so at least I will get use out of it.

PP here. I'd also include light blue in the mix. SO any mix of

Navy
Light blue
White
Khaki

Come up with the color scheme and let the families pick.

In all honesty, I would tell give them a palette of navy, with white and khaki.

This is easy to shop for or have on hand. Uniform shops offer a lot of good options in this palette, and kids who wear uniforms can re-use this stuff for uniforms or wear stuff from current uniforms. Navy is also soemthing that is good for church, weddings, and funerals, so at least I will get use out of it.

PP again. If girls are averse to wearing dresses, they can also wear khakis with a top that blends in. Accessorize.

Carters usually has cute stuff for kids for that age group 2-6, that does not break the bank, looks good in photos and can be worn after the session.

Anonymous wrote:Khaki colored pants (any styles from leggings to Dockers to whatever) and a colored polo shirt (brand doesn't matter). You can coordinate in different ways:
Each nuclear family wears a different color polo shirt or, each generation wears different color polo shirt.

PP who shared the links above for ideas. I personally think too many colors will make it hard on the eyes.

Good advice from PPs. If the adults are wearing cocktail/upscale attire, definitely no jeans for the kids.

Color scheme is a must. If most wear solids and there is an occasional pattern in color scheme here and there it will look good. Also one color scheme with a contrast color here and there (it could be accessories or people wearing a different color)

For Spring Portraits, you could do shades of green too (pale green, olive green etc). For girls it will be easy - there are so many pretty Spring dresses. For boys you could do khakis with a checked button down shirt that goes with the color scheme.

https://busath.com/portrait-sessions/extended-families/

https://www.kristendukephotography.com/picture-clothes-color-series-yellow/

https://www.kristendukephotography.com/picture-clothes-color-series-blues/

https://www.kristendukephotography.com/tag/family-picture-ideas/

Khaki colored pants (any styles from leggings to Dockers to whatever) and a colored polo shirt (brand doesn't matter). You can coordinate in different ways:
Each nuclear family wears a different color polo shirt or, each generation wears different color polo shirt.

I agree with letting parents work out exactly what to buy. My wild boys were totally fine in a suit at ages 3 & 5 at my brothers wedding. At 3, my daughter would have worn any dress, but at 5, she would have wanted something with some color and sparkles (we ended up with some sparkly clear Cinderella shoes for a photo done in neutral colors).

What has worked best in our family has been to have somewhat of a color scheme (neutrals, bright spring colors, etc), but mostly to have an agreed upon season and level of formality. If little ones are in rompers, bigger kids can be in linen suits, but it doesn’t make sense for them to have sweaters. And if mom is in a cocktail dress, then no one should be in jeans. As my mother says “it should look like everyone is going to the same place.” The exception to this is that little girls can go as formal as they want to without throwing anything off as long as it’s the right color scheme.

Kids out grow clothes within a matter of months or even weeks. Don't try to buy them their clothes. Let the parents make those decisions - just provide some direction.

Kids look cute in sweaters, and most should be able to handle wearing button ups or dresses. But the parents will know best. For instance, my 5 year old still won't wear pants with zips or buttons. It's fine because I know where to buy nice looking pants that are elastic. Don't jump through too many hoops, the parents have been buying their kids clothes for years, just let them handle it.

Agree with everyone else, just pick the colors. A range of blues is really good because blues pretty much all look good together, but you need some people in lighter colors (nuetrals like white/khaki) or you'll all blend together. So pick something like blue and white or blue and pink or whatever suits your parents and let the individual families get their own clothes.

Agree with PPs that you should provide direction rather than buy clothes. That said, you could browse around and see if a particular store has a line you like (e.g., Janie & Jack usually has coordinating outfits for boys and girls). In lieu of a specific color, since you said spring, seersucker is usually widely available for kids at multiple price points and would look cohesive, if your family skews preppy.

Anonymous wrote:You come up with the color scheme and then have the parents buy their kids' clothing.

This. The intent is nice, but please reconsider buying kids' clothing and expecting them all to turn up and wear it even for the short period of shooting a photo, much less during a party. Choose the palette, find lots of examples online and send those links to the parents. Be prepared for someone to turn up in something that doesn't fit the palette perfectly. Be fine with it.

If you buy new clothes: One kid will refuse to wear anything he decides is "scratchy." Another will (as you seem to anticipate already) hate hate hate dresses and insist she wear leggings but not that skirt you got to go over them, and the leggings you bought are too tight/too loose/feel weird. A toddler will run screaming away from a blazer and has a bright red, teary face in the long-awaited photo. And so on. You and the parents will end up burning expensive photo shoot time begging kids to wear stiff new outfits "just for a few minutes, please! To make grandma happy!"

Please let the parents pick the clothing and buy and bring it with them because they know their own kids' preferences and what they'll actually wear. They can also get clothing their kids might wear again later.

Navy would be a good color; it's easy to find both boys' and girls' clothes in that. Add one or two other coordinating colors (light blue, yellow, green?) and you'll be good to go.

The older boys could wear blazers or sweaters. The little ones would look cute in sweaters and short pants or john-john rompers. Please do not insist on full suits for the boys -- they will outgrow them by the time the photographer is finished and the parents will hate you. As for the girls, you can't swing a cat without hitting cute dresses in the spring. But a resourceful parent who knows her daughter prefers pants would be able to find something just as nice.

Which brings me to my last point. I know you think it sounds easier for you to order everything and have it delivered to you in the party city. It's not. Kids are different sizes, clothes are different sizes, and things like scratchy tags and stupid fastenings make a huge difference. Let each family find, order, and TRY ON what works for them and their kid. Trade links and pictures as needed, but please don't insist on controlling the actual purchases.

You come up with the color scheme and then have the parents buy their kids' clothing.

Hi - we are getting family portraits taken this spring to honor our parents’ milestone wedding anniversary. I am in charge of coming up with outfit/color palette choices for the family. I don’t have children and there are eight little ones who will be included, starting at 8 months going up to 6 yrs old. The families with children don’t live in the area but I do, so I would buy the correct size and just have the clothes ready when they all get here for the party and portrait.

Are there any recommended or NOT recommend brands or styles? The party will be upscale/cocktail attire for adults but we expect the children to be children and want them to be comfortable. Can little boys handle wearing blazers? What if one the girls wants to wear pants or leggings, are there ‘festive’ outfits for that? The kids are wild and perfect so I’m trying to be realistic about their limits.


Thank you!