Tips for Great
Family Portraits!
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If you are having your family picture
taken in the studio, it will be taken on a
light brown colored background.
I recommend
blue or brown clothing
with this background.
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When preparing for your portrait...
The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer's attention to
the face or faces in the portrait.
Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait. All other
elements should be secondary.
Avoid overdoing it at the tanning salon prior to a photo session.
You may burn or freckles may become more prominent. Tanning
lotions may cause your skin to appear splotchy when makeup is
applied.
We have found that simple long-sleeved garments in medium to
dark tones of brown rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing
choices when photographed against a dark background. Consider
avoiding light colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige,
tan, peach, pink, white, and yellow. Darker shades are usually
more flattering and slimming.
Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are confusing and do not
photograph well.
In some instances, very bright colors, such as red and orange,
can completely overpower the face and ruin a portrait.
Light-colored clothing may call attention to itself and away from
the face. Light colors are appropriate against a white or pastel
background or, with a dark background when an interpretive
"pictorial" study is planned.
Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within
the same tonal ranges. Light and dark tones together can create
visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other
recedes.
In a family group, clothing coordination can be critical. When
decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors
and tones of the walls, carpets, draperies and furniture. This kind
of coordination also is necessary when selecting clothing for a
group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that
no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is
too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.
Avoid the look of one person standing out because of a bold,
distracting pattern or a contrasting light top when everyone else is
dressed darker (especially if that person is heavier).
The visual statement made by a family portrait should be "Here is
a family in which each individual holds a place of equal
importance" as opposed to a family portrait that says "Here is a
group of seemingly unrelated individuals."
Clothing that blends harmoniously creates timeless portraiture
because the viewer's eye goes directly to the subjects’ faces.
Clothing in medium shades compliment portraits made in outdoor
environments. Casual or dressy, everyone should look like they
belong together. Solid tops with nice jeans or khakis work well
outdoors. Sweaters are excellent when the weather is chilly.
Coordinate the colors so no one person stands out.
In most instances, very simple garments always photograph best.
Turtlenecks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither is
exaggerated in style. Avoid very wide or particularly deep V-neck
garments as well as bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely
hide the neck.
Considered wearing long sleeves. Bare arms may call attention to
themselves, and often overpower the face.
Women being photographed in full length should wear long skirts,
pants, or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being
directed toward the legs and away from the face, unless it is your
objective to do so.
If feet are to show in the portrait, make certain shoes and
stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait
session.
Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with
their hair in relation to the time it is styled. This is not the time to
experiment with a new hairstyle or extra makeup. Use makeup to
cover blemishes if possible.
If you normally wear glasses, please wear them for the portrait.
Sometimes this necessitates a bit more adjusting of the lights and
positioning to avoid reflections. We will do everything we can to
reduce glare in glasses. We suggest non-glare coated lenses or
empty frames or contacts to avoid reflections. Glass glare can be
retouched for an additional fee if necessary.
"Photo-gray" glasses photograph black outdoors and very dark in
the studio.