Tips For Great Family Portraits

11 tips for great family portraits

1. Wear a great smile! Have fun, allow plenty of time to get ready, Keep Mom relaxed, children pickup on Mom’s stress level, so avoid family drama, and every plan on having a good time.

Wear a great smile
See us on .Facebook

2. Co-ordinate clothing.  Colors do not need to be matchy- matchy.  However they should go together.  Lay out all outfits on a neutral bed spread or carpet and see if you would wear those colors in one outfit.  If they look good together, they will look great on our family.

3.  Dress from head to toe.  It stifles the photographer’s creativity, if he has to hide someone who does not have the right pants or shoes. 

4.  Long sleeves always photograph best.  Sleeveless garments are comfortable, and log good moving around, however they expose large areas of light skin that compete with your faces.     Shoulders turned to camera, will tend to make upper and lower arms appear larger.

5. Everyone’s outfit should be  tell the same story, casual,  formal, or fun.  Avoid one member in a suit and tie the rest in t shirts.

6. Long pants photograph best for the same reason as long sleeves do.  

7. Feet- all in dark shoes works better than a mix of white, gray and dirty tennis shoes.

8. Keep your normal hair style, don’t make a major change immediately before, and do not cut your hair shortly before your session.  If possible, and your hair style allows  use extra hair spray  before  your session.  If your session is outdoors use as much hair spray as you can for your hair style.

9.  Solid colors always photograph best.  In most cases medium to dark jewel tones, photograph well, the colors found in nature.   With the right body style, background and lighting white shirts, can make a striking photograph. Avoid loud patterns, stripes, neon, loud colors, they pull attention away from the faces in the composition o your portrait.

10. Makeup Women can safely wear makeup a little heavier than normal, the camera does not see the same as you do.  Even with teenage boys, a  little cover stick, can help improve the initial viewing of your portraits.