We get asked all the time about what to wear for a family portrait sitting. We have a lot of tips and tricks to make choosing clothing for a portrait sitting easy. Gone are the days of everyone in blue jeans and the same colored top. Today we mix and match color in interesting ways to create a new level of interest in the portrait. When used correctly, a color palette can be your best tool for selecting clothing.
Wear something you like…
The colors you wear should work in harmony with the other colors that will be worn in the portrait. You will want to avoid having one person “stand out” because they are dressed in a busy pattern. Be sure to avoid horizontal stripes as they often make you look larger in photographs. Clothing with sleeves, whether long or short, will photograph better than strapless garments. Feel free to accessorize. Especially with pieces of jewelry that reflect your personality and style.
Match your setting…
Wear clothes that are complimentary to the setting you have chosen. For a casual setting blue jeans or sun dresses work well. If you would like the portrait to be more formal, have the men wear blazers and the women choose a more sophisticated style dress. Our gardens lend themselves to either style of portrait.
Using a color palette…
Design-seeds.com is a great place to start choosing your color palette. You can search by color and get suggestions of other colors that work well together.
When choosing a color palette start with a neutral color such as navy, grey, khaki, black or white. From there choose two or three more colors that compliment your base. For instance, to add a pop of color include pink, purple, green, red or bright blue.
There are three types of color combinations
Monochromatic
Monochromatic means a single color of various hues or shades. This type of color matching for clothing speaks simplicity. Embellish additional color with accessories, scarves, pins, or necklaces. Bear in mind that matchy-matchy is boring-boring. Never put on the same shade of color from head to toe.
Complimentary
Complementary color is pairs of opposite colors such as red and green, yellow and violet, orange and blue, etc. The opposite color tone and hue is eye-catching. Several successful designers have paired these colors together to make eye pleasing combinations.
Analogous
This color scheme is going to be the best if you want clothing that showcases harmony. These colors are neighbors on the color wheel. It is best to select a color and use the colors on each side of the selected color.
There are a lot of ways to use clothing in your family’s portrait. If you feel overwhelmed or unsure about your choices we are more than happy to help. An excellent way to coordinate your clothing is to lay the outfits out on a bed and view them from a distance. This will help you see if something doesn't blend. If you need some assistance don’t hesitate to call Bobbi or Megan at 314-997-8966 for help with your clothing selections.
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