What to wear when it comes time to take a group picture. We all want to look our best. Stress no more. I’m sharing some of the families I’ve styled over the years, and the styling secrets I used for them. Apply them and get your “perfect” picture.
START WITH A COLOR STORY
Take a que from your backdrop. Often times, portraits are taken outside among the trees and meadows. Earth tones, found in nature, are a great place to start.
Natural colors in shades of blues, greens, browns, and greys photograph beautifully.
Monochromatic, or varying values of the same color, can be a beautiful color story too.
They key is lots of bold texture and layers to keep from looking flat and one dimensional.
Try shades of grey instead of all black.
This is probably the biggest mistake I see groups make. All black seems like an easy choice, but you end up all blending together to look like one giant four headed monster or a bunch of stage hands.
It looks great in black and white photos too.
Choose a bold print and pull the color story from there. Don’t be afraid to mix prints, especially if they are neutral like a stripe or check.
Begin with basic neutrals like black, white, and denim then add solid bold pops of color.
Pick a pattern like buffalo check and mimic it in different sizes and scales to add cohesiveness, without being matchy-matchy.
When it comes to photos, go big or go home. Bold accessories can add interest to a photo. Like we say in the biz, they need to “read”.
A well styled photo looks just as good in black and white as it does in color.
High contrast prints and patterns translate well. Don’t be afraid to play with proportions like a narrow stripe with a bold one.
If you need more help or want me to style your next shoot I can.
