I Need Your Family Picture Advice!!!

By Mandi 12/14/2010

Ok so I have family pics coming up. Like as in 2 days. I am about to loose my religion over what to wear. I want it to be funky (cause inside thats how I am) BUT I am having a hard time pulling it all together. Please help me! If you have recently done your family pics add the link to your comment so I can see them!

This is what I have for Dylan:
Turquoise Coat
Red Tulle Skirt (for some reason in the pic it looks pink…but its RED)
Gray Knit boots
(adding tights)
By the by I LOVE this outfit.
For Ivie:
Plus a white sweater and possibly a purple knit fedora that she is dying over.
  I dont LOVE it but I could live with it.
Ok so this is where it all goes south.
This is the only dress that I have found that I sort of like (St. Geroge has very limited shopping….)
 With a white sweater, yellow tights and I still need boots and a belt.
Court will most likely wear a gray sweater and jeans.
So heres the dilemma. My dress and the girls outfits dont really go. So what do I do????!?!?!?!?!?!??!
I also bought this cute dress for Dylan but most if it will be covered with (?) because its cold.
Any advice?

31 thoughts on “I Need Your Family Picture Advice!!!”

  1. ok mandi, while i like your dress, i think it is way too springy summery with the butterfly print. i love dylan’s outfit as well- it’s perfect! i think if you went with a sweater and jeans or more plain skirt as well it would be better so that the girls really stand out in their great outfits. i think the dress might take away from their looks. since both girls will have red on their bottoms (skirt and legwarmers) you could wear red or something brightly colored on top to accent their outfits. there’s my two cents! 🙂

  2. Not sure this will be much help, but here’s what we’re doing… My parents and my bro and his family are coming for Christmas and my mom wants to take BIG family pics. That means dressing 6 adults and 3 kids! So we decided that we were all gonna wear black shirts and jeans. Everyone’s shirt will be the same but different. Maybe keep the basics monotone and have a pop of color with a different accessory for each!

  3. I absolutely LOVE the outfit you picked out for Dylan.
    Ivie’s outfit is cute, but it might need some more color. Perhaps you could glue bright fabric flowers to a headband for her.
    Your dress is cute, but it doesn’t go with the other outfits very well. I wouldn’t wear that for the pictures. Maybe you could wear a white shirt or white sweater with jeans and wear a colorful necklace or pin with the same fabric flowers that I suggested for Ivie’s headband.

  4. What about an aqua or pink scarf for you with jeans, high boots, and a cute jacket or gray sweater? I love what you have going, but it is a little summery. The other thought is to put a cardigan over it, belt it and maybe even layer it once more with a jean jacket so you can’t tell it’s so springy.

  5. I love your dress! So hot. And I don’t think you guys all have to match. I think you should totally go with your first ideas and love it. There’s hot and subtle in there (you) and there’s a pop of color, too (Dylan). Total awesomeness.

  6. I have had a few professional photographers tell us that you should go as monochromatic as you can. That way your faces stand out in the pictures, and not the clothes you are wearing. I like the suggestion of you in jeans with some red or maybe grey on the top.

  7. i think you can make it work–how about a jeans jacket and scarf with your dress to make it look a less like spring? plus, it blends a little more with the jeans ivie will be wearing. boots and tights are a good idea. or you could wear a tight fitting layering tee under your dress. you could even choose red wellingtons for your boots–it’ll pop and they never really “go” with the outfit, but they’ll tie-in with dylan’s skirt. (go with grey tights if you choose the red boots!)
    can’t wait to see what you decide. flattered that you think you need help from us . . . your sense of style is crazy good!

  8. I’d be tempted to go simple…a crisp, button-front shirt with a bright scarf, or a soft, cowl-neck sweater and maybe some great earrings or lipstick.

    Maybe your girls are a little more cooperative than my boys, but our family pics have always been a disaster, and end up being quite closely cropped to avoid the flailing arms, etc. In this year’s picture, we all wore dark wash jeans. Hubby had a black turtleneck, I had a black turtleneck topped with a knitted grey short-sleeve cardi, and the boys were wearing similar but different navy and cream shirts. Turned out pretty well considering the challenges!

  9. Aren’t guys lucky! They can just throw on a shirt and jeans and they are all good!

    I’m a photographer and often get asked about wardrobe from my clients. In fact I LOVE when they ask for my guidance when it comes to picking out the right outfit as the right outfit can really add the right personal touch to your images.

    Here’s my advice:

    ove the 1st out! Great choice! What about adding a fun funky red hair accessory to it……perhaps a big red fabric poppy? Hair accessories look great in pictures and add just a bit of funkiness!

    -As far as the second outfit I usually tell my clients to stay away from all white shirts. They are wonderful sun reflectors and tend to wash skin tones out…..unless you have a golden skin tone. Tan skin can handle an all white shirt. All white is NOT good for fair skin tones and light colored hair. If the white shirt is a MUST break it up with a big chunky colorful knit scarf! What about a grey shirt so she tying in with the grey theme and a bright colored scarf?

    -Love your outfit! I think it will be so cute with a big chunky belt and boots. Do you plan to belt it over the cardigan? I think that would be cute. Don’t forget about accessories. They really round out an outfit and add a lot of personality. I often go to my shoots with my own jewelry in hand in case I need to add a little love to my client’s outfits. Instead of a white sweater what about off-white (if you want to wear white this is a much better choice in photography terms) or yellow, or navy?

    -Love the little ones dress! Too cute! If she is going to wear a coat just leave it unbuttoned and plop a big fun hair accessory on her head….something with a punch of color. You could even make a fun fabric poppy to pin on the outside of her boots….maybe turquoise like her sister jacket.

    Anywho sorry this is so long, just thought I
    would try to help out. Looks like you have a good base started. Wish my clients would fully let me pick out all their outfits….it’s soooo fun! If anything else send this post to your photographer and I’m sure she will be able to give you some guidance.

    Oh another tips I tell my clients is to take a pic of themselves in their outfit. When it’s on and you can see it in a picture if give you a different point of view!

    Kendra aka “Domestic Princess in Training”

  10. I think the dress is too summery, too. I envision something solid in lime green, yellow, fuschia or orange to pop and be a complimenting color to Dylan’s darling peacoat. I’m sure whatever you choose will be FABULOUS!!

    Maybe you already know of Laci Davis. I’ve seen her on Studio 5 several times. If you haven’t already, check out her blog. There’s LOTS of color and funk in her pictures!! She’s who immediately came to mind when you said FUNKY. Maybe you can get some ideas from there. =)

    lacidavisphotography.blogspot.com

    GOOD LUCK! Can’t wait to see what you do!!!!

  11. I would agree with you maybe wearing some jeans with a top in one of the colors in the girls outfits. I love Dylan’s first outfit choice. So cute!

  12. My opinion is this: as long as you have one color in common (gray) and the rest don’t clash, you should be okay. Not going matchy-matchy is very funky and I love it! I think the sweater with your dress will make it seem less spring-y. Maybe get you all dressed up for a trial run and see how it looks.

    Here’s the links to our family pics:
    https://monosenlacasa.blogspot.com/2010/10/family-pictures.html

    I took the girls out one day, didn’t dress them for pictures and decided last minute to do a photo shoot. Turned out okay:
    https://monosenlacasa.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-photos.html

    Hope this helps!

  13. I do like your choice of dress It is SO you but not for this time of year. Want about a gray/black denim skirt/jean with white or gray sweater with accent colors to match Dylan’s AWESOME OUTFIT.
    What ever you choose will just add to the celebration of love of Family life It is what you are blessed with.
    Ann

  14. I love Dylan’s outfit! I actually wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe add some turquoise accent jewelry to your outfit? I think you guys will look great. Truly.

  15. oooh i love your ideas!!! i always want to go funky and then chicken out in the end. our family pix event was unsuccessful to say the least by the time I got in the pix i was sweating I had my hair in a pony tail and took my over shirt off. even though i absolutley love the petiskirt outfit to the MAX is it gonna photo pink or red? eh, well theres always photo shop!
    Good Luck to you and cant wait to see it!

    https://collectionsfrommyheart.blogspot.com/2010/12/family-pix-time.html

  16. I love the clothes! I do tend to agree about the white… it tends to wash out a little too much, which is why a great cream or grey is awesome. I LOVE the cut of your dress, but the print is quite summery. If it’s toned down with cardigan possibly… and the little grey dress is darling and perhaps would be cute with the turquoise jacket which will help tie it in to your other daughters colors. Best of luck!!
    rosyredbuttons.blogspot.com

  17. What about doing the photos in black and white or having them sepia toned? Then the “real” colors don’t matter. OR having them processed so that certain articles of clothing have a color pop but the rest stay black and white?

  18. You’re running out of time to be stressing over what to wear in a family photo that will sit on the mantel for generations to come. So take a page from the book of generations past. Go sepia or Black and White. Concern yourself with tone on tone and textures. The funky look is ideal for your family, just do it in a vintage style. Use lots of layers for interest and add accessories. And if you need a color shot, consider the bathrobe, bare feet (with painted toes of course) and cup of chocolate route.
    Cheers!

  19. you want to match without be matchy matchy – put a yellow long sleeve under the gray dress for dylan! that would be too cute. I think the colors should be on the same spectrum – and the yellow and gray is sooo you!

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