September is here, which means fall is right around the corner!
The weather is finally starting to get nicer and soon the leaves will start changing.
If you are anything like me, you're thinking...
this is the year we are finally going to take those family portraits.
But there is one issue... What does everyone wear?
I'm going to help you find the answer, here in my very first blog post!
The main thing we will talk about is your color scheme.
When taking family portraits, you want everyone to look coordinated without being too "matchy".
This is where a color scheme comes in, it uses tones that both are both complimentary and contrasting.
I've taken some of the colors that are trending this fall & put them into color schemes, then I created outfits inspired by the colors for each member of my family.
It's helpful when putting together a set of outfits to pick what you are going to wear first. I always suggest picking something that feels comfortable but does not look too casual. A great way to do that is to wear a dress, or a nice skirt/shirt combo (make sure to take the style & fabric into consideration because on windy days it'll fly all over the place).
If you don't want to go with a solid dress, use multiple colors in your scheme to pick different elements for your look, like the set above. After your outfit has been chosen, it's time to create them for the rest of your family.
Don't limit yourself, gather a few different items for each person that coordinate with the scheme. Then decide if you want anyone to dress similarly.
If you want dad and son to dress alike, choose similar color shirts but choose different colors for the pants and any accessories. You can easily make mom and son match by having his shirt contain the same color as her dress.
Fall is the season for flannel, but you don't want to overdo it!
When dressing for portraits, you want to make sure that your group as a whole isn't too busy. Avoid putting everyone in something that is patterned, instead split it up like in the image above.
Say someone has a favorite flannel and they refuse to wear anything else. You can still create a unified look without having your group wear the same shirt, by utilizing the colors from the pattern to dress the rest.
Check out the example below.
This entire family look was created by pulling colors from the flannel in the middle! Make sure to grab a few different options and move them around until you find the perfect look for your family. You can use this method anytime you're looking to coordinate colors or outfits.
While we are still on the subject of color, in the image below you will see colors are "in" this season. Try incorporating some of these tones into your outfits for a great look!
Remember when picking your outfits that the weather can be unpredictable. Is it going to be that perfect fall temperature, will it be too hot or a little too cold?
Try using layers in your outfit planning, this way you can modify the final look based on the weather the day of our session.
Another big thing to consider is comfort. When people don't like how they feel in their clothing, its going to reflect in the images.
One of the best pieces of advice I have, is to wear comfortable shoes!
Some of the best locations for that perfect fall look require a bit of walking, sometimes its through in fields or wooded areas. High-heel boots or shoes may not be the best choice if we're going to be on foot for a while.
If the shoes you have in mind aren't the best to take a stroll in, don't wear 'em...
bring them along and swap once we reach our location to save your feet the pain.
When you book a portrait session with J Schmitt Photography,
I'm here for you every step of the way, from planning the best location to helping you with what to wear. Please send me those outfit options, I'm dying to see what you're going to wear for our session and lend a hand if you need help deciding.
If you remember to be mindful of comfort, coordinate those colors and utilize accessories, you'll be destined to create the perfect fall look for your family!
