Expert: Don Wood - 6/19/2007

Question
We are getting together to do a family photo.  There are my mom and dad, my four siblings, and their wives and all our kids.  What would you recommend for clothing colors and styles. I think we all will be wearing jeans on the bottom. I know that white will look funny, but what can we do on top?  I have considered getting each family to wear a specific color in a color range, but my sister is single, so she would either have to match mom and dad or be left out.  What do you recommend?

Answer
I think that I would suggest that you think of colors that would not clash, such as bright red and hot pink, you know which colors would best fit your family. Generally speaking, colors are part of the individual's personality. A person that generally uses pastel colors would not look the same in bold colors. A redhead may prefer the bold colors. Sometimes it is difficult to color-coordinate families. I'd think it would be more important that they are reasonably well-dressed and that they know that a picture will be taken so that they are not caught unawares of the opportunity by just coming in from work and are dirty, etc. It is a difficult question to answer since I do not know your family. Are you considering also having individual family group pictures, maybe one with only your siblings, and another with the nuclear family; Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters? Then a complete family pix with all the wives, husbands, children, grandchildren etc.
Best of luck to you. Just remember that you are photographing individuals and there are certain things that make them individuals. Perhaps making them color-coded would make the picture look artificial.
Thanks for asking. If I can help further, please let me know.