We're having one taken in two weeks. My oldest is going off to college next year and I wanted to get one taken before then. We haven't had one taken since the kids were small. Back then, we had one taken where we were wearing different colored turtlenecks...DH white, DS white, DS green, DD red, and me red...in jeans....for Christmas. It was really cute. Another one we all wore jeans and white polo shirts. Anyway, I was looking at family portraits online to get some ideas. I've read all the tips the photographers suggest. My question is this...Has anyone had one taken recently and what did you all wear? I was thinking white long sleeved shirts and jeans...DH likes the idea of black shirt and jeans. My mother on the other hand, disagrees with me totally. She thinks that it was fine to dress alike when the kids were all little, but not now that they are teens. She said it would look like a corporate photo where they wear polos and khakis...Rolling my eyeballs over here. I don't think she gets it. She would have everyone all mismatched in colors ranging from yellow to purple. She thinks that since we're "going to the trouble" to get a family portrait, that we should all get somewhat dressed up...each person wearing their own thing. I think that would look terrible. What is your opinion? Am I right or wrong on this one? I know it's my family and I'm going to do what I want to do...regardless of what she thinks. No, she isn't going to be in the photo. Just DH, myself, and kids. Thanks... ~Lisa

We just did one recently that included my parents, my sister and all 5 of us. We all wore white shirts and jeans and went barefoot. Our shirts and jeans were different and it was done on a white background. We think it came out great!

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My sister gets her kids done 3 times a year. They did one on the beach with the kids in similar outfits. I think it was jeans, white shirt (keep it the same "kind" whether it's a collared shirt or button down) and sandals. One was with the kids on the a set of stairs. They all had on polo shirts and khakis.
I'm feeling guilty. I think I'll make an appointment to get a family portrait done.

I do think that white and denim look so nice together. And we ALWAYS do our portraits barefoot! Something so authentic about that, at least for us...

I also like when there is some red in there - red, white and blue look beautiful and striking in portraits, without being matchy-matchy (and somehow, it doesn't have a big patriotic flavor, either. It's just a nice, clean look).

And I agree with you, CaddyLisa - I think going for a cohesive look just keeps the picture from containing too many distractions. A reduced color palate helps to keep the focus OFF of the clothes, and ON the people!

Hope you get your way - I like how you're thinking!

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We had fabulous pictures done for Christmas last year -- all my parent's grandkids and greats. They all wore black shirts and jeans (turtlenecks for the girls and long sleeve black t's for the guys -- we wanted to do all turtlenecks but the 3 month old little guy lost his face in the t-neck!) My nephew is quite weight-conscious and he very much appreciated the black, as did the Mom of the two little people .

Enjoy!

Your pictures sound great! Funny about the little guy! Smiling over here just picturing it...LOL My husband is a big guy, maybe that is why he wants to go with black? Hmmmmm. I think I'd like white shirts better, but I know when they do head shots for theatre, they are always in black...I guess you can focus on their faces better that way? The help you all have given so far is appreciated! I did get an email from my Mom after I posted this. She said "it is what you like that matters...love, mom" ~Lisa

we had ours done this Spring. We did two different outfits: We're huge Arkansas Razorback fans, so we all wore our Razorback "stuff"--DH in red w/ white lettering/drawing, DS #1 wore off white shirt w/red lettering/drawing, DS#2 wore his Darren McFadden #5 Jersey. I wore my U of A cardigan---we even had our dog in a few of the pictures.


Then we did a "formal" picture--I wore a blue silk blouse, DH wore a navy blue sweater and the boys wore polos that were in the same color family.

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07 pictures of the boys oldest was in long sleeve dark blue shirt, with thin green stripe across chest, next youngest in same but in green with a blue stripe, next youngest in red with grey stripe and youngest in a grey with a looks like dark blue stripe from picture, and light colored jeans.


06 I believe they was in sweaters red, blue, green and white, forget what pants,

08 in turtleneck, long sleeves and tan pants


I usually do christmas pictures every year cause they have their pictures taken throguhout the year with their activities, already subjected oldest to GASP! a picture of him in ROTC uniform, was a lot easier to get his best friend in the picture than my son lol

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we usually do jeans and matching colored shirts. We've done blue, burgundy and white. They always look great. I like to have a basic outfit so that different patters/colors do not have to compete with each other

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A portrait with clothing as described by Sexysmurf would have another benefit - I think it would look timeless! How classic is that - jeans and nice T-shirts.

This altogether avoids the possibility of people looking back on these portraits 15-20 years from now, and grimacing because the styles are outdated.
The simpler, the better.

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We did our Christmas pic last year with us all wearing white tee's. I really liked them and best of all nobody gripped about having to wear a tshirt. I think this year we are all going to do black.

I changed I avatar to one with all of us in our white. I thought I had the family pic online but I guess not. But you'll get the idea. I think they turned out really well.

One thing I did do before deciding on the white tee's was i searched online photo studio's pix. I got lots of ideas doing that. Btw, we did our thru Olan Mills.

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I like your pictures! I wish I could enlarge to see them better, but from what I can see, they look like they turned out very nice! The white T's is a great idea...didn't even think about that! ~Lisa

We had one taken in the spring. My boys wear light blue long sleeve button up shirts and jeans, I wore a white bouse and jeans, DH wore a gray plaid shirt with light blue & white.

My MIL had the whole family take a group picture a year or two ago and told everyone to wear jeans and whatever color shirt they wanted. Well, I think the photos turned out looking like a circus <lol>. I coordinated myself, DH and my two boys, but that was the best I could do. Here's how the photo went -- DH's brother, black shirt, DH's other brother gray shirt, DH's sister, red shirt, DH's BIL, black striped shirt, DH's niece purple & white gingham shirt, MIL pink shirt, FIL gray shirt (not the same gray as DH's brother), DH, green shirt, my two boys, matching light blue shirts, me, white shirt with blue and green floral pattern that coordinated with DH and kids -- what a color nightmere!!!

I really loooooooooove pictures that are done all in black and white they look old and yet so so beautiful just my 2 cents worth good luck with your pictures. Peace. Catherine

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DH hates it, but I have a family portrait taken every fall. At first, everybody dressed up. Now that the kids are older, we just wear nice solid color t-shirts that coordinate, blue jeans & keep out shoes out of the picture. It's comfortable, easy to do and we go do something fun when it's over.

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I did NYears cards instead of Christmas cards a few years ago and we all wore matching pajamas and bare feet. It turned out cute and we got lots of comments back from friends.

Last year we did a family picture with Khakis and Black Ts for the boys and I wore a white and black T. Since I am the only girl, it made me stand out even though I wasn't in front.

We have done them in black and white wearing jeans and long sleeved white shirts and once when the boys were younger we did one with them in various shades of blue jeans shirts and khakis.

have fun with the pictures. The best one we ever took was one where the kids were playing around and the photgrapher caught them really smiling at each other instead of at her. It remains my favorite of them all now that they are grown and living their own lives.

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Our church is doing a new pictoral directory. Olin Mills gave out pamplets with some info in.
Some were no brainers but the long sleeve thing was new to me.

I haven't decided what I will wear but it won't be white!
I don't need any weight added,LOL

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Last year we were at the beach and we each had khaki shorts on and white shirts. My daughters shirt was cotton short sleeve, my husband had a white polo knit shirt and I had a white blouse with the sleeves rolled up. They were not the same but the colors were. I have to say that it is one of my favorite photos of us.
Whatever you wind up doing just see if it all flows together. Nothing worse than seeing photos where one person has an old tshirt on, another with a floral dress and someone with a winter sweater!!

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