by Kimberly Chitwood

Created on: March 02, 2009

Family pictures, especially holiday ones, are very important to most individuals. More portraits are made during the Christmas holidays than any other time of the year. The key here is consistency. There are three aspects to consider. What colors will the family wear (will everyone wear the same color or will everyone wear their color of choice?)? What is/are the color(s) of the background in front of which these pictures will be taken? What poses/props will be utilized for these pictures? If you consider these three things, your experience with dressing for and taking a family picture will be a breeze.

When dressing the family for holiday pictures, the first thing to consider is what color everyone's attire will be. If you're having pictures made during the Christmas holidays, you would usually wear red, green, and/or white. This could be everyone wearing the same color or everyone mixing and matching appropriate colors for the holidays.

You should also consider the color (s) of the background. For example, you wouldn't wear green in front of a green background (of the same shade) because then there would be too much green in the picture and you wouldn't be able to stand out from the background in the picture. Also, you wouldn't wear red in front of a purple background because those two colors aren't good complements of each other. So, considering the background (Christmas tree or other picture as opposed to a solid color) is very important in dressing the family for a group picture.

The last thing you should consider is any props that might be used. Generally, in a family portrait, you're not going to have a lot of props. The focus will be on the family. Depending on how many individuals will be included in the family portrait will determine the use of any props. If you have only 3 or 4 individuals, a prop might be appropriate. However, if you have 10 or more people in the same picture, you're already using all the available space without crowding the picture with unnecessary props.

When taking a family picture, it's important to be color-coordinated. It's also important for everyone to look as nice as they can. This is a moment you're capturing on camera. You'll cherish this. Don't stress yourself out over what to wear for a priceless picture. Do consider, though, that family pictures look nicer if everyone is wearing similar colors. Oh, and remember to smile!

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