by Carol Gioia

Created on: February 19, 2010

Giving some thought to how the family will dress for your holiday pictures can make all the difference in how well your photographs turn out. You will want to ensure that everyone in the picture is coordinated in color and style. An annual holiday picture is a keepsake to treasure; each family member should be appropriately dressed for the occasion.

The background of your picture is important when making the decision of how you will all dress.

If the picture is going to be indoors, by the tree or fireplace, then color-coordinated outfits in either dressy or casual style will work. Communicate your desire for consistency, so that everyone shows up for the photo opportunity dressed in the same style. If Grandpa is wearing a suit and tie, you don’t want grandkids showing up in jeans and t-shirts.

If you opt for an outdoor scene, again coordinate color and style. If there are few family members, you can allow each one to chose their own color, but have matching attire. For example, everyone could wear crew neck sweaters, coordinating scarves, and hats if they choose. There is leeway with an outdoor background, especially if snow is on the ground. All that white is a good backdrop for multi colors.

If you opt for an indoor photo, and each member of the family is going to wear different items of clothing, then coordinating the colors is essential to an attractive group picture. Either go monochromatic with one color, or choose two dominant colors and let members select which they will wear.

Clothing in holiday photos does not always have to be red and green. You might opt for black and white with a touch of red, or any other combination of favorite colors.

When deciding upon colors, consider the backdrop. If you are going to be seated by a fireplace, there is more flexibility. If you are going to have a colorfully decorated Christmas tree in the scene, you will want to limit the colors used in your clothing.

When the photo is of your core family, dad might wear a dark suit and red tie. Your son could be a miniature copy of dad’s attire. You and your daughters could wear red dresses to match the tie.

Another example, for illustration of the effectiveness of color: Dad might opt for a green tie and your son could wear a dress shirt in the same shade of green. You might choose a black velvet dress and your daughters could wear dresses with black velvet bodices and green plaid skirts.

For a casual picture, you might all wear jeans and matching ski sweaters. For an added rustic touch, let the family dog into the picture.

The ideas for how to dress for a family holiday photo are endless and only limited by your imagination. The main point to consider is that all family members coordinate in color, and the items of clothing worn are consistently in the same style of either dressy or casual.

An additional tip: Make sure that everyone gets a good night’s rest and a nutritional meal in preparation for the picture-taking session. How you are dressed is important, but so is ensuring that everyone is feeling at his/her best and wearing a great big smile in your family holiday picture.

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