Preparing for a photography session requires a touch more finesse than your typical everyday outfit. Patterns like bold stripes, floral designs, or busy checks might be your favourites, but they don't always translate well on camera. And when you're coordinating an entire family's attire, it can feel like orchestrating a symphony. But fear not – I am here to guide you toward achieving a flawless, harmonious ensemble for your family portraits.

Mastering the ColoUr Wheel

The colour wheel is the secret behind every striking colour combination.

Primary Colours: These are the foundation – Yellow, Blue, and Red.

Secondary Colours: Mix two primaries to get secondary colours – Green, Purple, and Orange.

Tertiary Colours: Combine a primary and a secondary colour for tertiary hues like Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue Purple, and more.

Tint and Shade: Playing with white and black creates tints and shades – lightening and darkening colours, respectively.

Neutral Colours: Think black, white, gray, and earth tones. We even consider blue as a neutral colour due to its versatile nature.

The Colour Schemes

Colour theory is our compass, guiding us through creating stunning colour schemes that pop.

Complementary: Use colours directly opposite on the wheel for bold contrast.

Triadic: Combine three colours equidistant on the wheel for vibrant harmony.

Analogous: Choose a colour and its adjacent hues for a subtle, seamless look.

Monochromatic: Explore lighter and darker shades of a single colour.

Putting It All Together

Creating an artful palette is easier than you think!

• Choose a foundation colour that reflects your family's personality.
• Add one or two accent colours for contrast and visual interest.
• Integrate neutral shades or tints/shades of your foundation colour to tie it all together.

Let's explore the world of colour coordination through a few family outfit examples:

Example 1 - Neutral colour scheme



Base colour: Cream

Accents: Blue and Brown

Mom wears a cream dress paired with a bronze pair of earrings or necklace and matching cream shoes. Dad goes for gray pants, a light blue shirt, and brown shoes. The daughter shines in a light blue dress with cream shoes. And the son embraces khaki pants, a blue shirt, and brown shoes.

Example 2 - analogous colour scheme



Base colour: Red-Orange (Rusty)

Accents: Red and Orange

Mom stuns in a rusty dress, complemented by brown shoes. Dad chooses brown pants, a white or cream shirt, and matching brown or cream shoes. The daughter looks adorable in a light orange dress with brown shoes. And the son wears khaki pants, a white shirt, a red sweater, and, of course, brown shoes.

Example 3 - triadic colour scheme



Base colour: Navy

Accents: Yellow and Red

Mom wears a navy dress, a light blue necklace, and navy shoes to create an elegant look.

Dad goes for a gray jacket, navy pants, a white shirt, a red watch strap, and brown shoes.

The daughter radiates charm in a light blue dress paired with a red belt, yellow hair ribbon, and navy shoes. Son wears a navy jacket, gray pants, a white shirt, a yellow watch strap, and brown shoes.

Outfit Coordination

1. Choose a Color Palette: Opt for colours that complement each other rather than matching exactly. Earthy tones, pastels, or even a mix of bold colours can work wonders. Keep in mind the environment where we'll be shooting to ensure your outfits stand out.
2. Mix and Match Styles: You don't all need to wear the exact same style, but aim for a cohesive look. Mix casual and dressy pieces to add depth and visual interest to your portraits.
3. Patterns and Solids: A mix of patterns and solids can look great, but avoid busy patterns that might distract from your face. Consider choosing one patterned piece and coordinating the rest of the outfits around it.
4. Comfort is Key: Make sure everyone, especially the little ones, is comfortable in their outfits. It might show in the photos if they're fussy about what they're wearing.