When it comes time to create the perfect family portrait, you’ll want all the siblings to pull together for a beautiful and coordinated look. But trying to get siblings to agree on what to wear can be a task. But with the right styling tips, you can create the perfect matching look for your family without any squabbling. Let’s take a look at some easy styling tips for siblings to get the perfect picture-perfect look.
I. Capturing the Perfect Picture: Styling Tips for Siblings
The Right Props – With siblings, props are essential to livening up your photographs! Have fun with creative items like; toys, musical instruments, funny hats, sun glasses, masks, and more. Unconventional props also bring out unique personalities with an arty twist. To make sure that your photos don’t look too disorganized, stick to a limited colour palette during styling and try coordinating with the same set of colours.
The Right Wardrobe – Coordinating outfits further tie a photograph together. As siblings come in all shapes and sizes, it’s important to take into account how their clothing fits. Think about similar fabrics, sizes, and colours that would compliment each other’s features best. If you’re looking for a tutorial to help your styling choices along, there are plenty of online sources to help.
The Right Poses – Finding the perfect sibling poses can be a challenge, but always remember to have fun and get creative! Before you begin photographing, have a few ideas in mind and an action plan on how to execute them. Some ideas you can consider include:
- High-Five
- One Big Hug
- Piggy-Back Ride
- Side by Side
Each pose should be able to add an extra layer of amusement and love between siblings. You can also observe special personality traits as a backdrop for the photos, while capturing your subjects’ individuality.
Apart from styling tips, ensure to have a rapport with your subjects and make them feel relaxed during a photoshoot. Having real conversations will help bring out more natural expressions.
II. Make It Match: How to Coordinate Styles for a Family Photo
Finding outfits that match for a family photo can be like putting together a real-life jigsaw puzzle. We all have different personalities and tastes, and our styles don’t always line up. From grandma’s dramatic dress to the baby’s onesie, there’s a lot to coordinate. To help preserve everybody’s personal identity while still achieving a unified look, here are a few tips to help you match your style:
- Choose A Theme – Start with a basic color palette like cool jewel tones, pastels, or neutrals. To help narrow down clothing choices, try picking a theme like vintage, dressy classic, or beachy.
- Go Neutral – If your group has a range of preferences and personalities, try coordinating outfits in neutral shades. Shades of white or grey look crisp and timeless in photos.
- Layer It On – Layer up with a few signature pieces, like a patterned scarf, hat, statement jewelry, and even props like cameras, kites, or flowers. Accessorizing is a great way to show each family member’s individual flair.
Before everybody arrives for the photo, try to create a fashion mood board so everyone is on the same page. When everyone’s clothes match, you’ll be ready for a picture-perfect family photo.
Another option is to dress
everyone in the same clothing. It may look less traditional, but more modern. If you go with
this style, just make sure each family member adds their own flair. Use clothing items like jackets, ties, or scarves to mix it up, but keep a unified look. You might be surprised how cool and unique your family photo looks when everyone matches.
You can also consider matching one specific item of clothing, like air-force blue chambray shirts. Wearing the same color with different styles and accessories make the photos look stylish and maintains everyone’s individual fashion sense.
Last but not least, don’t forget comfort when planning your family photo outfits. Chilly nights, bright light, and sandy beaches can take a toll if you aren’t dressed accordingly. If it’s a beach photo, consider wearing closed-toe shoes and protective glasses. Dress for your location and the time of year to help everyone feel at ease.
III. Strike the Right Balance: Creating a Stylish Look that’s Not Too Matchy
When it comes to home decor, striking the right balance between stylish and matching can be tricky. With so many options in materials, patterns, and colors it can be difficult to know when to switch things up, and when to repeat. Here are some tips for creating a chic, yet not overly-matching look for your home:
Mix and Match Your Colors
- Incorporate different colors from the same palette.
- Think about the seasons – use bright colors for summer months and darker colors for winter.
- Play around with contrast between colors for a more dynamic look.
Layer Patterns and Textures
- Mix different patterns, but aim for a similar color scheme.
- Choose materials that blend together – such as a wooden chair with a linen cushion.
- Using wool, leather, or accents of metal can pull together the look.
Keep Scale in Mind
Think about the size of the pieces in a room as well. No matter how stylish the pieces are, if the scale is off, the look won’t be balanced. For a cohesive look, “anchor” the room with a larger piece, such as a sectional in a living room, and go from there.
When in Doubt, Accentuate
To add texture and visual interest, use accents such as pillows, lamps, and artwork to break up the look. You can also add pops of color with these accents if the look tends to be too monochrome. Be sure not to overdo it, though – three or four items should be enough to pull the look together without being too overwhelming.
Creating a stylish look for your home that isn’t too matchy can take some trial and error, but these tips should help you find the right balance between chic and comfortable!
IV. Crafting a Picture-Perfect Look: Final Touches for a Family Photo
One of the most important steps in taking a family photo is getting the look right. After all, you want your family’s portrait to look its best. The final touches are key to making sure you get that desired picture-perfect look.
Hair & Makeup
Before getting dressed and ready for the photo, have everyone do a quick hair and makeup check.
- Make sure no one has any flyaway hairs.
- Help younger children who may not be able to do their own hair.
- For makeup, keep it natural—everyone should look like themselves.
Clothing
Whether you choose to have everyone wear a matching outfit, or coordinate in complementary colors, clothing plays a crucial role in producing a good family photo.
- Before you begin selecting clothing, think about the overall mood your family picture should have—dressed up, or casual?
- Layer for dimension, by having everyone wear a dress, pants, or skirt, plus a sweater or jacket.
- Choose one color palette and stick to it—the colors don’t have to match, but they should coordinate.
- Accessorize with pocket squares, belts, and necklaces.
Background, Lighting, & Angle
Once you’ve got your family dressed and ready, it’s time to move to the next step—background, lighting, and angle.
- Choose a background that won’t necessitate photoshopping later—grass, stone, or a simple light-colored wall.
- For the lighting, natural daylight is usually best for family photos. You can adjust the lighting by adding temporary fill or reflectors to the set, if you need to.
- Finally, the angle. Take photos of your family from slightly above their heads to make them look their most flattering.
These guidelines should help you create the picture-perfect family photo. Pick out a background, select the right clothing and accessories, and adjust the lighting and angle as needed to get the desired look.
With these styling tips for siblings, you can easily elevate your family photos to a whole new level of fun and sophistication. From coordinating colors and patterns to finding the right poses, a little effort and planning can create a beautiful portrait that you and your sibling can look back on and treasure for years to come.
