I know... it has been a long time. Too long. I could fill up the whole screen with excuses, but instead, I promise to blog often. For real. Scouts honor.
I know you want to know what to wear for family pics. I know its stressful. I feel your pain. We are having our pics done next Saturday. So, I understand. I thought it would be helpful to show you how I decided what to wear. Warts and all.
First, planning is key. Sorry for you anti planners, this is just fact. Start now. Think about what you want to do with these photos. Think about where you might hang them. Think about the location your pics are being shot at. Think about your budget.
I asked my photographer where our photos will be taken, she told me a green field. Ok, so I don't want to wear green, right? I want to show up in the pics and pop against the green. I am having them taken for holiday cards and gifts. I want them to look fall ish. This means I won't be wearing flip flops and sunglasses. Fall to me is layers and boots and deep colors. My budget... it ain't pretty. Lets face it, its back to school time. We are all broke. So, my goal... spend less than $40 for the whole family.
Ready?
First I went to the person with the smallest wardrobe. The 9 year old boy. I looked for shirts that I liked that would be colorful and fall ish. These are the three I came up with.
Ok, I am sure you guessed the yellow plaid one is my favorite. I love yellow, very fall ish. Next I take these 3 shirts into siblings closet to see what she may have to coordinate. Not match, just coordinate. No more matchy matchy. Please. With sugar on top.
Not really a speck of yellow, orange, or brown. Ok, that favorite shirt is out. Not gonna work. That leaves us with the other 2 shirts. And, I find a solid colored dress.
Looks like this would work with either top. Excellent. I love choices. Now to spice up the boring dress. I look for long sleeves. Lets be practical. We want fall. I find a navy cardigan I purchased at a garage sale this summer. Perfect. Now to add more pop. She has a red headband and red shoes. Done.
Here is where I should mention the photograph quality. I know, a photographer with terrible pics. These are obviously point and shoot low res quick shots. You know I can do better work than this, right? Well, if I ever blogged to show you my work, you would know. I digress.
Anyway, at this point. Both the boy shirts look great with daughters outfit. Now off to mom and dads closet.
Told you - here is real living at the smith household. Anyway, I decide to start with hubby. Here is the only thing with navy blue that isn't a firefighter tshirt.
Now, I take a step back. Wrong season for old glory. Decide I don't like dads striped polo and that I like boy shirt on left of girls dress. It just gives more options. I want fall photos. This shirt has the rich golden mustard color.
Ok- now both kids outifts are decided. He will just wear jeans. He is a 9 year old boy, what else does he have. Back to mom and dads closet. I look through my clothes. Only one piece jumps out at me. Its not great, but we can spice it up. Its paid for.
Its white with blue diagonal type "railroad overalls" print. You know what I mean. It coordinates, but is b.o.r.i.n.g. And sleeveless. Hunting for a sweater....
Here is what I came up with that was in the same color family. Far right is too short for the dress, makes my butt and gut look bigger than they are. Mustard with pattern.... same deal. A bit too short. Bright red plain looks better. Worn out and has a hole in arm pit {note to self, keep arms down}, but looks ok. Red and white striped was too much. Makes me nauseous with boys striped shirt. Now we have gone from old glory to candy cane. Awesome. White is longer, excellent. But, back to boring. I decide to go with red holey sweater. On to some accessories. They look so fun in photos and really add texture and character.
Find a skinny yellow belt to break up the mumu and a mustard yellow necklace. {of course made by trendi wendi}
Things are looking better. I will just wear dark skinny jeans. I am too old to wear short dresses. It ain't pretty.
So, SHOES. Yeah baby. I am thinking of my red boots. I run to get them down from the fall box. BAM!
Ouch. the reds don't look so good together. The boots are a warm red, and the sweater a colder red. Hmmm. Ok, I will go with brown. This will bring out the mustard color anyway. Crisis averted.
ok, 3 down. 1 to go. At this point I know I must buy hubby a shirt. He has jeans. So, we head out to look for a mustard shirt. I am thinking that will pick up the accents of mustard I am sporting and keep the flag look at bay. Then it is brought to my attention that maybe a mustard top won't look so great on hubby. He has lighter complexion and blondish hair. Hmmm. I make him try a bunch of things on in old navy. Nothing is really working. I am running out of time before we have to get kids. Enter panic. I am forgetting what boys shirt even looks like. I am tired. and spent. We purchase 2 shirts with the same colors and head home.
After thowing everything back out on the floor, I realize the shirt on the right is pretty dark. With 3 out of 4 of us wearing jeans, this navy blue shirt is not what I want. That decision was easy. He will wear the red shirt. It does bring out the blue in sisters dress.
Satisfied. But what about my holey sweater? this is going to be too much red. and clash.
ok, I go back to the mustard color. Find a longer mustard sweater and trade out the jewelry for red stuff. Now, before you go hating me. I didn't have these things on hand. I got the sweater new and borrowed the red jewelry and belt. What are friends for. When you are unsure, get help. Call in reinforcements. Trendi Wendi herself came to my rescue.
So, here it is. Looking much better. And I added a mustard undershirt for hubby. Phew. Still with me. Don't stop now. Man shoes are important. Imagine doing all this work and then having hubby wear white tennis shoes. EEEEK. So, I went to his closet. Here is what I found.
Either the brown loafers or the Puma shoes will be fine. We will probably do the brown loafers as they match my shoes. Now, I know you are still wondering about our budget. Here you go. The wait is over.
Less than $30. Booyah. I will return the dark navy plaid shirt and then pray that fun blue converse drop from they sky for sons feet. He is the only one who doesn't have shoes. Well, he does have black tennis shoes with blue on them. We might wear those. I may look for converse or something fun. I only have 10 days left, so we will see.
I hope this helps you understand what goes through my mind when choosing outfits. If I had a budget, I would have a different outcome. But, lets be honest. Most of use don't have a budget for photos and outfits. And the photos are more important.
Also, I love to pick out outfits for photos. Its a sickness. Let me know if you need help. Or, Trendi Wendi is for hire. And she has quite the eye for this stuff.
Glad to be back in the saddle on my blog. Feels right. WE have a lot of AMAZING sessions to catch up on.
Over and out.
p.s.- I am booking for fall family photos... Few spots left for October. Call me :)