Preparation
Preparation makes all the difference to ensure happy family members and cooperative participants!
Kids: Make sure little ones have a nap, a bottle or snack and a diaper change before the session. Also, be careful with uncomfortable clothes – scratchy tags, lacy frills, etc. Most children do quite well during evening sessions when these steps are taken to sure they are happy campers!
Teenagers: I never try to force them to smile and I always let them know I am aware they may not want to have their portrait taken. However, after more than 30 years of experience working with reluctant customers, I know the best bet is to just acknowledge small efforts at cooperation and to help make them feel more comfortable (and in some cases, singled out for special portraits if they seem shy, but willing).
Non-photo friendly husbands or male (or female) family members: Best you can do is plan on a reward for after the session, such as a nice dinner out, or time sitting around the fire pit with a beverage. I will do my part to help them feel relaxed and comfortable during the session. I actually enjoy working with people who don’t like to have their portraits taken as I know I can help them relax and enjoy having their portrait taken!
Clothing
I highly recommend sticking with solid colored clothing for your portraits with everyone dressed in the same tones. Popular colors are white/off white, light blue and tan, as well as a variety of pastel colors. Tip: Pick out an outfit for the most difficult person to dress/the pickiest person first (selecting solid colored clothing), then match everyone else’s outfits to theirs. One or two low contrast/muted patterned clothing in the group is okay. Just avoid busy patterns and/or bright colors, which are distracting from all of your beautiful faces.
The only time I have found slightly bold patterns to work is when the pattern is exactly the same in everyone’s clothes. That way not one person stands out. However, I still recommend solid colors for a classic, timeless look that you will enjoy for many years to come!