What should I wear for a family photo?

[rookiemater]

I mean a proper posed one, not just DS on the digital. We are having it done at the school on Sunday, it's the same company that does the school photos so its not venture pricey, but I'm really struggling to think what to wear. I'm 41 and wear mostly jeans at the weekend, is that too casual?
For work I wear dresses think that would be too dressed up.
I hate having my photo taken as I have a fond vision of what I look like and reality tends to intrude somewhat.
Am I overthinking this?

[YouCantTeuchThis]

All wear something plain and same-coloured - like white tops and jeans/trousers. You can get long sleeved white tops for everyone very cheaply if you don't already own something.
Then you don't clash with each other and there is less to 'date' the picture too quickly.
Photographers often advise bare feet as well, not sure why

[YouCantTeuchThis]

x-posts!

[rookiemater]

Ah yes what should DS age 5 wear? He doesn't have any shirts other than school ones so I was thinking one of his joules tops would do.

[typicalvirgo]

we did something similar a couple of years back and I overthought put a lot of effort into this too.

we ended up with a casual look, and i'm really happy how it turned out.

we were all colour coordinated too, although not within an inch of our lives, just a mixture of lilacs, white and navy.

i wore a purply cashmere jumper with white jeans and dh had a navy jumper and dark jeans. My jumper matched dd's cargo pants, and the boys complimented their dad. It doesn't look twee imo.

Plain and simple works best i think.

[rookiemater]

Ah thanks You and Natasha, so jeans are ok, will see what tops we have....

[Redrubyblue]

Definately colour cordinate. My Dp had a family photo session for his parents' anniversary and him and his siblings all wore clashing different colours and the end result was awful.

Black and white is a good idea. No logos. No writing. No ruffles or frills.

[rookiemater]

I look a bit pudgy in a white top, if I wore a black top and dark blue jeans would that look too funereal ?

[tethersend]

Here you go

No need to thank me.

[rookiemater]

but would we look too staged ????

[Byeckerslike]

tethers

[SlinkyB]

I agree with the others, plain clothing that's smart/casual. However, do you know what colour the backdrop will be? We had our family portraits done last month, and were asked to avoid white tops as the backdrop was white, so we'd disappear. Went with a navy/grey/denim theme in the end. Good luck!

[rookiemater]

Good point slinkyb its a white background - so definitely no white tops. Thankfully cat64 I don't own anything highly fashionable so I should be ok !

[Littlepumpkinpie]

When I had my lot done the boys had jeans and Burgandy/red tops on which is a colour that really suits them all. Ds1 wore a striped Rugby top,Ds2 a shirt and Dd wore black with red accessories

[Chandon]

I think it is NICE to wear something fashionable that dates the photo.

I mean, are you going to pretend it was taken yesterday in 10 years time ? I mean, are we supposed to be already worried how we will judge the way we look NOW with 10 years hindsight or something?

Wear something flattering and something that's "you". (Jeans a bit sad maybe).

Whatever that is

[rookiemater]

I spent most of today trying to buy a top that was sufficiently smart yet casual and failed because of my newly developed muffin top will just wear existing top and breath in, or maybe jumper dress and leggings

[rookiemater]

Well for anyone who is interested it didn't really matter what we were wearing because the only shots that were nice i.e I didn't look like a complete heifer in were the ones just showing head and shoulders!

[Chandon]

...but what's wrong with funny? Funny is good

I look back on some of my 80s photos with great fondness and a giggle