Grandma and Grandpa is coming into town! Your brother (the one your like) and your other brother (the one you DON'T like) are flying in with ALLLLLLL their kids. It's the first time in FOREVER since you have all been together and everyone is excited! AND you want to document the moment. WONDERFUL! Extended family sessions are so incredibly important. The images we capture at these sessions will grace your walls for generations. They act as a reminder of the importance of family. And are the perfect gift for parents who have everything! Once you have your session date planned, secured your amazing and super fun photographer (which I am assuming is me:), the last step is to coordinate outfits. 

I am here to hold your hand and guide you through the process. DON'T let the fear of planning wardrobe for your 21 favorite cousins hold you back. Follow these simple guidelines below and everything will turn out:

1) PICK A COLOR SCHEME

We are going for "coordinating" not "matchy-matchy." Gone are the days of 25 cousins in white t-shirts and jeans. (HALLELUJAH!).  I recommend choosing 2-4 colors and basing what everyone wears around those colors. For example, you could use navy, white, and pops of yellow.  All of those colors look good together. That isn’t to say that everyone has to wear those exact colors but to use them as a base. 

2) DRESSY or CASUAL?

When a large group is coming together, it helps to predetermine if everyone is going to be dressy or casual. For some families, dressing up is the norm. For others, casual is more practical. Neither is wrong, but you don't want Aunt Selma and her kids showing up in jeans and button downs, while Uncle Arnie and the triplets pulling up in suits and ties. So as a group, decide on dressy or casual, and make decisions accordingly. 

3) EASY ON THE PATTERNS

I LOVE a good leopard print... in the right type of image. But in large group portraits, its best to go easy on the patterns. Good rule of thumb: have no more than one person from each nuclear family in a pattern. If you need to have more than one in a pattern, you can break it up by adding a jacket, or scarf, or some other layer that will neutralize the pattern a bit. And when dressing in a pattern, try to go with something simple. Large, Bold, Eye-catching patterns are not the best when you are trying to coordinate with lots of people.

4) Lastly, DONT STRESS!  The most important aspect of a good image, is genuine emotion. I want you to be relaxed and happy at our Extended Family Session. Coordinating your family is a wonderful detail, but it is just a detail. The most important thing is that you have each other together and that you show that love. 

Want some ideas? PINTEREST is our friend! I've gone through and picked out some different pins where the families were well coordinated. Click below for some inspiration!

Extended Family Session- What to Wear Idea Board

And when in doubt: ASK!!! That is why I am here. Lay those clothes out and send me a picture! I promise to give my honest opinion and guide you along the way. 

And if Uncle Alfred REALLY REALLY wants to wear his inappropriate t-shirt to the family session... just send him my way. Ill take care of it :)

Your favorite family photographer,

Allison