Pete Hyland Photography

                                                                     What to wear for the family portrait.

First of all consider if it's to be a formal or casual setting.  If casual then possibly everyone could be in jeans and a white shirt, or khakis and a denim shirt.   Whatever you choose it's a symbol a togetherness when the whole family is dressed alike.   Avoid white socks and avoid shorts unless that's the look you're going for.  At the beach or by the pool shorts are appropriate but keep in mind that bare legs may vie for attention with the faces and thus may be a distraction, so when in doubt cover the arms and legs.  Black or other very dark colors will tend to make your body disappear thus blurring the lines of separation between one person and the next or between your arms and the rest of your body.  So, lighter colors are better unless your goal is to have the faces become the commanding presence in the photo.