Summer is primetime for family reunions. The gatherings are designed to reconnect with distant relatives and often yield awesome photographs of two, three, or four generations of family members.
My mom’s side of the family has massive family reunions every other year. The food is catered, the decorations are done by a party planner and there’s always some sort of live entertainment, so everyone can concentrate on having fun instead of worrying about cooking, cleaning and chasing after kids. In addition, there’s always a professional photographer on hand to document the reunion.
Even if your family reunion doesn’t feature a pro shooter, you can still walk away with incredible group shots, provided you follow these tips:
Color Coordinate: Group pictures of all the relatives together are treasured possessions for most people. However, nothing can ruin a group shot quicker than lack of color coordination. If grandpa is donning his favorite bright Hawaiian shirt and Uncle Joe is sporting denim overalls, purple boots and his trademark red cowboy hat, while the rest of the family is decked out in khaki pants and mocha sweaters, your family portrait may be a bit off. The key to getting a group shot to look as pleasing as possible is to get family members to wear outfits that feature the same color scheme.
Outdoor shoots: If you are taking formal or informal group shots outdoors, then consider sticking with a color scheme that features medium to dark colors, such as blues and browns. If the majority of your outdoor shots will be taken with a light background, then avoid wearing white colored outfits, so that you don’t appear washed out or blend into the background. Traditional earthy tones, such as tan, gold, brown, and beige also work best for outdoor group shots, especially if the photo session is taking place at a park with plenty of green in the background.
Indoor shoots: Indoor photo sessions tend to be more formal than outdoor ones. Therefore, you should consider wearing darker colors. Many family reunions include a church service to wrap-up the weekend festivities. If you are planning to take formal shots after the service while everyone is still wearing suits and dresses, then choose darker shades, such as black or navy blue. Males and females can coordinate outfits by choosing solids from the same color family. Jewel tones, such as burgundy, rich reds, and maroon work well together.
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