I love these! I especially love that all the girls are wearing black bows in their hair but all of the bows are different. Love it! Thanks Erin B. for sending in your family photo!

I love both these photos, and I love the little boys pedipeds! (My daughter has a pair and seriously wears them everyday… even if they don’t match!)

And I especially love the picture of the couple, loving the briefcase and the her shoes!!!

Thanks Jenn K for sending in these photos! (Jenn is a photographer and took these pics!)

This photo is of our reader Jill M. and her family!  And I would have to say that they look amazing. Lots of fun colors and a beautiful setting. Ladies, take notes! (Oh and her daughters tights are from We Love Colors!) Thanks for sending in your photo Jill!

Have a family photo you think would be of help to the readers of Sensibly Styled? Please, send them in, we’d love to see them!

For more ideas, click here, and here, and here.

I was on the phone with Natalie the other day (which I am often) and I was telling her that I was excited about our family pictures because I was going to use some of Emily’s ideas/tips from this post and this post. I liked the idea of wearing clothing that coordinates but that doesn’t necessarily match. I also LOVED the idea of wearing lots of colors, so we went for it!

Natalie asked that I post my pictures, so here are my favorite two! For those of you who are looking for family photo ideas (We get A LOT of e-mails on that subject) I suggest reviewing the two posts that I referenced- Emily has a lot of great suggestions!

Here’s an email from our reader Malissa:
Hello!
I came across your site about a week ago and LOVE it! In fact, copied an entire outfit for my reunion next weekend! Everything is pulled together so perfectly with accessories,etc -I could not have done it on my own.
I know you get a lot of questions about family pictures (loved the post about what NOT to do) and was hoping you could help me out. I seem to get stuck in a rutt of always dressing my family in boring jeans and neutral colored tops. I am inspired by families like Nie Nie‘s who look like they should be in a catalog! We are a fun and casual family so nothing too fancy, but wouldn’t mind wearing a dress/skirt or maybe even just a dressy top with jeans and heels. And the girls in something sweet and girly. (We have two little girls – ages 4 and 2. Also expecting another member of the family in March, but I’m not showing yet so no need for a maternity outfit!) Our pictures are scheduled for mid September, which is still HOT in Boise, so nothing that we’ll burn up in (made that mistake last year!) You think you could find us each an outfit that’s not too matchy matchy but goes together? Now THERE is a challenge for you!
I included the most recent pic of the fam that I could find… right before my daughter’s ballet recital.
Keep up the incredible work!
Malissa
Meridian, Idaho

Hi Malissa!
First of all, what a beautiful family!
Second of all, does everyone remember the family pictures that Gabrielle (Design Mom) had taken in Central Park by the amazing Candice Stringham? Of course you do, it was like the photo shoot heard ’round the world-it was so amazing! You can read here about the process of preparing for that family picture shoot, and I liked how they came up with a color scheme and a conceptual theme. I did the same thing here with the color scheme inspired by this image from the MS Weddings blog. They have really great color palettes that are useful for parties, decorating, and I guess even dressing a family for pictures. Plus, they’re just pretty. I wanted the conceptual theme to be something like: fun/carnival/bright & cheerful/end of summery/playful/etc.

For Dad:
A nice ice blue button down shirt, great yellow tie, and dark bootcut jeans.

For Mom:
Since you’re tall and lean, I bet you’ll look slammin’ in this Shabby Apple dress with this yellow belt. Some cute patterned heels and a gorgeous bracelet finish it off.

Big Sister:
A cute pink jumper with a blue collared shirt underneath and some fun orange patent leather maryjanes.

Little Sister:
An adorable denim jumper with a sweet floral embroidered sweater on top. Perfect red saltwater sandals and a cute little orange bow top it off.

Have a great time and send us a picture when they’re done! You’ll look great!
Love, Emily

Here’s an email from Ashley in Arizona:

“First, I LOVE this site.  You all do an amazing job at matching outfits and body types.  Now on to my dilemma, Saturday my little family has pictures.  Now, I want to wear a cute summery dress.  I am a size 14, and I have bigger arms that never look so good in pictures.  Even if it’s not a dress, I need something that will hide all my trouble spots (arms, belly), and be a good color for a picture.  Any ideas???”

Okay, Ashley.  Since we don’t have much time, I’ll give you ideas of what to look for, and hopefully with that you’ll be able to find something that works for you in your local stores.

First of all, I have what my family sort of affectionately refers to as “Arnett Arms”, which is our way of saying chubby arms without saying the word chubby.  (My mom’s maiden name is Arnett)  It’s inherited and unless I become an Olympic backstroke medalist, it’s just a body characteristic that I have to work around.  Here are some tips.

Never, ever wear anything that is gathered on the sleeves.  Actually, at this moment I’m wearing a knit top that had gathered sleeves when I bought it but I took a seam ripper to them and took out the elastic and now they have a nice elbow-length flutter sleeve.  Gathered sleeves for us is tragic.

I’m going to put out positive energy that when you go shopping you’re able to find a dress that has a shape that looks something like the one on the right.  It’s a nice, kimono-style wrap dress that will totally disguise the upper arm and will just float over the tummy/hips.  (for something important, like a family picture that’s going to be on your wall for the next 10 years, I’d wear some sort of Spanx-type undergarment)

If you don’t find a dress that you like, another great option is a sleeveless dress with a cardigan on top.  That would look wonderful!  Just pick a cardigan that hits lower than the upper arm.  You want something that is elbow length to 3/4 length, but it’s best not to go longer than that.  If the sleeve is too long then you don’t see any of the wrist, the thinnest part of the arm, and you want to see the forearm/wrist area.  A nice sheath dress in a fabric with some structure to it, plus a cardigan, and a wide belt on top…that’s a winning look.

If you can’t find a dress/cardigan combo you like, then there’s option #3: a cute blouse and jeans or a pencil skirt.  My favorite kind of top (for when I’m just going to wear a top, no cardigan or jacket or anything) is a dolman sleeve.  A dolman sleeve is when there’s no seam at the top of the shoulder around to the armpit, so the sleeve looks kind of kimono-ish.  That is ideal.  The top in the outfit I put together would be perfect for you.  Totally takes care of the arm situation.  Next, for the tummy situation, you know how much I love belts.  A nice wide belt will give you a waist.  Just don’t wear it tight.  It’s not to hold you in so much as to define your shape.  If you’re handy with a sewing machine, I’d make yourself an obi belt kind of like this one (just in a much better fabric, and have the tie over to the side a bit).  You know, just whip it up in your spare time…

I put this top with some dark jeans, but it would look great with a slim pencil skirt, too.  I like the look of some dangly earrings and a long, draping necklace with this outfit, and some cute floral pumps for the fun of it.

I hope this helps.  I would think your best bet would be to hit up a big department store and look through the dresses first, if that proves unsuccessful, then start shopping your favorite stores to see if they have tops you like.

Bottom line: no gathered sleeves, find a great belt, and have a great time!

Love, Emily

p.s. if you end up having more time and would like links so you can purchase some of these online items, let me know.

Silk/Linen V-neck cardigan, J.Crew, on sale for $59.99

We’ve been getting a lot of requests for help with what to wear for a family picture.  So I thought we’d discuss what to do…and what not to do.

I post these pictures with no judgment, I promise.  I know I have been in my share of awkward pictures, so I really don’t mean to make fun.  We’re laughing with them…

These photos are all from Awkward Family Photos (as a warning, don’t click on that link unless you have at least 30 minutes to spare.  You’re going to want to see every single photo, I promise.  And your cheeks will hurt from laughing so much.)

Let’s use these “what not to do” examples to learn a few lessons on how to get a great family photo.  The thing is, sometimes photographers can put you in some strange poses.  Or someone in the family gets a bright idea for a charming themed family photo.  Basically, things could go wrong in too many ways.  So let’s discuss those ways:

1.  First, maybe try to avoid being TOO trendy with your hair and clothes.  Just a bit too much, although I’m impressed.  On the kid, even!

2.  I know.  Those sweaters!  We’ve all been in at least one picture in our lives with everyone wearing the same thing.  It’s no good.  Although I’ve seen it done successfully, I think that is very, very difficult.  Better to not attempt it.

3. Posing with your hobby…kind of strange.  Especially when your hobby is bow-hunting.

4. Fun, maybe…but not quite the timeless, big-framed-picture-for-the-living-room-wall kind of photo.

5.  Costumes plus awkward posing?  Yikes.

6.  Or, what about when the photographer suggests having mom and brother lay on top of the two sisters…while they hold hands?  Not good.

What do you guys think?  Any other tips on what not to do?

With Nienie‘s permission, I submit to you what I think might be the best family picture ever. (photo by Blue Lily)

I know you ‘ve seen this gorgeous family before, but let’s break down what makes this family picture so good.

First of all, the setting.  They are in a gorgeous orchard, but they’re dressed nice/casual so it makes sense.  They look natural there.  As if they were about their business, picking cherries and looking fabulous, and a photographer just happened by.

Second, the pose.  So natural and true to the family.  Once you check out Awkward Family Photos, you’ll know what I mean when I say this, but please beware the armshelf, the lean, the pileup, etc.

Lastly, the clothes.  I love that they all look like themselves.  Nienie is wearing a fantastic dress and Mr. Nielson has on a handsome blue shirt and slacks.  Do they match?  No, but they sure look good together.  Same with the kids, they don’t match…but they go together.  I remember Clinton and Stacy from “What Not to Wear” (who else loves that show?) saying that clothes don’t need to be matchy-matchy.  ”They don’t match, they go.”  That’s the quote.  Always good fashion advice from Clinton and Stacy.

And that beautiful Nienie.