so, it's time for the group kid picture and I have no idea how to dress them. matchy matchy? individual tastes? sort of coordinating? This is why we only do this once per year LOL

here they all are in case it makes a difference. They range from 16-5.

http://www.robinandjohn.com/allkids2.jpg

horrible pic! it was over the summer after a long day at the pool...I think it was taken on 6 yo DS's little digi cam LOL

I was JUST thinking about this this morning! Once a year makes you waaayyyy better than me. Our last family pic was when the now-5 1/2-year-old was a wee lap baby. And it's absolutely because I have no idea what to dress people in, how lame is that?!? But yikes, 8 children ranging from baby to 19, yikes.

Personally, I love a simple outfit that matches - I adore the look of girls in white sundresses and boys in white polos or oxfords with khakis. I also like the look of a white button down or polo on everyone with denim bottoms - they don't even have to be the exact same denim, if the shirts are all white :)
For fall/winter portraits, I'd be more apt to do black - but for Spring, I'd go with lighter colors.

As much as I love the matchy thing, I think you run the risk of it taking away from their beautiful faces. And, like with my kids, since some have darker hair and some have lighter, it tends to unify the composition a bit to have all one color top on - that way the eye goes right to the face. A busier pattern or design on their clothing pulls the eye to the outfit instead.

Oh - I also love red or blue on kids - just one color - but it has to be the same shade. Red would be really vibrant and look nice for the summer patriotic holidays as well as at Christmas time, too. (We had a portrait taken of the girls in white sundresses and it looks kind of funny in the middle of January hanging behind the fireplace) :D

what did you decide?

We don't have a big family, but when you add in the cousins, there's 7 of them all together ranging from 18 months to 7 years - and since we'll try for a group picture next month, I came looking for ideas.

Last group picture was before Leila and Nicole were born.. Josh was 18 months, I think? I had shirts for the boys and swing dresses for the girls all tie dyed in a turquoise and purple spiral and they all wore denim shorts. It was really cute!

I'm thinking maybe a dark green would be flattering to all of them..

Old Navy has some really neat colors right now. We just had family pictures - I was in a dark olivey green, dh in navy, dd #1 in warm orange, and dd #2 in deep red. Just enough off the "regular tones" that it looked really neat together.

gosh, seeing that pic again is so weird. These kids have grown up *so much* since last summer! They don't even look like that anymore *sigh*.

ok, I like the jeans and white button ups but I think I am going to have a hard time finding white button ups for all of the kids. They all have jeans so I won't have to do anything for that part :) So, where do I get white button ups in sizes from Ladies M-4T? lol

What we've done in the past is to choose two colors and put everyone in one of those two colors so there's a little variety.