MOMania

By dad of 3

June 30, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

who are you to judge other families vacation pitures? If you want a family picture in all white (or all camo, or all pink, or all green) take it. You went to the beach with your kids and all you noticed was other peoples picture taking attire? very bizarre, very disturbing! I go to florida often, I lived there for 12 years and I can honestly say I never noticed, paid attention to, families taking their private photos, much less to pass judgement on WHAT they were wearing. Where’s Keith!

By Elliot Garcia

June 30, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

dad of 3, if you are going to be so righteous, then at least learn how to spell judgment….look it up!

By Ebaby

June 30, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

I guess its comes done to personal taste. I personally always coordinate outfits in a family picture. but we arent all matching. Ive seen matching pics where everyone is wearing a t-shirt that I didnt like, and others where everyone was wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants that looked fine. Maybe its using a t-shirt as a special occasion outfit that is unappealing. T-shirts are for sweating, not taking a picture :)

By I am

June 30, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Hey dad of 3 you do not have to get so upset. When I read the artical I could not find anywhere, where the writer was being judgmental. She was stating what she observed. Notice she posed a few questions and stated the it is something of a love hate concept. and like the writer I to observe people and the activities that are taking place around me. Myself, my family has never done a family beach photo but once I have kids we will do a couple. mybe 2 or 3 not all at he beach. I will be sure not to overdue it.

By JJ

June 30, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Well, I go on Girlfriend Weekend with my girlfriends every September.

One of our rituals is to take a group picture on the beach, and everyone wears a white tee-shirt. It’s just a tradition. We have been doing this for 10 years.

Dad of 3 Calm down, too much anger for a Monday a.m.

By KathrynIrene

June 30, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Except for the spelling, I totally agree with dad of 3. The very question asked smacks of judging others on their attire.

If you have so little to do in life that you find it necessary to invite snark on another family’s gathering, then perhaps your life is a little devoid of meaning. Look into volunteering to help others. Perhaps it will lessen your deep need to act as Queen Bee and to attempt to elicit mob behavior.

By Bob

June 30, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

While the author may not be being judgmental, its a non-story, and a useless thing to write an article about. So she didn’t care for matching outfits, who cares? Dad of 3 is right, stop worrying so much about what other people are doing and enjoy your time, and save us the trouble of having to sift through articles like these to find something useful.

By Multimom

June 30, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

I like the pictures where every one is dressed in a similar fashion. And as for T-shirts…eh it is personal taste. It would depend on the T-shirt..some are very nice and then some people don’t like the stiff posed stuffy pictures and want something more relaxed and natural.

By new mom

June 30, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Just how unobservant would someone have to be to not notice multiple families having their ‘private’ photo shoots on an obviously public beach? Seeing as this is a blog meants for moms (hence the name) then it’s a valid question to raise to moms. These types of portraits are SO common, why not discuss it? And if you don’t want to discuss it, then how about just not? Thanks!

Anyway, back to the questions posed, we haven’t done the beach shots yet, and probably won’t. I don’t have anything against them, they are always pretty….which is why they are so popular! I guess it’s my rebellious side, but I like doing things that not everyone else does. So I’m not sure what that will be for us, but I don’t see the white shirt/jeans beach portrait in our future :)

By rose

June 30, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

FYI-Judgement is a fine spelling to use in non-legal settings. It’s the old way of spelling it, and the British still use it. Judgment is used by lawyers. Look it up!

By Stacey

June 30, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

I actually like the white t-shirt photos when done properly. I never wear white in photos because the lighting always seems to drain the color from my face and I look like a ghost. I think t-shirts are perfect for a beach photo because except in the case of weddings, I think of beach photos of being very casual. Also, white t-shirts are no longer just for undershirts. While they aren’t to be worn everywhere, I think they are perfectly acceptable for beach and/or park setting.

By Bob

June 30, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Never saw it till I moved to the the Atlanta area. I neither like it nor hate it, although the idea of formal portraits at the beach seems strange to me.

In places where one can get to the beach in a an hour or two, its more common for a day at the beach, than a week at the beach. In the former scenario, the idea of changing into anything special for a portrait - or any picture beyond a snapshot - would be ludicrous.

By Jennifer

June 30, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

I haven’t seen any of those pictures done with t-shirts, just nicer white shirts. Collars for males and nicer shirts for females.

By Jeff

June 30, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

I’m not a large fan of it, but I have seen it done right a few times as well. (Light, airy cotton - nearly see-through - slightly swaying in the breeze == right. Heavy cotton/normal ‘polo’ style shirts, stiff == wrong. Pants on the beach at ALL depends on weather. If it is cold enough for a jacket, wear it WITH the pants. Otherwise, wear shorts.)

Speaking of the beach though…. Ft Walton, here I come! (Leaving SWGA Weds morning, won’t be back until Sunday evening!)

By lovin life

June 30, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

We took a family pic at the beach over spring break. We will have a photographer meet us at the beach in St Simons in a few weeks to take pics of the kiddos. I am not for or against the matching pictures. However personal taste, I would not take a family picture in a t shirt. We have done one with my in-laws where the men wore white button up shirts and Khakis and the women and girls wore white sundresses or some other combo of white. To each his own. Also if you are looking to do this pic the photographer a few years ago had us put E in a dress that could get wet. We put he in a pretty little white slip dress and he had her run in the surf. It is pretty cute. just a thought

By DB

June 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

As with anything else artistic, I think it’s simply a matter of taste — whether I like it or not has nothing to do with it: it’s the people who are paying for the picture who count, and apparently, they do. :-) The idea of getting my extended family a) in the same place and b) in the same clothes is daunting. If they can pull off the coordinated look, more power to ‘em!

By Barry

June 30, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Oh, it just reeks of class, doesn’t it? And it probably looked original to the first 5,682 people who did it. The white-shirt-and-khakis look is a tired cliche, kept alive by low-talent professional photographers who lack imagination and by uninspired amateurs aspiring to be like them. For crying out loud, folks - try something different.

By A. Nony Mouse.

June 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

I like the look of coordinated family portraits, if you choose something that reflects the personality of the whole family.
A few years ago I got the kids together and we did a professional portrait as a gift for my Dad. We all wore black turtleneck sweaters and choose a rustic cabin setting for the background. The idea of a white tee-shirt and white sundresses on the beach sounds really nice.
When we were at the studio having our portrait taken a very large family came in and all of them(maybe 15) were coordinated, all the little girls had matching dresses. I am sure it made a stunning photo but, perhaps a tad over-planned.

By Duluth

June 30, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Yea, that white tee shirt and khaki pant picture didn’t turn out well in front of the glaciers we saw in Alaska. All you can see are our heads. We should have re-thought that one…….

By Pen

June 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

The reason to have all the family members dressed alike is for continuity. If dad is wearing a plaid shirt, brother a striped shirt and little sister a flowered sundress, your eye does not know where to go. I am a part time professional photographer. I advise all of my customers to dress in a like manner so the focus will be on the people and not their clothing.
I love white, it is crisp and pure, but it can be difficult to photograph well, especially with a point and shoot camera.

By Don KeBallz

June 30, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

When my buddies and I go to the beach we take a pictures of our wives topless. They look great!

By Jill

June 30, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

RIGHT ON BARRY!!That look is so Seaside circa 1990…whenever I see that photo I think “Gee, they sure are faaaancy”……..

By ADL

June 30, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

I too have topless pictures of Mrs. KeBallz. Please…tell her to wear a white t-shirt..a towel…anything!!!

By ADL

June 30, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

When our family took trips, and the kids were younger, we all wore tie-dyed t-shirts. It made it easier to spot each other in a crowd. I wouldn’t do the matching shirts for a family portrait though.

By Andi

June 30, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

Funny you should ask, we are attempting the first photo in matching shirts this week at the beach. The teenager has protested dressing like his younger brother for any reason. My husband could care less as long as his refreshment is cold. The little one LOVES wearing matching stuff with Mom and Dad. We had to bribe the teenager. Ours are navy american flag tees with khaki shorts to be shot on the 4th.

By Becky

June 30, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

We did the family picture in white deal. The guys wore nice shirts (not tees) and the girls wore white sundresses. I love it. The faces stand out, not garish tees. It seems to go with the serene feeling of the beach. I’m glad we did it!!

By Hellinahandbasket

June 30, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

as one of those forced into this ridiculous practice i want to say that this is right up there with dressing the entire family in the same color or outfit etc. the concept of making all look alike is silly and borders on sick. i have had to endure two of these pictures one of a family reunion where each family was assigned and required to wear a specific color and this past month i had to endure another photo with the khaki pants/skirt and white shirts. it was embarassing and the requirement to conform or catch grief from those who love this type of conformism made it impossible to say no. whatever happened to everyone just wearing something nice that showed their individuality? now you have 15 or more people lined up in white and khaki and when little johnny asks where aunt ebba you say see there on the back row, in white and tan…oh, no wait that’s uncle arthur…no wait, cousin sue…oh heck they all look the same…forget it kid, our family is just a bunch of elitist conformists, deal with it.

By me

July 1, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Classy. not redneck. classy!

By bizzez Grrrl

July 1, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

The whole posed family portrait genre is hokey. Matchey-matchey clothes, tans and a beach setting is an improvement on the traditional family portrait, but it can’t redeem it.

Here’s a good general rule of thumb to consider: After high school graduation, pose only for wedding photos and your business headshot.

Now, if you want to talk about really tacky portraits, let’s chat about those odd oil paintings made by artists working from photos … yuck!

I have family and friends with these and I just don’t get it!

By not in the 'burbs

July 1, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

I love the matching photo’s concept, the constant discussion of yard care, the heavy set kids in the minivan, the wife who builds her day around her tennis schedule. I think Fleetwood Mac is the greatest band ever and my sweatpants have greek letter on them. I haven’t had an original thought since i gained the 35 lbs necessary to let the world know i’ve moved to the suburbs and just gave up.

By Ann

July 1, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

Those kind of pictures gag me!

By Louise

July 1, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Stepford families!

By motherjanegoose

July 7, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this

I have been out of town but laughed at this topic. My daughter picked outfits out for our family last year…white shirts and blue shorts. We went to St. Augustine and had a friend take the pictures. We matched and looked cute but our hair was a wind blown mess. It was a riot. We were told that you have to get up EARLY to avoid the wind…at the beach and on vacation…NO WAY. I love those pictures but we obviously did not have the correct directions…hahaha!

By Julie

July 7, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

HA -just saw this and had to laugh. I know so many people who do this -and my girlfriends and I always crack up around 4:30 -6:00PM on our yearly beach trip when we’re STILL sitting on the beach drinking beer and the white shirts all come out for their photos. Whatever -if it turns you on, go for it. I definitely want some professional shots taken of my children on the beach when they’re a little older, but I don’t see any white outfits being the attire and my husband would drive away and leave us all before he put on a matching family outfit (and I wouldn’t blame him). I love the pix we take on our own that are just casual too. The best professional beach portrait I’ve seen was of two young brothers dressed only in denim cutoffs with their arms around each other staring out at the ocean while sitting on a sand dune. They certainly didn’t look like Ralph Lauren models or Stepford kids -just sweet, innocent little boys.

By Terri

July 28, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Each to their own. I am planning a trip to the beach nex week, and we are doing pictures on the beach as well. It is always up to those in the pictures. If they want white, wear white, if they want black, wear black. I don’t think there are any rules here!!! Whatever floats your boat.