The color concept for our family photos and subsequent Christmas Cards this year started with a pair of boots. Anthro boots, to be exact.
These ones:
Pom Tapestry Mid-Boots
I declared these as fabulous when they first hit the website, but recognized they would most likely make it to sale. So I waited and ordered them the second they hit sale. Thanks to an Anthro Birthday giftcard from friends, I only ended up paying $45. I have much love and affection for them. I’ve never posted outfit photos of me wearing them, which is sad, since I reach for them quite often. Here’s a phone shot of them when I wore them when shopping with MacGyver one Friday evening in his favorite store, Puma.
wearing: pants-Anthro Ag Stevie Ankle, Coat-Anthro Tyndall Coat, Necklace-Anthro Rotary Dial Necklace, Boots-Pom Tapestry Mid-Boots
Anywho, I just love the vibrant color-party happening in them, and I knew they’d be perfect with my Anthro Button Duo Dress. So off I went to coordinate the fam’s digs, and the rest is history.
Here’s how they turned out. I chose a tri-fold card this year, double sided. Tiny Prints rocked it out with a 30% off coupon. Probably my favorite card yet.
Front side:
Back side:
(our names have been edited out for privacy purposes).
The only shot I chose for the card that could have included my boots (the inspiration for the color scheme) was that first family shot sitting, however the greeting written in the red strip runs right over them! That’s okay though…it’s the color scheme that I love, and it’s not necessary to see from whence the concept came.
All photos were taken again by the lovely Ashley Chiampi. She is a rockstar photographer and is so good at translating your picture wishlist from fantasy to reality. Thanks again, Ashley!!
Though I am hardly a professional at this, I get A LOT of questions about family photo color schemes and how to dress your brood. Here’s my advice:
1. Start with one person first. Ideally, start with yourself. If you know you want to wear a certain pencil skirt, commit to it. Or if you have a rockin’ pair of boots that are inspiring you, go for it! Or perhaps you have awesome ties picked out for your boys. Start there first; use one piece as a jumping off point, then build.
2. Stick to a 3 color-scheme rule across the board. No more than 3 vibrant colors; neutrals don’t count, as long as they’re not too busy.
3. Make sure to pick a backdrop that’s neutral, but has visual interest. If I had chosen fancy gardens as the background for our photos, it would have been a hot mess! Think about the “big picture” as you select your outfits and where you are having your photos taken.
4. Easy on the prints. The most cohesive family photos include subjects dressed in small-scale prints with basic patterns. Think: Gingham. Polka dots. Stripes. = Good. Paisley, florals, southwest flair = not so good.
5. For my family, I have to give my kids fair warning about the photo shoot and what they’ll be wearing. I lay out the clothes a day or two in advance. I build up a little hype about it. Tell them where we’re gonna go, what time of day we’ll be there…”we’re going after lunch”, or “we’ll be done in time to have french fries at….”. My kids just really like KNOWING THE PLAN. If they know the plan, there’s no tears and there’s no stress when it’s “go” time. This is key to the whole process. What’s the point of going to the trouble of coordinating cute outfits if they have a tantrum an hour before your photo shoot?! Fair warnings for the brood is a good thing. Snacks are also a great idea to bring along. For me, not them 
Other photos that weren’t quite right for the card but are being blown up for the gallery wall in my house:
Again, all photos above were taken by Ashley Chiampi, the talented little minx! If you live anywhere near here, you’ve gotta give her a call.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Wishing you all a fun, happy weekend! I’ll be mildy torturing myself by taking my kids to the Disney store to spend their Christmas gift cards from Nana and Papa. I think I’ll need a recup intervention afterwards. Anthro, perhaps?!?
xoxo Molly
Your photos of you and your family are beautiful~~…that little man at the end..well, he’s just cuteness! Happy New Year
Gorgeous photos! Love the color scheme, too. Fabulous boots, those are defininitely rocking. The last photo of you and Mr. Banks just melts my heart. Such a cutie! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Tamara! That tiny bit of drool escaping his mouth on that last photo was just priceless. I want to blow it up HUGE just to see the drool
Loooooove. You have such a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing the photos with us, I’m dying.
Thank you so much Roxy. I figured out why your comment was posting! Fixed! Wahoo!
Loved receiving your card, as always! xo
Thanks, Sare. Loved getting your too. Your kids are getting SOOOO big!!
Love it! Everyone looks so gorgeous (and I miss The Pearl!)
Are you saying we should not have worn 5 different plaids on our card this year?
Ha! Your brood looked adorbs in front of that menacing long-horn bull. Miss you guys.
Lovely pics Molly! Your family is beautiful!
Thanks so much, Amber! I must have caught them all on a good picture day. Well-fed, well napped. Can’t beat it!
Your family photos are beautiful! I love that you picked a color scheme and that it was something outside of the traditional. I also like that you have a mix of portraits with the whole family, just the boys, just the girls, you and your husband, etc. Family portraits of the whole gang sitting against a gray, or blue, or green backdrop (think school pictures) just aren’t as authentic or vibrant or fun as these. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
I couldn’t agree more, Liz. Thank you so much! I much prefer candid, organic shoots, especially with intriguing backgrounds.
You guys are so cute!!! And I think you got the perfect mix of coordinated without looking too cutesy. All the kids are adorable and show off a bit of their own personality, but OMG Banks is such a beautiful flirt! I want to give him anything he wants!
Yeah, Mr. Banks kinda gets away with anything these days since he’s just so darn squishy and fantastic. Thank you so much for indulging me!
Beautiful! I love the color scheme. The 3rd one up from the bottom is sooooo adorable:)
Happy New Year!! I hope you and the family had a wonderful Christmas. You look divine(as always) I love the card:) and that sweet baby has gotten so big!
You have a beautiful family and your pictures are great!! I hope you have a very anthro New Year –I couldn’t resist. Speaking of anthro, I just got my hands on an item I have been lusting after for a very good price. I am going to email you with a styling request if you have time. Also, Mr. Banks has grown so much. I can’t get over that he is walking!!! Where does time go?
I cannot get over how adorable your cards are!! Such a beautiful family, and I LOVE the 3-color scheme. You all look picture perfect and so full of love
Happy New Year Molly! xo
Thank you, dear Emily! Happy New Year indeed! Hope yours is off to a smashing start!
I have become such an Anthropologie fan myself. I love your blog and have bookmarked it. I’ve been toying with the idea of photographing myself in all of my Antho garb as I’ve become quite the “fashionista”. I loved those Tapestry Boots and would have purchased them but for the high(er) heel. Sadly, no one is designing a nice mid-heal shoe or boot. Everything is sky-high or super flat.
XO
I’ll come back,
Sue
Sue, I’m so glad to have you as a new follower! Thank you for reading! I think you should jump right past “toying with the idea” of taking outfit photos and go for it!! I agree, heels are getting so out of hand lately. However, the Tapestry boots are sneeky in that they have this awesome platform, so they’re surprisingly comfortable. I literally have worn them all day and been totally fine by evening. Hope to see you around here lots! Thanks again.
Good call on waiting for the boots to go on sale. They are really cute, you wear them well. I too waited for boots to go on sale. I purchased the Rory knee boots for only $60, orginally $278. High Fives!
Great family picks. Adorable.
Thank you so much, Jess. Awesome deal on the Rory boots! High tens from me!
Adorable! The last shot just exemplifies the love!
Thanks so much, Ali. That kid drools love. Seriously. Oozes. Can’t get enough of him!
Molly dearest friend, this was just such a beautiful post. The words, the place, the outfits, the card….the flippin’ boots!! Oh how I love the final outcome of your family holiday card. The hubs looks great and the kids are just little versions of you two. Mr. Banks, oh Mr. Banks!!! He’s just delicious and precious, so gussied up in those cute blue pants.
You have this brilliant way of executing color and creativity, I just love it.
Happy New Year!
Aww, Dea. Thank you. Nicest of nice things you said. This photo session was really one for the books: happy, excited kids, great location, perfect weather, amazing photographer…it was so fun. Mr. Banks needs to stop growing at warp speed or I’m gonna need therapy to deal with it!! Thanks again.
I don’t think I ever commented about how GORGEOUS you and your family look in these! What a fabulous color concept for holiday cards. And those boots are adorable – I don’t think I am brave enough to pull those off, but you’re rocking them!
xo
Morgan
seemomogo.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Morgan! But I totally think you could rock these boots. They are REALLY comfy, despite looking like they’re killer high. Whomever invented the “platform” style heel deserves a Nobel Peace Prize in my book!!
I LOVE these pictures!! Also loved getting your fabulous card in the mail!
Jessica!
I miss you guys! It was so good to see your sweet family in the woods of Washington as well. (SO JEALOUS!!)