Family Photo

I'd stick with solids, and I'd pick a palette of color (red/pink/white, or blue/green/white, black/white/red, gray/red/black, red/white/blue), then any solid top in that palette would be cool--and it would make it fairly easy for everyone to find/buy something for each person.

I was always told to stick with solid colors, no patterns. I think some of the best family photos I have seen with a large group have been ones where everyone was wearing white tops. I know you said you didn't want to do that though. White looks good against an outdoor backdrop and you don't have to worry about the "shades" of colors clashing. For example, you say everyone wear a red shirt. There are SO many varieties of red and when you have them right next to each other, it looks bad when they are "off". My advise would be to google outdoor family photos and see if anything stands out to you.

We did a big family photo a couple years ago had all the adults wear jeans and black tops and for the kids the boys wore blue and the girls wore pink. It turned out really cute.

there is a family photo on the wall at our local photo place. it is lovely. trees in the background and moutains or something behind that. there are aprox 20 people in it. you can tell the families that are together as they all had matching tops. so grandma and grandpa in I think a dark color sweatshirts then there kids each had a dif color for their families so one family in say red shirts, next family in green etc everyone had long sleeves and jeans on. really nice photo no jarring differences just very nice

If it's outside, stick to earth tone colors and you'll be good!

At our family reunion we all have matching shirts made for each "family" within the family.

7 brothers and sisters - all now grandparents and great-grandparents.

Brother1 - 4 generations wear green polos with family last name
Sister1 - 3 generations wear blue t-shirts with funny design
etc, etc

So while the group as a whole doesn't match (unless you tell everyone to get polos, or all get t-shirts) - you can see who belongs to whom pretty easily.

We always do light jeans and white shirts. I found that was always safe.

I think family photos with white tops are gorgeous, but I understand why you don't want to do that. We did family photos last year and we chose not to, because neither me or my husband look very good in white, and as a rule, our family couldn't stay clean long enough to get good photos taken. We chose shades of red/orange, and the photos turned out great. My daughters both wore sort of a coral color, my husband wore a burnt orange, and I wore red. We all had different bottoms. My husband had jeans, my older daughter had a long white skirt, my younger daughter had a dress on, and I had black slacks on. We were unique enough but still matching, and I love the photos.

My family (parents, siblings, and our kids) gets a new family picture each year. Last year we did jewel tones. Deep blues, turquoise, greens, purple, deep pink (not light or bright pink at all). It was gorgeous. The colors looked great together and great on us. The year before we did the colors of the sunset -- bright yellow, red, orange, pink. It looked awesome together, but not as good on us. My husband looked washed out in his yellow shirt. But the colors really popped together. You can do blue, white, and yellow. Blacks, greys, whites, and red or another color of your choice thrown in there. Red, white, and blue. The primary colors. Brown and pink. One year we kind of did springy easter egg colors. That was pretty. Really, the color combinations are endless. Some years, we'd do the men one color and the women another. Or each family wears their own specific color that coordinates with the rest. But then our individual family pictures were pretty boring looking with all of us just one solid color. With a larger group like you have, I think it is best if you offer more colors and let everyone choose the color they wear. I brought a few tops just in case everyone was wearing purple, then I could change to the green shirt. Or if we didn't have enough blue then I could wear that. We try to do solid shirts because patterns can be distracting, and solid just looks better. Last year in my sister's small family of 4 everyone wore solid, but she had a floral top that tied all of their colors together, and that looked very nice since there wasn't too much pattern. But I think stripes are fine and whatever else you said. Just the less busy the clothing is, the better. You want the attention on your faces.

Have everyone dressed to camouflage to the background. This will give the picture a very artistic and classy look.

Rather than try to use your imagination, look at other peoples pictures to see what looks good to you.

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&sourc...

We have a huge family. I am one of 10 grandchildren on my dads side and each of us grandkids have at least 2 kids- so when we do family pictures for my grandma there is easily over 50 people in them. A few years we tried to coordinate and it looked ok but honestly the best family pictures we have had has been when we just wore what we enjoyed. Unless you buy everyone the exact same shade of blue,green or turquoise you are gonna have variations anyway. Even blacks can vary. Creams are nice but can vary- some cream is more yellow,etc. And my bright turquoise shirt is gonna stand out compared to my hubbies baby blue, see my point. So when looking at the picture your eye will automatically be drawn to me first. But if everyone is in the exact same then noones clothes will stand out. Or if everyone is different noones clothes should stand out. Then you will just be drawn to the biggest smile in the bunch ;) Greens against greens (trees) are not always the best way to go either . Usually go opposite on the color wheel to not blend in!
also I was a portrait studio photographer for years so i have experience with all the variations of family photos.Simple photographs are usually the most timeless- so actually matching or just going with whatever works :)

Search google for family photos. There is such a variation that you are able to see what suits your style. THe only thing I would say no to is logos/graphic.

I think your choices are good. I honestly think that the patterns and florals add a bit more interest.

And this is where I wish we could post pictures!
My family did a portrait a few years ago where we all wore blues and grays with dark jeans. It looks awesome. Some people wore solids, some wore stripes. We all coordinate, but we don't "match".

My mom's birthday is the 4th of July. She's been battling ovarian cancer for 7 years so we always think this is going to be her last birthday. So last year when she was 81 we all wore something either red, white or blue. The photo was taken outside with green all around and the red, white & blue came out nice. the year before we did a Christmas photo and suggested reds. That also came out nicely.

I do think that blue jeans with white shirts comes out the best as it brings out skin tone and hair color. I've also seen blue jeans with black shirts but the black kind of washes out complexion and hair color (although everyone sure looked slim). The other option is that each family selects the color for them. If it's going to be outside in a lush setting I'd avoid green - which isn't good on many complexions anyway.

Also very important try to get the photo taken in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is not straight overhead. In the business they call it the magic hours when the sun casts a beautiful spectrum and the lighting makes everyone look better.

REgardless

We did one with that number of people - and just asked people to wear pastels (on top). They were all different colors, but that was OK, as they blended, and since they were all pastels - they did not clash. (We did not specify the bottom halves, as with the kids, they were not that visible.)
This also meant that no one had to go buy anything. :)

We also did one where I specified that everyone should wear a green top. We all matched, except my FIL who had a teal version of green - much darker than the rest... Oops!

We also did one where the boys/men wore light blue, and the girls/women wore light pink. That worked, although my SIL wore navy blue... it worked out, at least it was blue or pink. :)

My opinion is that solids work best, although if the colors are not too bright, you could have the kids wear some prints/stripes - you just want to keep the focus on the faces, not the clothing. :)

Good luck! Our biggest challenge has been 1 & 3 year olds. The 1 year olds want to walk out of the photo, and the 3 year olds make faces! Always fun though!

We did that a few years ago in California at a park. Everyone wore blue jeans & white shirts. I thought they pictures turned out really good. Its hard to coordinate colors by family, which is why we just chose white.

Good luck & have fun with them :)