Coordinating vs. Matching

In my Session Style Guides, I talk about "coordinating" not "matching". What's that all about? That's what I'm going to tell you today!
 
First, I want to clarify that matching is never wrong. It can be difficult to pull off though, so I don't want anyone to stress about having to match when in reality, you DON'T have to match!
 
Matching is generally done in two ways. One is for all the people in the photograph to be wearing the same color and/or outfit style. An example would be a family in white shirts, blue jeans, and bare feet. They are matching to a T! The other way would be for guys to match and girls to match. Maybe the guys are all wearing a neutral color and the girls are wearing a bright color. Or the guys are wearing stripes and the girls are wearing solids, but of the same colors.
 
Are you with me so far?
 
That last example is sort of a blend into coordination. Coordination is simply having things work together. Everyone could be wearing a color of the rainbow, but it's coordination because that works together. So if you have a family where Dad and the sons are wearing blue and white striped shirts, then Mom and the girls can wear white OR blue, whatever they have, as both colors work with the guys' shirts. Now, you do have to be careful on shade. If the stripes are a darker blue, you don't want teal or turquoise.
 
Here are two examples; the first one is an example of matching and the second, coordination.

Photo credit: Robert Akers Photography

In looking for an example of matching, I realized I didn't have a good one! Coordinating is really becoming much more popular, as it's a lot easier to manage.
 
As you saw, in the first image, everyone matches. White shirts, tan shorts/pants. The daughter is wearing a white dress. Comparatively, the second image starts with the little girl's dress and pulls it's colors from that. Her parents are both wearing blue, but the mom added the red pullover, which coordinates with the red flowers on her daughters dress.
 
Coordinating is matching but more relaxed. Generally, you are going to pick an article of clothing for one person, and work everyone else's outfits around that.
 
Hopefully that clarifies the difference between matching and coordinating. If you still have questions, or want to run your wardrobe choices by me, feel free to send me an email at [email protected]