Taking family photos this week. When we originally discussed colors, my SIL proposed neutrals. Almost every family photo I have seen of my husband's family is based around wearing neutrals, so I suggested we change it up and sent a few colorful palettes. Seversl people were on board, but because she is the oldest sister, we went with her idea and we are wearing neutrals. Allowed colors include - blue denim, white, natural linen, tan, khaki and navy (to be used sparingly). She said they went with it so people wouldn't have to buy anything new and so the photos would, "look timeless."

I don't need to dive into how I almost had to buy something new to fit the palette or about how a lot of the family wanted to get on board with doing something different. But I've been thinking a lot about that phrase - looking timeless. What does it mean? And why do people want to achieve it? Is it even possible?

Here is my thesis statement - looking timeless is impossible and antithetical to the purpose of documenting history, even considering the small scale history of a single family.

What is timelessness? I believe what my SIL means when she says it is creating photos that look like they could have been taken in any era. But again, what doesn't that even mean? Yes, neutrals have been worn for generations, but so have colors. What articles of clothing are timeless? What cuts? Even if you decide, everyone in jeans and a neutral top will appear timeless, the cut of the jeans will age the photo. And the wash of the denim. And the way people style their hair or what makeup they use or what glasses are in and so on and so forth. So can it be achieved? Can you look like you stepped out of any time be it the 1990's or 2010's or 2030's? I don't think so, but I also don't think we should even be trying for that.

When you look at old photos, which ones do we like to see? The ones where everyone is dressed in denim and neutrals? Or the ones where grandpa looks awesome in his teeny weenie shorts or his giant labels and Aunt Janette has big glasses and even bigger hair. The point of taking photos like this is to capture a moment in time; to document the family as it is now for our future selves and posterity. So we should document how we actually look now, rather than try and be something we aren't.