Deciding on what to wear for your photo shoot can be very time consuming and stressful. Theses portraits are going to be displayed in your home so you want to knock it out of the park!! Well worry not, I have provided tips and advice to guide you in your quest for the perfect wardrobe. After reading my tips, the next step will be utilizing my online tool called STYLE AND SELECT which I will send to you once you are booked. A user-friendly resource to pick your outfits for everyone in the family! Happy shopping!
Coordinating colors not matching
Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and matching. Instead, pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme.
Look at your home decor
Do you like bright bold colors? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house you want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home. This will also determine the time of year you want to book. If you love bold rich colors, autumn is your best bet, but if you prefer light airy colors you might want to book in the warmer seasons.
Say no to characters and logos
Yes, your little one may love their Toy Story shirt or bright neon shoes, but you may want to skip it for the family photo session. Just like patterns, characters on shirts and logos can be pretty distracting.
Textures are your friend
I am a huge fan of a cotton fitted shirt. However, in photographs I like to add textures like scarves, a maxi skirt or belts to add a little more to the image. Don’t shy away from different textures.
Avoid all white or all black clothing
If you are wearing an all white shirt then it is very easy to blow out parts of your shirt causing it to lose its detail. Same can be said with all black, it’s easy to have clipping on black clothing and the detail is lost. So if you do where these colors I encourage adding texture, accessories and including a neutral tone!
Plan ahead
Once you book your session, start thinking of the clothes right away. You may think certain clothes will fit your kids or that one dress is clean. If you wait until the day of, or the day before you may run into an issue of clothes not fitting, being dirty or need to be dry cleaned. Make sure all outfits are pressed, tag-less and lint free!!
Accessories
A trendy hat, a flower crown , suspenders, or even a bow tie...if you ask me...bring it on!!
Stores I Recommend
Apricot Lane Vacaville (this boutique will allow you to rent your outfit for free! Just mention my name and I will fill you in on more details)
Lulu's Express BallyHoo Vintage Clothing .....and honestly, I've gotten some really great stuff on AMAZON (gotta love prime!)
Get some rest and eat well
Be certain to eat before hand and plan around your child's nap for bedtime.
Leave yourself plenty of time to get ready
Leave plenty of time for showers, baths, dressing, and grooming. Give YOURSELF plenty of time as well so when the time comes you are ready to head out the door. I highly recommend getting your hair and makeup professionally done. There is nothing like the feeling of getting pampered for a photo shoot! So I say let the professionals do the work! I provided hair and makeup artists I recommend - Aliyah Artistry | Miss Marissa Artistry | Rosie Duncan
HAVE FUN!
Laugh, giggle, joke, snuggle, and play! You can count on me to guide the session along and by doing these things will allow me to capture the natural emotion and true beauty of your family.
Finally...don't stress yourself out! This should be a fun and relaxing experience. I always suggest making a day out of it! Get the kids excited in the morning, get pampered by getting hair and makeup done, and when the session it over, take the family to dinner to celebrate! Family portraits should be a family tradition and something the kids will always love and remember.
