Your Prep Guide
Alright! You are on your way to the photo session of your dreams. I want to thank you again for trusting me to create artwork for your family.
I know that life is hard, and it can be a challenge to carve out time and money for ourselves. But as you know, this will be such a precious and worthwhile investment. These images will be heirlooms for your family. These busy days of life keep passing us by, but together we are going to make this season in your life stand still.
I care about you and your family, and I want every single step of the process while working with me to be smooth, convenient, and enjoyable. I will be in touch with you one more time before your session but if you have any questions before then, please don't hesitate to call or text!
Your Wardrobe
To kick things off, here are some sample clothing boards and color palettes in the links below to help you as you plan your family’s clothing.
And here are some tips and tricks to help you as well.
1) CHOOSE A COLOR PALETTE (preferably earthy, neutral, muted, or pastel tones)
Think about 2-3 coordinating colors. I’ve created the Pinterest boards to help you in this process.
Also, the color palette you choose will affect your appearance and the overall look of your photo. You most likely chose me as your photographer because you liked my style. Thank you! I would describe my style as warm, elegant, and earthy. A huge way I achieve this style is through wardrobe. If you wear bright colors or jewel tones, I can of course still capture beautiful images of your family, but they will not match the style of the rest of my work.
I advise all of my clients to try to stick with earth tones and neutrals as much as possible.
2) START WITH MOM’S OUTFIT.
It can be hard to know where to begin but think of it as building blocks. Start with one outfit and then you can build upon that. My recommendation is to start with mom (or daughter), since women’s clothing tends to have more colors, prints, and pieces. And let’s be honest, we tend to be pickier about how we look, and moms are typically pulling the outfits together anyway. I like to recommend that Mom wears a dress. Not only are dresses flattering, but they also create movement, they are elegant, and you will probably feel good in it. If you hate dresses, think about a skirt/top combo or a nice pair of jeans. opt for high quality fabrics (not t-shirt material) because they hang better, and things that are loose and fully cover your body. Let's stay modest.
3) COORDINATE, DON’T MATCH.
Gone are the days when everyone wears matching white polos and khakis for family photos. Choose colors that complement each other but are not overly matchy-matchy. For example, avoid wearing the same color top as your spouse. After mom’s outfit is chosen, begin to find 2-3 coordinating colors that complement one another.
4) DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
You might have the perfect outfit on, but if you’re freezing or sweating to death, a family photo session can quickly unravel. Layering is the perfect solution for those chilly evenings or sweltering August days! Remember, little ones get cold more quickly than adults when temperatures are low, so pack a cardigan or sweater for them. Cold kiddos = sad photos…keep those kids warm!
5) ONLY ONE OUTFIT NEEDED
Don’t overly complicate family photos by bringing multiple outfits for everyone. Kids usually HATE changing clothes and can end up cranky afterwards, not to mention it takes a lot of time away from your session. If you have a drooling baby, put a bib on them until you arrive at the session, or alternatively, change them into their outfit right when you arrive to ensure clean clothes. The only sessions where an outfit change is appropriate would be a senior session or a newborn session.
6) DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE
Your wardrobe for your session really is important. It plays a HUGE role in the final product. Please take some time to think through you wardrobe and please contact me for advice or any help. I have had many clients send me photos or Facetime me while shopping. I am happy to do so! Also, try on your clothes at home well in advance so you can switch it up if something isn’t working. Look at your outfit from different angles and move around to make sure it works and there aren't any flaws. There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous v-neck dress that keeps gaping wide-open to show your bra as you cuddle and tickle your kiddos or having your underwear show through.
7) REMEMBER TO BE YOU
Ultimately these are just my suggestions to help guide you as I try to achieve the authentic, warm and elegant images you hired me to create. But again, I AM HERE FOR YOU! If you want wear certain clothes for your session. You are more than welcome to. The most important thing is that you are comfortable and confident!
Things I recommend avoiding:
OVERSIZED "SLOPPY" CLOTHING
Steer clear of cargo shorts, baggy jeans, and oversized clothing.
THIN STRIPES OR PLAIDS
Thin stripes and tight plaids distort in printed photos and appear zig-zaggy and thus should be avoided.
FORMALWEAR
Avoid outfits that are too formal for your setting. If you are in a natural area, a tuxedo, formal dress, tie/bowtie, might feel out of place.
MEN’S SHORTS
Dads, leave the shorts at home and opt for pants so your hairy legs don’t distract from the photo.
Sorry, it had to be said..
BRIGHT WHITE
White has the tendency to wash out complexions. Choose ivory and creams instead.
BOLD AND DARK COLORS
Dark colors (e.g., navy blues, black, dark browns and grays) should be avoided if possible because they wash out your complexion and create an overly dark feel in the photo. I am not a dark and moody photographer. Overly saturated colors can distract from the photo, so look for muted, earthy versions of these colors.
NEON COLORS
Neon colors can reflect onto your face, causing skin tone problems in your photos. That neon green shirt will reflect upwards on your face and cause you to look green! This one I feel pretty strongly about! Please, don't wear neon!
LOGOS
Logos or text on clothing is distracting and well, just not pretty. Avoid shirts that have logos (even just a simple Nike check mark or Polo horse is distracting).
STRAPLESS/SLEEVELESS TOPS
Unless you absolutely love your arms, avoid strapless or sleeveless tops.
Sleeves are typically more flattering for everyone.
UNDERSHIRTS
Guys, it’s best to avoid wearing white undershirts that hang out of the top of your shirt or sleeves.
ATHLETIC POLO SHIRTS
You might love your Under Armour quick-dry polo but it’s not really the look you want to go for in your family session. Avoid athletic polos or quick-dry shirts and opt for more timeless fabrics. For men, I love to recommend Henley shirts.
ATHLETIC SHOES
White tennis shoes, athletic shoes, and character shoes (think Disney princess shoes) should all be avoided. Oh and definitely NO LIGHT UP SHOES. Leather shoes, casual sneakers (think Converse), sandals, slide-on canvas shoes, and wedges are all great options. I also love barefoot photos.
LOW-CUT AND OVERLY TIGHT SHIRTS
Low-cut shirts can shift during the session and leave you a little more revealed than you intended. Clothing that is overly tight and clings to you is uncomfortable and can leave bulges and bumps in places you don’t want.
BABY OUTFITS WITH DIAPERS PEEKING OUT
An adorably cute moment with your baby can be ruined by the green-lined diaper that is hanging out of a little romper or dress. Avoid baby clothing that doesn’t completely cover those little Pampers.
LITTLE GIRLS DRESS WITHOUT SOMETHING UNDERNEATH
We do a lot of running around, playing, tickling during a session. It makes it extremely difficult to get a good image if we are seeing underwear in every photo. Please have your girls wear little shorts or leggings under their dresses.
TRANSITIONAL LENSES
If you typically wear glasses, you can wear them for your session however they may have lots of glares. If you have polarized or transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photo.
LARGE WATCHES
This one is tricky. It certainly looks much better not to have an apple watch in your photos. But please check your tan lines ahead of time to make sure you won't be leaving any large white lines on your wrist by taking your watch off. I would prefer no watch, but I won't be editing out white/tan lines from every photo.
If you have any other questions, please let me know! I hope you have found this helpful! Make sure to click these links before for more guidance! And please sign below showing you have read through this very important information.