What to wear

Here are some tips that might help you coordinate your outfits

• What to wear: Solid color outfits tend to look better than prints, which can be distracting and overwhelming. If you do go with a print, make sure it’s not too loud. If you are a bold person, opt for a super fun pair of shoes or showcase it with your accessories, rather than a bold print.

• This isn’t the time to try out a new style. Wear something that you would normally wear. If dresses are not your thing and you hardly ever wear one, don’t feel pressured to wear one if you want the photos to look sophisticated! There are other ways to achieve that look without going outside of your comfort zone! You want to look like yourself in these pictures. Remember, feeling comfortable and confident is key!

• Start with a neutral base and build from there. Neutral tones are typically more flattering and cohesive than bright colors. Pick two or three neutrals to start with and then add little accents of color if you want!

• When trying to coordinate outfits in a family I find it easy to do one outfit first (I would recommend planning the entire wardrobe around your outfit). Take that outfit and use it as inspirations for other outfits. Use the same base neutrals and find different ways to incorporate your pops of color in the other outfits. Remember to think of your location.

• When dressing kids for sessions, keep these things in mind:

1. Avoid character themed clothing. Stay away from logos, images, or graphics. Even though it might be their favorite shirt, it will be a serious distraction in the image.
2. Make sure they have matching socks!
3. Being able to move around in their clothing is a must!

If you’re still stuck, head to Pinterest for inspiration and you can send me pictures of your outfit(s) if you want my opinion! When in doubt, ask!

How to prepare

There are a few things you can do to prepare so that our session goes smoothly and we can all have a great time and get great pictures!

• Avoid foods the day before your shoot that make you feel bloated (fast food, foods that are high in salt or fat or sugar). Trust me, being bloated is not going to make you feel pretty during your shoot!

• Bring some snacks. For children, make sure they are well fed and watered and rested before the shoot! Bring non-mess snacks. Avoid gummies, chocolate, or crumbly items, instead opt for cheerios, raisins, even mini marshmallows, white cheese (in case it gets stuck in their teeth), or a promise for a bigger treat later… I am not above bribery!

• Make sure everything is all ready the day before so you aren’t scrounging up your clothes in the morning, you don’t want to be flustered before your shoot!

• Don’t get your hair cut/colored right before the shoot, the best time to do it is about a week to two weeks before.

• Try on your outfit a couple days before the shoot, you want to make sure that you still feel great in it. If you don’t feel great, change it up!

• For in studio sessions I recommend bare feet. One less thing to think about when planning your outfit.

• Talk to your kids about the session before. It’s best not to surprise them with it, if they know what’s coming they can prepare themselves (even children as little as 2 need some warning!). You can show them my picture and tell them that a silly friend is coming to take their pictures, but not to worry because they aren’t going to have to sit and smile for an hour!

• If you have any questions about your session (that isn’t answered in this guide) send me a message!