General Tips
• Start with one of your favorite pieces and build from there. Usually it’s the women’s dress or a favorite child’s outfit.
• Coordinate, not match colors. Try to pick 3-4 colors that go together. You don’t want to all be in the same color shirt and pants. Mix it up a little bit!
• Avoid fluorescent colors. They do not photograph very well.
• Don’t mix prints. It is best to have just one person wear a print. A plaid shirt and floral dress do not usually look very good together. If you have a favorite floral dress, have the others in your family wear the coordinating colors!
• Layers look wonderful and can be changed(sweaters, scarves, hair pieces, jackets, jewelry)
• Be comfortable and be yourself! If you aren’t comfortable in what you are wearing it will show in the pictures. If you hate how your arms look, don’t wear a sleeveless top! If you don’t like how your legs look, don’t wear something short.
• Always think timeless when choosing your outfits. These pictures last a lifetime and you don’t want to look back and wonder why you wore a crazy shirt or wild shoes. Subtle is usually best!
• Dress for the shoot & location! My shoots are usually in an outdoor setting so a formal dress or tux usually doesn’t work well. Something like a maxi dress however always photographs amazing and is one of my favorite choices for women! I also don’t really recommend heels. We don’t want you to fall outside and ruin your beautiful clothes!
• Shoes are so important. They can really make or break an outfit. Try to avoid things like sneakers, flip flops or kid’s character shoes. They tend to really stand out and ruin the look of your photos. Try more subtle things like boots or black shoes.
• Avoid logos, characters and graphics. They tend to draw attention and take away from the photo.
For Kids
• Make sure to bring extra clothes. We all know how easy they can get dirty!
• Comfort is key. If they aren’t comfortable they will be irritable and won’t want to take photos. Try to avoid tight fitting or itchy clothes. Make sure that the temperature outside will work with their outfits. We don’t want them cold or too hot!
• Avoid character clothing and shoes. I know they love it but it doesn’t look great in photographs.
• Let them be themselves! If they love to wear glasses or a pair of rubber boots bring them. Just try to plan outfits accordingly so it all fits together.
• Bring them a snack or a favorite toy. That helps the whole photoshoot go smoothly!
For Newborn shoots
I tend to prefer you to wear light colors or black. White, grey and pastels look really nice and give that soft beautiful look. I have a seperate guide for newborn shoots!
Makeup tips
• Bring your makeup with you if you need touchups. You don’t want to wish you had it and you forgot it at home so throw it in your bag!
• Wear a little more than you normally do. Photography tends to lessen the look of your makeup so make everything just a little darker than normal. Don’t forget to blend, blend & blend!
• Add a pop of color to lips or gloss. You want your lips to stand out so add a little gloss if you don’t normally wear lipstick.
• Make those eyes pop! -When it comes to applying eyeliner, in many ways less can be more. I suggest using brown or black brown eyeliner, being careful not to line the inner rim too heavily as this will create a small looking eye. It is best to just line the lash line creating a full looking lash. Apply 2-3 coats of black mascara to make those lashes look long and lush.
• No shimmer or glitter. Matte is best! I recommend adding a little powder over foundation to prevent shiny skin!
Seasonal Tips
• Fall -I love to see those fall colors! Red, orange, mustard yellow, navy, brown, forest green and plaid look amazing!
• Winter -Jewel tones look really nice for winter. Red, purple, blue, green and white all look really nice. I love plaid so I like it for winter to!
• Spring and Summer -If you love those soft and airy photos then I would recommend a soft palate like pastels, grey and white. These photos look stunning when shot in the evening hours before sunset. -I love pops of color so don’t be shy if you have a favorite pink sweater or he loves a bright red shirt. Just try to coordinate your colors!
If you need any ideas don’t hesitate to contact me! Pinterest also is a great resource for ideas and combinations! View my link above to see more clothing ideas!
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