What do I wear?
As a photographer, I know that clients are making an investment when they choose to get professional photos done. That's why you want to make sure you are styled appropriately for the occasion.
It is *highly* encouraged that you send pictures of what you have in mind and I can either approve the outfit or give you helpful suggestions on how to fix an outfit.
make the most of your photos by picking the perfect outfit
Colors
When choosing color(s) for your outfits, I recommend selecting soft, light tones and muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces.
The camera loves soft pastel colors like peach, lavender, blush, sky blue, sage green, golden yellow, mixed with light neutrals like heather gray, creams, tans, leather, denim, and soft white. This soft color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments.
This helps to make your images timeless!
Fabrics & Prints
Fabric selection has the power to add positive interest or negative distraction to your photos.
A solid-colored fabric is always a winner, but if you don't want to wear (or don't have) a solid-colored dress, select a print that is minimalist and understated, rather than bold and design-forward. Think calicos, dainty florals, repetitive geometric motifs, checkered patterns, or small stripes.
Another way to add visual interest is to opt for texture like lace, seersucker, linen, denim, chiffon, or tulle.
Shapes
Flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos.
Make sure the cut of your outfit feels comfortable to you! If you pick something super tight, you might be worried about how you look the entire session.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't go out of your comfort zone completely, but make conscious decisions about how you feel in what you're wearing.
No matter what, your going to be fabulous!
PRO TIPS
PRO TIPS
What about shoes? (for women)
Heels elongate women’s legs, making them look fabulous. Closed-toed heels in particular look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. These little tricks make all the difference! If there will be much walking at our photo location (or if your heels are particularly uncomfortable), you might consider packing a pair of flip flops for swapping out in between picture spots.
my most important piece of advice: never, ever, ever.. leave a hair tie on your wrist!!
Style Tips just for Him:
Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are a very sophisticated look for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face. Fitted dress pants or fitted solid-colored pants work best on camera. Denim looks great if it's nice denim. Pinstripes and plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. I also HIGHLY recommend staying away from graphics and logos.
Feel free to mix a suit coat, blazer or sport coat with a different pant color. It adds some extra visual interest, and breaks up the color tones. This is a fresh take on a timeless classic!
Next time you walk by a store like J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera. Even if it feels overdressed, adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests and sweaters up the level of any look. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!
Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit or a blazer and colored pants. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, watches, and statement rings are sharp complements to any outfit for men and boys alike.
my number one style tip for dressing a family for their photo session is coordinating, NOT matching
Step 1 for Styling a Family:
START WITH A "THREE CORE COLOR" PALETTE OF NEUTRALS & NEARLY-NEUTRALS
Before you go unloading your whole family's dressers and drawers, you can simplify this process with a plan. And the plan is to pick a palette. Start by selecting a base plus 2-3 colors from the neutral and nearly-neutral swatches below and build most of the outfits using those 2 to 3 colors.
Note: black becomes very tw0-dimensional and blob-like in photos, so if you want to incorporate black, keep it to a minimum and keep it on the bottom half of the outfit if you can.
Example Colors
White, Ivory, Cream, Beige, Nude, Dusty Pink, Taupe, Light Blue, Navy, Army Green, Khaki, Olive, Brown, Light Gray, Gray, Charcoal, and Black.
Step 2 for Styling a Family:
ADD ONE OR TWO ACCENT COLORS TO GIVE SOME DIMENSION
If you want to add a bit of variety, or if you can't find a complete outfit from your 3 core colors, add in one or two accent colors, to be used less frequently than the core colors.
These colors should complement the neutrals and nearly-neutrals that you're already using.
Finish off by adding nonessential clothing items such as wraps, sweaters, hats or statement accessories such as watches, bow ties, bracelets, hair bows, and jewelry that fits the core and accent colors.
Example Colors
Rust, Wine, Blush, Navy, Forrest, Scarlet, Gold, Mint, Teal, Mustard, Burgundy, etc.
Pro-Tip for babies and young girls being photographed!
Don't forget bloomers!
It's always a bummer to see a diaper peeking out from under a dress in an otherwise perfect photo. This is easy to fix by slipping bloomers over the diaper so that regardless of how active everyone gets, the diaper is out of sight.