DECIDING ON YOUR "LOOK"
Finding the "look" you want can be stressful, so let's break it down a bit!
Think of How You Will Display Your Pictures
When figuring out what you want your pictures to look like it’s important to think about when and where you will be displaying them.
If you plan on hanging your pictures on a wall, you may want to think about your decorating colors -do you incorporate a lot of yellows in your home décor? If you do, you may want your pictures to pop by wearing cool colors that are a contrast such as blues, whites, and grays. Maybe you want your pictures to continue your yellow décor, if that's the case, have you thought about what kind of yellow you want to wear for your photoshoot.
If these pictures are for your next holiday Christmas card, think of the traditional colors of the season and the colors you'll be using for the card. If there are a lot of red tones in the card, try and think of colors that compliment re, like white, cream, gold, grey, and different shades of green.
Identify Your Style
Your style - though unique - should fall under one of these four categories. Go ahead and click through the examples below to see which category fits you the best!!
Airy White
Light Pastel / Desaturated Colors
Dark Moody Tones
Vibrant & Colorful
PICKING WHAT TO WEAR
Step 1. Dress Yourself First & Dress Comfortably
If you’re preparing for a family photoshoot, it's best to pick your outfit first. Each outfit is meant to compliment the other so begin first with a piece you love and build your family's wardrobe from there!
No matter what colors you choose, pick an outfit you feel comfortable in. Please don’t use this photoshoot as an opportunity to try on a new pair of heels, a smaller dress size, or a new hairstyle. Be yourself and wear something you love and feel great in! If you’re still finding yourself flustered, grab one of your go-to outfits and think about why you love it. It may be the perfect thing to wear for this photoshoot!
Two final points on the topic of comfort: make sure you're dressed for the right weather and terrain. Having the right pair of shoes and enough layers can make or break a photoshoot! I suggest always bringing a sweater or two - they are a great way to accessorize and change up your pictures! Last but not least, spills happen no matter the age. The best safeguard against an accident is changing into your outfit either at the photoshoot location or right before you arrive. Feel free to bring a backup outfit, especially if you have young kiddos!!
Step 2. Pick Outfits That Compliment
This photoshoot should capture the uniqueness of you and your family, so pick colors, patterns, and accessories that compliment each another. Avoid having the entire group match by mixing up who wears certain colors, patterns, and pant materials (be it jeans, khakis, or pant colors).
When it comes to the kind of clothing material to pick, try and wear textured pieces for your photoshoot. Choosing to wear a sweater, scarf, textured dress, skirt, or a fun sun hat is a great way to add depth to your pictures. When it comes to accessories have fun with it. Don't be afraid to wear big jewelry or hats if that's your style, it sure is mine!
Moving from clothing material to clothing style, I recommend wearing something with a high neckline. You'll notice as you look through my examples how flattering the cut is. Turtlenecks, though a seasonal item, do a great job highlighting the face. For women more concerned about their figure, think about long sleeve outfits and how they bring definition to your arms . In a similar way, I love wearing black pants for their slimming and defining effect.
Avoid Wearing
While your style is beautifully unique, history has taught us to avoid wearing certain outfits when taking pictures:
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Avoid wearing logos or clothing with writing on it
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Avoid wearing baseball caps or be prepared to take them off for many of your pictures
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Avoid having your group wear the same colored shirt or pair of pants
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Avoid wearing short shorts
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For men and women more concerned with their weight, avoid wearing short sleeve shirts- long sleeve shirts are especially flattering
Women Shine in:
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Textured skirts & dresses, sweaters, sun hats & scarves
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Outfits with a high neckline & turtlenecks
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Long sleeve outfits & dark pants for their slimming effect
Men Shine in:
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Button-down shirts, popped colors, & turtlenecks
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Jackets, sweaters, hats & sun glasses
Instead Remember That
If you're feeling overwhelmed by these tips take a look at the examples below and mirror what you like!
Wearing warm colors is a great way to make your pictures pop! Mix and match the colors below with some great patterns and you'll have beautiful pictures!!
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Mustard Yellows & Oranges
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Reds, Tans, & Browns
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Greys, Creams & Whites
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Blues & Greens
Warm Colors
Cool & Pastel Colors
You can never go wrong in cool colors. If you scroll back through the styles of photography mentioned above, you'll see how each look thrives on pale cool colors.
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Light & Dark Blues & Greens
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Whites, Creams, & Greys
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Pale Purples, Pinks, Browns, & Tans
Fun Patterns & Pops of Color
Incorporating fun colors and patterns into your pictures is a great idea!!
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Women & Girls: Floral patterns, polka dots, certain vertically stripped patterns
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Men & Boys: Simple or stripped button-down shirts, plain sweaters
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Kids in General: matching sun dresses or button-down shirts, overalls, sweaters, jean jackets, flower crowns
Step 3. Be Flexible When at your Photoshoot
Trying to force a pose, especially if children are involved, can be difficult. My best pictures are often taken when people are themselves and not worrying about the way they look. So, expect my photoshoots to incorporate activities for you and your group! I often ask the girls in the group to play with their hair or twirl in their dress, so be ready to loosen up and mess up your hair. For families, I may ask that you bring a picnic, play tag, or try to catch fish on the dock together. It's these moments that make great memories and pictures, so come ready to have fun!