What Should We Wear?
This is the number one question I am asked before a shoot, and I'm so glad when it comes up. What you wear can definitely impact your session, but with a few guidelines, you will understand the science to dressing your best. First, a few ground rules:
- Remember color theory. I have examples of what this means on my Pinterest page, but essentially you want to wear colors that have a special relationship with what is going on outside. There are subtle compliments colors can give each other that make your photos harmonize (or clash, as the case may be). I have outlined some of those below.
- Do not dress the family in the same outfit. Also, do not dress everyone by gender (boys in one outfit girls in another). Unless this is how you go out every day, and people know you dress in uniform and expect it in your family photos, try to instead focus on complimentary outfits in similar color families (jewel-tones, pastels, creams/whites), but vary the style and texture. This also allows everyone to dress in their own style, to a degree, and when everyone is more comfortable, it will come across in the photos. Mix neutrals in with pops of color.
- Weather may not always be on your side. This means we may have a spring session on one of those days that looks deceivingly warm, but is actually freezing cold. or, it could be an 80 degree fall day. Do your best to dress how the weather looks, and bring accommodating clothing (jackets, change of clothes, T-shirt, etc.) This is one reason I host mini-sessions in the fall and spring, because it is much easier to bear 30 minutes of less-comfortable weather, as opposed to 2 hours.
- Feel free to contact me! I love style and have a good knack for putting these things together. So, don't be shy, and let me know if you need help planning.
Fall Sessions
For fall sessions, I typically recommend creams instead of bright whites, navy and jewel tones instead of pastels, and recommend staying away from anything the color of the leaves outside (this could be green to orange depending on the week.)
Stick with sweaters or long sleeves. Denim, herringbone, and knits come across very comfortable, classic, and warm. Buffalo check and flannel plaids will result in more casual, laid-back (but still appropriate) look.
Winter Sessions
Your whites in the winter can range from cream to bright white - both look great. Instead of warmer colors, look to bold reds, hunter greens, and even royal blues. These all standout against the sometimes white and otherwise gray backdrop of winter.
For textures, mix in cashmere, chunkier knits, and longsleeve maxi dresses (swoon-worthy against snowy evergreen trees). Avoid the urge to dress everyone in the same matching sweater, and opt for a few of the aforementioned colors and texture in similar styles.
Spring Sessions
For spring sessions, pastels are queen. Here I recommend bright whites over creams, and recommend getting color inspiration from everything blooming outside. But be careful - like in the fall, you want to stay away from "cherry blossom pink" if we are planning to shoot at the Cherry Blossom festival. Going a few shades darker or bolder is a great choice here.
It may still be chilly, but bring a jacket and bare some skin. We will find you some sunshine! For texture, stick with lace, chiffon, and denim.
Summer Sessions
White is the gold standard for summer sessions, but I recommend stepping out and embracing colors that pop against the dark green leaves (and sand, for that matter). In the absence of flowers, foliage can overpower a session, and bright colors do a great job breaking it up. For beach sessions, consider dressing some in white, and others in bright.
Staying away from printed T-shirts and bold patterns, and opt for cool textures like linen that breathe easy and are relatively low-mantainence.