a style guide to make your photos really pop!
Choosing colors - Try to stick with neutral tones (beige, taupe, cream, and grey) and earthy tones (greens, burgundy, blues, etc.). White and light colors can look beautifully simple and fresh while dark colors can bring a beautiful contrast to the NM backgrounds. White shirts under a dark jacket are perfect along with light-colored dresses, that's a match made in heaven. Lace is beautiful for little girls or as an accent for a woman. Pick out a few pops of color to coordinate between subjects when working with a palette of softer tones and neutrals.
choose your color palette
helpful tips for your session
Background - Should always be taken into consideration when choosing outfits for a session. If the images are to be taken at sunset in a desert field, the family would look amazing wearing a palette of violet, blues, greys, ivory, and white. If you were to want a session at a very green lush park, The same family might look amazing in a warm-toned collection of clothing, like tans, brown and oatmeal, ivory, denim, and greys.
earthy tones
blush & olive
earth berry
gold tones
warm pink
light blues
sage & gold
warm tan
Avoid - Any neon or overly saturated colors like bright pink & fluorescent colors. Please stick to a neutral or earthy palette. Please try not to wear items with large logos.
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Shoes - Should be neat and go with your outfit. They don’t have to be top shelf but ensure that they are clean and in good appearance.
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Hair care - Your hair shouldn't look like you rolled out of bed unless you have a perfect "bed head". You want to make sure you look put together. If you can afford to do so, hire a stylist for hair and make-up.
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Consider - A semi-casual look. Think about what you would wear on a date night out or a play/theatre. Nothing super formal, but something you take pride in wearing. Outfits should make you feel beautiful. Shirts with collars are fantastic for framing the face. Layers and different textures are huge BONUS points for you (lace, wool, faux fur, etc).
Make-up - It is always a great idea to have your makeup and hair professionally done for your photography session. It will make a huge difference in how you look and feel. Of course, I understand this is an added expense so do what you can, but don't bust the budget.
Accessories - Simple and minimal work well. Think outside the box. Hats, scarves, jewelry, vests, jackets, etc. All these things can take an "OK" image and make it feel more like an "OH YES" image! These things should never be center-stage but should complement the collection.
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Group & family sessions - Keep your clothing simple and coordinating. It must be carefully selected to blend the bodies together. Avoid busy patterns and logos. Solid colors are best. You must decide whether the basic tone of the clothing will be warm-toned (browns, etc.) or cool-toned (blues/grays/blacks, etc.) Mismatched colors in groups tend to be distracting.
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Props - For that special occasion, feel free to bring along a special prop. I have a few on hand, but not much. I generally find props in nature (trees, rocks, bushes, etc.). Balloons are great and fun for birthday sessions. Some of my families bring along a whole set, which I love! Again, I don't keep much on hand, but I will be more than happy to utilize what you bring. Let's make it fun and memorable.
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Prints and patterns - I like dots, stripes, and plaids together with block colors if they are subtle and of the same tones. I think just a touch of those extra elements on one or two of the family members makes the collection of clothes together look interesting and slightly spontaneous. I prefer to see people in outfits that don’t match but go together. Like those that have a similar color palette. If you love prints, by all means, wear them – your clothes should help tell a story about who you are.
