What to Wear.

This is a great question, and an important one. Looking and feeling good will make you more comfortable, which means you’ll have fun, and this helps create great photos. You should know that these are all opinions, and in the end what you wear is totally your choice! However, it can sometimes be helpful to read ideas to get you thinking.

Look good, but be yourself. Putting your boys into stuffy suits with ties and your girls into fluffy uncomfortable dresses can make the photos feel very unnatural if the kids aren't into it. The same goes for the adults. For many of us having our picture taken doesn’t feel natural or comfortable. Wearing something that just doesn’t feel like you will make it harder to relax and have fun. Pick out clothes that reflect YOU. But if you have a little girl that loves playing dress-up, or you want to get decked out in your Sunday finest, don't let me stop you!

Are you pregnant? The number one question you DON'T ask a woman unless you know, for sure, that they are! If we are documenting your pregnancy, I encourage you to wear clothing that is comfortable, easy to move in, and will highlight your belly if you wrap your hands around it. Avoid patterns, but fun jewelry is welcomed. Keep your shoe choice in mind. You may look stunning in heels, but walking any sort of distance and on uneven ground will quickly have you regretting your decision.

What, no white? No, I won’t stop you from wearing your favorite white shirt or dress, but just know that white can be a bit challenging to work with, especially for outdoor shoots.

What about my shirt? Avoid wearing shirts with loud patterns, distracting logos, and pictures on them (brand names, comic book characters or other popular characters). Think "timeless". I want to give you a photograph that will make you smile not only tomorrow, but 10 years from now as well. Choose something that you won’t laugh at years down the line.

My, what dark eyes you have! Transition lenses can be easily forgotten about until it's too late. Even shooting into the golden sunset hours of the evening, they will most likely stay dark. If you want to make sure everyone's eyes are showing, bring the spare glasses or consider going without for the shoot. It is possible to edit the glasses in a way that the eyes show, but it requires taking photos both with and without the glasses for EVERY pose. If you cannot do without the dark glasses and would like them edited, this will cost an additional $50 for a half session and $75 for a full session.

Leave the sneakers at home. It can be easy to overlook your choice of shoes, especially when kids are involved, but it's very important. When a family neglects their choice of shoes, it throws the whole picture off. Ryan Gosling said it best in Crazy, Stupid Love, "Are you in a fraternity? Are you Steve Jobs, the billionaire CEO of Apple? No? Then you have no reason to wear New Balance shoes. Ever!" In addition to being very casual, sneakers usually have a colored sole that you may not notice until it's too late. Nothing like planning out a coordinating set of outfits only to have it thrown off by poor shoe choices.

Flatter your body. Please avoid shorts, and pants that end short of the ankle. Unfortunately the shorter cut of pants also cuts inches off your height. If you are wearing a dress, choose one that does not gather at the waistline. In addition to making you appear taller, this style will help you look slimmer! Gone are the days of everyone wearing khaki pants and white shirts. It's boring, unflattering, and it doesn't show any of your personality. The same thing goes for different outfits that are all the same color. It's very 90's, and we've (thankfully)  grown past that as a society.

What is that in your pocket? Guys, we know you like to carry the world in your pockets, but to avoid strange-looking bulges, please empty your pockets before we begin. You might feel naked without your wallet, but you'll thank me later.  And I know we are all slaves to our cellphones, but this is the time to leave them in your car or purse.

Should we match? If you want everyone in the shoot to wear the same thing, that’s OK. However, I encourage you to choose clothing that complements each other, rather than copies. Gone are the days of khaki pants and white shirts, now it's all about coordinating while keeping your personal style! I recommend having the parents dress stylish, yet simple, and focus more on the funky, unique style of the kids. If you have 5 people all dressing with a lot of layers and accessories it can be too much. Dark jeans that have grit to them are always a great choice for the parents, especially the husband. If you are going to wear a print, stay away from small prints -  they don’t photograph well (think bold!). Continue to think about texture and color. You may think certain colors don’t go together, but again, think out of the box and have fun!

All about the details. Do you paint your nails? If so, make sure you have on a fresh coat of polish that coordinates with your outfit. Do you wear makeup? If not, consider wearing a light concealer or powder to even out skin tone and avoid shine. Choose clothes that are newer (or buy something special for your shoot). It may go without saying, but don’t wear clothing with stains, holes, or faded spots.

Can we bring multiple outfits? This depends on the amount of time you've reserved for your session. If you have booked a mini or a half session you may not want to waste shooting time to change. First birthday sessions typically have the most outfit changes since they are about an hour long, but you can certainly try to squeeze an outfit change into your family session. Just remember, the clock is still ticking and I can't add extra time to allow for an outfit change. Also, most of the places where I shoot do not have easy access to a private area for changing. Please let me know in advance if you plan to have multiple outfits so I can plan accordingly and give you my thoughts on how it will go.