LET’S GET YOU READY FOR YOUR FAMILY SESSION
Photoshoots should be fun and stress free, and when you choose to work with me, I will help you prepare for your session and make sure that I capture your family’s love with all of your personalities shining through in your images. Here are a few guidelines I’ve put together so you guys can be sure to look great while still making sure the images are focused on your family’s love, not what you’re wearing.
I always suggest that the mom choose an outfit she feels confident and beautiful in. Then plan the color palette and everyone else's outfits from there. Keep your backdrop in mind when choosing your clothing. If you are near a field with grass in the background, aim to wear a color that doesn’t blend in the green/yellow grass. If you are surrounded by fall leaves, layering in great textures is a great option, and just about any color would look great. Most importantly, be sure to wear clothes you feel comfortable in. Your confidence will really shine through in your photos!
I typically recommend people lean towards neutrals, earthy tones, and metallics and to stay away from bright colors. This doesn’t mean just creams and browns and grays. There are neutrals for every single color! Instead of green, go for a soft forest green. Instead of red, go with a deep maroon. Instead of yellow, go for a mustard yellow and so on.
COMPLEMENTARY vs. MATCHING: Complimentary is good. Matching is bad. When people match, they tend to blend together too much, ending up looking like a big blob in photos. Complementary means the variety of colors, textures, accessories, patterns, and tones all go together while there is still separation from each of the subjects and the background.
To help you get a better idea and visual of what different color combinations look like and how to plan what to wear for your family session, I’ve added a few photos from my previous client sessions who had the most perfect colors schemes!
GENERAL CLOTHING TIPS
START WITH ONE PERSON.
It’s way easier to visualize the whole puzzle once you know what one piece looks like! Try starting with mom or daughter, since women’s clothing tends to have more colors and prints.
COMPLEMENT, DON’T MATCH.
The day of all white shirts and khaki pants are long past! We want colors that generally complement each other: so for instance, soft colors (light blue, gray, blush) or warm colors (brown, orange, burgundy), If you want colorful images, then you should choose a more vivid color scheme for your outfits!
Generally, solids work best.
Pops of pattern can definitely look great, but if you’re looking for a fail-proof family combination, go with solids. To keep things from looking boring, include textures (think chunky knits, tulle, lace, etc). Avoid tiny prints, especially small plaid and small stripes.
SAY YES TO:
LAYERS AND ACCESSORIES
These are the quickest way to take your outfits from average to amazing! Think scarves, blazers, cardigans, belts, jewelry, fun socks, and hats.
FITTED CLOTHING
We don’t want your clothing to be too baggy or too tight. Properly fitted clothing looks put together and will show your shape. For women, your upper half and lower half should be balanced: so for instance, blousy shirt + skinny pants, or tight shirt + flowing skirt.
CLASSIC CHOICES
Try to steer away from current trends, since they’ll date your photos 10 years from now.
COMFORT
Above all, if you feel good, you will look good! Choose clothing that gives you freedom of movement, keeps you warm/cool, and won’t require a lot of maintenance throughout your session.
TEXTURE
Add some visual interest to your images with unique fabrics. Some examples: lace, cable knits, chambray, tweed, herringbone, chambray, faux fur, wool
PATTERNS
Don’t be scared of patterns and prints! They can work great in moderation. Try one statement piece (for instance, a colorful floral dress for mom) and one subtle pattern (maybe polka dots for baby girl), and then keep the rest of the family more simple. Large prints and patterns work best – I recommend avoiding small plaid/stripes.
Colors that photograph beautifully
CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO ACCESS MY PINTEREST BOARD
SAY NO TO:
LOGOS & TEXT
Words will draw attention away from your faces.
TRANSITION LENSES
If you wear glasses every day, please wear them in your shoot! However, lens glare and shaded lenses will keep your eyes from being seen. You can have anti-reflective coating added to your lenses or wear just the frames.
ATHLETIC SHOES
Self-explanatory!
FORMAL CLOTHES
Let your clothing match your surroundings. A tuxedo or formal dress will look out of place in the woods.
BRIGHT WHITE
If you love white, try off-white or ivory instead.
NEON COLORS
These create skin tone/color cast issues.
VERY SATURATED COLORS
I.e. bright red, bright yellow, etc. Instead, try more muted versions of the same color: so for instance, replace bright red with dark red; replace bright yellow with mustard, etc.
What to expect: "What will our session be like?" My main focus is to capture your family in this season of your lives! I want to capture moments not poses. And I want to embrace all the beautiful imperfections. At our session, we will play, adventure, snuggle, run, jump, and maybe even get a little dirty. We'll start off our session by getting that perfect posed "Christmas Card Photo" out of the way. I usually like to do one standing and one sitting pose. And then we'll start our adventure. Be thinking of things that you like to do together as a family, little games or small things you want to remember.
"How do I prep the kids for our photo session?"
The week or two before your session, start bringing me up in conversation. You can refer to me as Adilene, Ady, or even just the photographer lady. Tell your kids about the fun adventure we'll be having. I am totally not above bribery. A fun ice cream date after our session is always a big hit. Just make sure you let the kids know we're going to have fun! If they get worried about behaving perfectly then it will show in the images. I love taking time to connect with your kids to get those fun images of them.
"How do I prep dad for our photo session?"
Tell dad we're going on an adventure too! Let him know that all he has to do is relax and have fun loving on his wife and kids. Take the pressure off. He'll do great!
"How do I prep myself, mom?"
Relax! Pamper yourself. Get your hair or nails done (if that's your thing). Don't stress, and remember to just have fun with your family. This is the time to be your true self with your beautiful family, enjoy it.
Need help? Just ask:
I am here to help in any way that you may need, from helping with wardrobe choices, or deciding between whether or not to bring your child's lovey. I want to make this session awesome for you, and I love getting involved in all the details. So if you have a question about anything, please don't hesitate to ask. You can email, text (909) 239-1428, or send a DM.
