Not sure what to wear to your session? Or what to do to prepare for your upcoming session? Don't worry! I have assembled some tips as well as a style guide based off the different seasons to get you started.
Pick 1 main color (less than 3 people) or 2 main colors (3+ people) that are bold and bright and pair it with neutral colors.
Avoid matching outfits. It's cute for the kids to match, especially when they're younger, but we don't need EVERYONE to match. Coordinating outfits is better than matching. Start with one full outfit planned out. For example, little Timmy is going to wear a pair of dark blue jeans, red plaid shirt and a pair of brown work boot type boots. Plan everyone else's outfits around that single full outfit.
Avoid big patterns, graphic tee's and sweaters/shirts with large logos on them. Solid colors and traditional, seasonal patterns will look great and compliment the session well. Subtle patters are okay too, just not the loud, in your face ones!
Seasonal/session appropriate accessories are good as well. Seasonal scarves, hats, vests, etc are great to add to a plain color shirt. For example, a white shirt with a nice scarf around your neck adds layers and color options.
Wear the hat! If you're with someone who doesn't like to do anything without their hat on, let them wear it. Just make sure it's a clean, appropriate hat that they'd be okay with handing our their wall for years to come.
When in doubt, wear denim! You can't go wrong with denim because it will play nice with all seasons and is easy to match to everyone else's outfit choices. The blue hue and texture of denim fabric never fails. For a classic look, pair your favorite denim jeans with a colored top for an elegant, understated outfit.
Any watches you don't want in the pictures take off prior to your session to avoid marks on your wrist.
Try to keep your phones in the car as we don't want to see them in pictures and you don't need to take pictures - that's what you hired me for!
Don't forget to put the bug spray and sunscreen (if needed) on prior to the session. Putting it on during your session time will take away from your session length. Also take any allergy pills you may need prior to the session so they have time to kick in!
A spring photo shoot ideally has some green grass and hopefully a little foliage, blue skies and some sunshine in the background due to the time of year, so you want your outfits to compliment (and be complemented by) that by wearing light and airy tones, so think of the colors below.
Remember spring photo sessions are after all the snow starts to melt so it could be somewhat muddy and wet, depending on the location of the photos. To prepare for the potential of walking through mud to get to our spot, think about wearing rubber boots and carrying in your nice shoes for the session. I will never willingly make you stand in a puddle (unless you want to) to take your photos, so carrying in your good shoes is a great option.
A summer photoshoot ideally has bright green grass, green leafy trees, blue skies and sunshine in the background, so you want your outfits to compliment (and be complimented by) that by wearing vibrant, rich and bold tones, so think of the colors below.
Remember, it's summer it's going to be hot and there are going to be bugs! Dress for the heat. Don't wear think sweaters, long sleeve shirts, pants, etc. that you're going to be sweating in. Instead opt for a nice pair of capris or shorts or a nice dress or skirt.
Make sure you bring water as well, especially if we're going to be doing any kind of walking. We don't want anyone getting dehydrated!
A fall photoshoot ideally has greens, reds, oranges and yellows in the background due to the foliage, so you want your outfits to compliment (and be complimented by) that by wearing warm, rich earthy tones, so think of the colors below.
We want to avoid put while and pure black for fall pictures. The white will pick up all the colors of the sky and ground (which we don't want) and black will make your pictures look heavy! When in doubt, flannel plaid shirts and denim always make really cute combos!
Keep in mind, it's fall. It could be chilly or really warm during your session. This is our in between type of weather, so dress in between the seasons.
A winter photoshoot ideally has snow, snow and more snow in the background due to our climate, so you want your outfits to compliment (and be complimented by) that by wearing neutrals punctuated by deep, rich tones, so think of the colors below. Opt for one person to be the "wild card" and put them in a pop of color and have everyone else in mixed but complimentary deep, rich tones.
Remember, these photos are going to be taken in the cold months and it will likely (and hopefully) be snowy. Dress for that weather prior to the session. Wear your coats and mitts until right before the session. It ou want to take them off during the session you can, just make sure that the clothes you have on underneath are going to be enough to keep you warm for the length of your session. Or wear thicker shirts and warm pants that you can avoid the coat completely and just wear some gloves until the photos start.
Also, don't be afraid to take the photos in your winter gear with hats, mitts, scarves and all! As long as everyone is coordinating, the photos will still be super cute and suiting for Michigan winters!
Other tips to keep warm are to bring hot drinks. Keep them in a thermos or other insulated cup that'll keep it warm long enough for it to warm you up. Bringing a blanket (especially if there's little ones involved) is a quick way to keep warm during breaks as well.
Copyright © 2024 Family Lifetime Photography - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.