MEAGAN CLAUSEN PHOTOGRAPHER
Color schemes
Spring sessions
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.
- Pale Peach
- Coral
- Blush Pink
- Mint Green
- Soft/Baby Blue
- Cream/Camel/Light Brown
- Light Grey
- Soft/Light Yellow
- Spring Green
- Lavender
- Mustard Yellow
- Plum
- Tan
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.
Summer SessionS
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.
- Soft/Off White
- Charcoal Grey
- Light Grey
- Navy
- Royal Blue
- Turqoise
- Bold Pink/Fuchsia
- Berry Pink
- Lemon Yellow
- Bright/Candy Apple Red
- Mandarine Orange
- Dark Teal
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!
Fall Sessions
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.
- Mustard/Yellow
- Burnt Orange/Coral
- Beige/Camel/Khak/Tan
- Brown/Caramel/Mahogany/Espresso
- Army/Olive Green
- Dark Turquoise/Teal
- Soft Blue
- Burgundy/Maroon
- Hunter/Emerald Green
- Terra Cotta
- Brick/Warm Red
- Dark Purple/Plum
- Navy
- Cream
- Gold
- Denim
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.
winter Sessions
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.
- Pure White
- Cream/Beige
- Black
- Navy
- Royal/Saphhire Blue
- Ice Blue
- True Yellow
- Brown/Caramel/Espresso
- Medium/Dark Grey
- Deep Red
- Dark Purple
- Emerald Green
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.