Need Ideas for what to wear...

When deciding what to wear for your portrait session, the number one thing to consider is comfort!  Make sure that your clothing feels good and makes YOU feel good wearing it.  That confidence will come across in your photos.

Monthly Inspiration

For Past Editions {Click Here}

Tips for Everyone:

Your session fee includes clothing changes, so please feel free to bring more than one outfit along!  We can experiment to see what works. Also aware of your location, and dress appropriately. If you’re going somewhere very edgy and urban, wear something sophisticated and dressy. If you’re going somewhere artsy and whimsical, go for trendier styles and fun layers. If you’re going somewhere natural, a park or to the waterfalls, wear something more romantic and light. 

Things to bring with you:

• A Hair Brush
• Flip flops or comfy shoes (if you plan on wearing heels, just to walk around in while we’re not taking photos)
• Change of clothes in case one gets dirty or wet or you just want to change things up. Especially for kids, accidents happen (and often) .

 Make-up Tips:

•  Reach for your mattes. Opt for matte, rather than shimmery finishes for eye and cheek makeup. Shimmery eyeshadows and powders can give skin a greasy look under flash.
• Avoid foundations and concealers with high SPF (unless they are specifically formulated for photography). SPF is designed to reflect the sun (and thus light/flash) and can create bright spots or a make you appear brighter than the rest. It can also make you appear shiny or oily.
• Be sure not to forget the powder! Power, and lots of it as absolutely essential to gaining that beautiful mat finish. Even if youve never used power, please consider it just this one for a fabulous portrait.
• Opt for a powder with a yellow tint, rather than a translucent powder, to set your makeup.  Transparent powders tend to leave a white cast when the flash goes off.
• Practice your look and takes pics with a digital camera before your event. Then you can evaluate your work beforehand. You’ll be able to see and correct your mistakes.
•   If you plan to wear undereye concealer, blend, Blend, BLEND it to remove any harsh lines. Even if you feel like you’ve blended out all the edges, blend some more; otherwise, you risk your concealer looking too obvious.
• Apply your makeup in natural light. 

Other Things to Consider: 

  Be aware of your body type. Know what your flaws are, what your assets are, and dress accordingly.

• If you’re a curvy girl- wear something properly tailored that really shows off the curves of your body. Look for shirts with long torsos that will make you look longer and leaner. Avoid extremely baggy clothing and super skintight clothing. Avoid thin materials that get clingy.
• If you’re a petite girl- Dress in layers, but don’t go for anything poofy or with big shoulders/sleeves or it might end up swallowing you in the images.
• Guys- you look good is just about everything Remember to match the “tone” of your lady’s outfit. If she is dressy, you should be too! And NO pants on the ground, keep your boxers hidden please.

Newborns until the First Year

Newborns and babies are easy: they photograph best in their birthday suits!  I’ll take many nudie shots, but when diaper is eventually necessary, I keep several cloth covers to hide the bum.  Simple onesies, puffy dresses, and neutral outfits with few distracting patterns also work well.  And hats, sunglasses, baby booties, beanies, head bands & tutus make great accessories for babies. Shirts with collars, vests, and overalls tend to ride up on infants and bunch around their sweet faces, please avoid these.

Children

Kids really look great in almost anything, but here are a few options to consider.

Good ideas:

Avoid:

• Shirts with big logos or characters
• Tops with words on them
• Very small patterns, like skinny stripes or tiny polka-dots
• Avoid short skirts on toddler girls, when they sit you can often see up their skirt.

Families

Sometimes it can be difficult to coordinate the whole family and not look too matching. Here are a few ideas to consider. Also, Ill be posting a monthy guide to give you ideas!

Good ideas:

• Go casual!  Dressing everyone in their “play clothes” will allow everyone to feel like themselves and have fun.
• Everyone wearing similar, coordinated tones, like light and dark blue with some pink and white mixed in — but NOT everyone in the same color!

Avoid:

• Everyone in the same color
• Exact matching outfits
• Everyone in bright white shirts
• Wild patterns or horizontal stripes (these tend to 'date' photos over the years)
• Shirts with writing on them
• Sleeveless shirts
• Polo shirts on girls – for some reason, very few girls can pull this off well. If you really want to wear a polo, make sure it is fitted for a woman’s body, and not cut straight on the sides.
• Shirts with short hemlines – the bottom edge of the shirt should hit at your hips or lower
• Crazy colors (orange, lime green, fuschia, etc)
• Watches or rings, unless they have a lot of sentimental value to you.
• Short skirts, low necklines.

Couples

For an engagement shoot, I recommend that both of you bring at least two outfits — one dressier, one more casual.  Just make sure your styles match!

Good ideas:

• Solid colors or patterns that are easy on the eyes
• Fitted clothes — that aren’t too baggy or too tight
• Jeans!
• Ladies: pair your jeans with a dressy top.  Men: pair them with a button-down.  Or both of you put on your favorite worn-in T-shirts!
• Layers — vests, blazers, jackets, etc.
• Ladies: your little black dress
• Dresses in bright colors or with large patterns look great on women
• Big chunky necklaces for ladies
• Women: Bright-colored pumps that contrast with your outfit
• Hats, scarves, or sunglasses

Avoid:

• Clothing with very small patterns, like skinny stripes or tiny polka-dots
• Solids in super-bright colors, like bright orange or lime green
• Horizontal stripes
• Clothes that are too baggy or too tight
• Super-low cut tops or short skirts
• Tops with words on them
• Watches and rings — other than your engagement ring. Any other jewelry can be distracting, we want to keep the focus on your beautiful new ring!

Maternity

Capturing that beautiful bump can be tricky if the right attire isnt carefully chosen. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Good ideas:

• Your pre-maternity jeans–unbuttoned, of course!
• Black or white solid-colored tank tops
• Yoga pants
• Pretty skirts with belly bands you can push below your belly
• A form-fitting black dress
• Wear a belly band as a tube top
• A long, chunky sweater jacket that you can leave open to expose your belly
• A pashmina to wear around your neck and drape over your top like a scarf
• Sun-dresses
• A pretty bra and panties
• Going topless (with strategic hand placement!) or with no clothes at all!
• A manicure, because your hands will be in a lot of photos

Avoid:

• Clothing that is too baggy — you gotta show off that bump, keep clothing fitted.

And Lastly, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance with what to wear or if you have any other  questions!