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So you decided that it was time to update your family portraits (yay!), you have spent countless hours browsing the internet and social media for the perfect photographer, you have scheduled your session and paid the deposit…now the hard part begins…the stress of finding the perfect outfits for every family member including yourself!!! (Gasp!)

 

Here are a few of my basic tips to help make your session enjoyable, fun and stress free…

 

Moms, always pick out your special outfit first and then pick outfits for the rest of the family that coordinate with your outfit…Why? Generally it is the Mother who picks out the portraits when it is time to order. So let’s be sure that Mom loves the way she looks in the portraits!! Women look best in long, flowy dresses. For cold weather portraits, consider a pea coat, scarf, booties, and a cute beanie! Men are by nature more simple than women and often look their best in a button down shirt, nice jeans, khakis, or navy slacks. 
 

When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, try to aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’ll look great all together. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring even more visual interest to the photos. For example, if one of your daughters wears a dress and flats, the other can wear a skirt and boots, if that’s more of her style. If one of your sons wears a bowtie, the other can wear suspenders. 
 

Solid colors ALWAYS photograph nicer!!! Don't wear bright, or neon colors and avoid patterns. Bold colors and patterns can be distracting and can even leave unflattering color casts on your skin. Do wear light, neutral tones and more muted shades!

Tips for happy kids during the session…kids always do better if they have full bellies and had some good rest. Be sure to set expectations before your session-explain to the kids how important these photos are to you and how much you appreciate them being willing to participate. I always recommend bringing snacks and a small drink and a childs favorite toy for younger children, and have something fun planned for afterwards that you can remind the kids about during the session.

 

I hope this helps! If you need any help at all picking out your outfits or planning for your session, please message me! I am happy to help!