In General:
Bright and vibrant colors are great but busy prints, stripes, lines, polka dots, etc. can take the focus away from the subject. That said, I do love fun and fashionable outfits! Just keep in mind that you don’t want the first thing that someone recognizes about your image to be how fabulous your outfit was instead of how beautiful you looked that day. I love great jeans and a cool comfy shirt. Don’t be afraid to accessorize either! Feel free to throw in a hat, unique jewelry, a hooded jacket, a long set of colorful beads or a fun scarf to spice it up a little. These “accessories” are especially great for children!
The Feet:
Bare feet look more natural and relaxed for all ages but if you or your children have super cute shoes on be sure to watch out for dirt and scuff marks that might be distracting. I encourage you to bring an extra pair (or two) of shoes for a quick change to add a different element to the image.
All The Family:
Groups look better in similar styles and colors. However, that does not mean that everyone needs to look identical in khaki pants and white shirts. Feel free to change it up a bit. Pick a couple of solid base colors and spread them (or shades of them) out among your group. This will add diversity to the image.
Most of my clients want to appear natural and relaxed…in reflection of their everyday lives. But if you would like to bring a change of clothing to add a little something extra…formal or funky…by all means, go for it! I love to step outside the box.
Moms To Be:
Don’t forget to remove your bra and any other articles of clothing that may leave an indention on your skin at least an hour prior to your session…if you plan to show a little skin. These images can be done fully clothed, completely bare or somewhere in between. It is strictly a matter of your comfort level. I, myself, love pregnant bellies! You might consider unzipped jeans with a button down white top, black pants that rest under your belly, tube-tops or tankini’s, stretchy lingerie or anything fitted. What you want to be certain to avoid is big and baggy attire.
The Itty Bitty Babies:
For newborns, we want bare skin babies! The goal is to highlight their tiny little bodies and cute baby parts. You have only one chance to capture those precious “squishy baby” images and you don’t want to ruin that with baggy baby clothes. Less is more when it comes to newborns. That said, if you aren’t a fan of naked babies that’s okay too, bring a couple of diaper covers, blankets and hats. Those are all great options to cover up a little skin.