Since the location & setting plays a big part in choosing what to wear, I can help pick out what pieces work for where we are to keep you two as the focus. We want to make sure your clothes compliment the background, so you two can stand out without creating a distracting outfit that can pull away from your emotions. Just bring the clothes that make you feel most comfortable & confident and we can pick from those!
That being said, try not to bring your entire closet. It will be a bit overwhelming to choose without taking too much time. Bring about 4 or 5 options for tops and 3 or 4 options for pants/bottoms and then you can bring dresses, jewelry, accessories, hats, jackets & shoes also. If you want to change outfits I’m so up for that, just remember that depending on where we are doing the session, you may be changing in your car or in the middle of the woods, so just keep that in mind! If you aren’t up for that, you can totally just bring the one outfit! Just send me a few photos via text and I can help you pick out the clothes & accessories before the session.
Thinking about where we are going to be shooting is important in planning what to wear. If we are going to be hanging at the beach, wearing shoes wouldn’t really make sense…especially heels, right?! Honestly, high heels aren’t really ever a good idea unless you are a full on pro at walking/running in them. If we are hiking up a mountain or in an open field, make sure you have shoes you are comfy in & won’t get blisters or twist your ankle. Although I really don’t suggest it, if you really feel more confident in some sort of heel, I totally get it, just make sure it has a solid bulky heels so you aren’t tip toeing the whole time.Also, the weather is a factor in choosing your outfit. If it is freezing outside, consider boots with wool socks and layers on layers. Jackets & beanies for accessories can help make you more comfortable. If its going to be super hot outside, consider a tank top and shorts so you aren’t sweating and creating pit stains.
Really just think about how you can be the most comfortable!
Neutral & earthy tones are always a great idea! This doesn’t mean you have to wear just grey or brown, but you can have a neutral version of almost every color. For example mustard yellow, burnt orange, maroon, forest green & navy blue are all softer versions of bold color. Steer away from fluorescent colors like pink, hot pink, bright orange, & red. Those colors can reflect light very easily & become a distraction in the photo. By avoiding wearing those specific colors, you can help keep the focus on you, if you can. Of course if you have something with those colors, run it by me! I tend to really like soft white tones & contrasting. So one of you in a lighter tone & the other in a darker tone. Colors are all about what you compliment it with. If you’re still feeling lost, check out some of the color schemes on this guide that might help inspire you!
NEED A LITTLE COLOR INSPO?
Check out this cool color palette generator!
How it works:
Press the space bar to generate a random color palette
Lock the colors you really like (remember, earthy/natural tones are the best!)
Hit space again to swap out the colors you don’t like or just adjust them a bit
Keep going until you’ve found your perfect palette
Wondering if you should get your hair and makeup done by a pro for the session? Honestly, “whatever will make you feel best, do that.” I personally don’t wear a ton of makeup & wouldn’t want to look like a totally different version of myself in the photos, so I totally do not think it is absolutely necessary. But, if you want your hair and makeup done, then definitely do it, because the most important thing is that you feel 1000% confident. If you’re getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule to be done at least an hour before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t late.
Keep it subtle! Patterns are tricky because they can distract from your emotion & facial expressions, which is our main focus. So, keep the patterns very small & subtle. Flannel is great, I just suggest if one of you is wearing a pattern, the other one of you should not or pairing another really minimal pattern. But, pairing too much pattern can be very noisy & distracting as well. Making sure there is not lines or folds in your clothes from wrinkles always helps patterns can also be super helpful! This is definitely something great to run by me just in case.
To be honest, “props” aren’t my favorite. The word “prop” immediately makes me think of all the Pinterest photos of cheesy signs from hobby lobby or fake set ups brought to shoots that basically just make me want to run in the opposite direction. But props don’t have to be cheesy! Props could be pizza, a picnic, a motorcycle, blankets, a truck/car, a campfire, a bouquet, a canoe, etc. If you have a pet & you HAVE to bring them. Pets are always a yes. I like to use the word accessories instead. Consider bringing along a hat, a bouquet/flowers, blankets, camping set ups. Try to keep whatever you bring very natural & not forced.
If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and run them by me beforehand and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!
All of the above applies, but for in home sessions! For couple sessions, I’d say show more skin! You don’t have to be close to naked, I’m just saying the photos will look a lot more realistic & comfortable than if you’re wearing a ton of layers. Honestly, you wouldn’t be wearing a ton of layers hanging around the house anyways, am I right?! Having options of tank tops, shorts, sweaters, and jeans in order to mix and match is best.
For family in home sessions, I recommend wearing what you normally would around the house, but a little more elevated. For example instead of sweat pants or leggings, opt for a sweater with jeans. You don't need to wear shoes, maybe go barefoot or wear your favorite cozy socks. Less layers applies for family sessions as well. Keeping it light & comfortable with a less is more feel will keep the focus on your family memories & emotions.
We will do a lot of moving around, so make sure you're comfortable. Wearing something with a little give and movement will allow you to move, cuddles, spin, run, relax, & not feel stuffy & stiff.
Wear something you would normally wear. Don't try to be anything but your best self. You want to look at the images and see you.