What should we wear?

Number one thing I want you to remember? Being comfortable is EVERYTHING. You should look and feel like yourself, first and foremost.

Do you think you’d be more comfortable in your favorite t-shirt and jeans, or a new clingy little black dress? The best route is usually to go with something that’s tried and true. Something you know moves with you and hugs you in all the right places. If authenticity is what you’re after, you’re going to have to show up as yourself. And if you want to capture this time of your life in all its glory, then it’s about the feeling of being in your own skin.

Match your outfit to the location and season.

Plan your outfits around what you know about the conditions at the location we’ll be shooting at. You’ll want to be warm enough (or cool enough!), have pain-free feet, and look relatively native to your environment. For at home sessions, slip into your comfiest outfits and rock that. The idea is to authentically capture you wherever you are. Think through your clothing choices logically based on location, vibe, and comfort level.

Incorporate Texture and Movement

Pick fabrics that move and flow with you. Ones that add a cozy texture, or get picked up by the wind, filter the late afternoon sun, and glow in the morning light. Natural fibers like linen, cotton, or wool are amazing. Avoid stiff garments with collars as they look a bit too formal and often get tucked in weird spots and need adjusting.

Color Scheming

Aim for neutrals, earthy tones, and metallics. These colors compliment the outdoor environment almost anywhere you go and look damn fine as a printed, framed photograph. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for a beige world of quiet and inoffensive colors. By neutrals, I just mean softer tones. Primary colors are incredibly striking, but can sometimes have the effect of detracting from the main subject (which is you). So for example, instead of electric blue, go for something closer to sky blue. Instead of bright orange, opt for ochre or apricot. A rule of thumb here is to choose to either complement your natural environment or contrast it. A mustard dress in a deep green forest will look epic, whereas a bright pink, patterned dress doesn’t really fit in with your surroundings. It totally depends on what you’re looking for! For families it’s best to keep your color scheme limited to four colors. You can choose one person to wear a feature color and have everyone else's outfits compliment that!

A good thing to remember: complimentary is good - matching is bad!

Be Careful with Patterns and Prints

Avoid large bold patterns as they often dominate the photograph and detract attention from your beautiful face. Usually, subtle smaller patterns work best. Flannels or a light floral print are great when they complement the location. But less is definitely more with this one, try to limit yourself to one pattern at a time. Matching patterns is a tricky task, and it’s super difficult to do well. If you’re not quite sure what category your patterned clothes fall into, send me a photo in a text and I’ll be happy to weigh in.

Hair and Makeup:

Totally your call - but you should look like you. Do whatever you need to do to feel confident and beautiful during your session.

Makeup: A natural application looks best. Please no glittery products. I can recommend some professional makeup artists in the area if you'd like to work with them before your session. Just ask and we'll work together to coordinate your session with your makeup application

Hands: Treat yourself to a little subtle manicure or make sure your nails are neat and tidy before the shoot. Hands play an important role in a photo so remember they need to look finished too!

Hair: A fresh cut and/or color is always best - but not a good time to try something new and crazy! a Heading