PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION
I put together this Prep list to help you and your family better prepare to look your absolute best for your Family Photos.
See my LOCATIONS page to help you choose your ideal setting for your session.
​
What to Wear?
Hey there!
I've put together a guide on what to wear for your upcoming photo session to help you feel confident and comfortable. Check out these tips:
Comfort is the most important
Comfort is key: Make sure you feel comfortable in what you're wearing so you can relax and enjoy the shoot. If you have any areas you're self-conscious about, wear something that covers them up.
​
Start with one Piece and Build
When I don’t know what colors I want to choose for a photo shoot, I choose one piece and build around it. For this shoot below, the mother found a beautiful Yellow dress for the daughter to wear and built the rest of the family's outfits around it.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Coordinating colors not matching
Avoid the old-school matching outfits and choose a color scheme instead. Mix and match colors so that everyone coordinates well. Pinterest is a great source for inspiration.
​
Don't forget accessories
Accessories can add some fun to your photoshoot. Consider hats, scarves, or necklaces to complement your outfits.
​
Skip the extra Patterns
Multiple patterns in a photo can be distracting. Keep it simple with a bit of texture or one pattern in a single place.
​
Plan ahead
Think about what clothes you want to wear as soon as you book your session. This way, you won't be caught off guard if your clothes don't fit or need to be cleaned.
​
Keep your location in mind
Your location can affect your outfit choices. If you're taking pictures on the beach, consider wearing lighter, softer colors. If you're surrounded by beautiful foliage, fall colors like deep reds, oranges, and greens would look great.
​
Say no to characters
Avoid wearing clothes with cartoon characters or logos as they can be distracting.
​
Avoid all white or all black clothing
All-white or all-black outfits can lose detail in photos, so it's best to mix and match.. There are some exceptions like white or black dresses for a single person but don't match everyone in the group.
Textures are your friend
I am a huge fan of a cotton fitted shirt. However, in photographs I like to add textures like scarves or belts to add a little more to the image. Don’t shy away from different textures.
​
Think classic
These photos will be hanging on your walls and treasured for years to come. By choosing simple, classic clothes you will help give your images a timeless feel.
Everything Else...
Hair
If you’re getting a hair cut for your shoot, do so about two weeks beforehand, just in case it goes wrong – you just never know. For men, a fresh cut a couple of days before the shoot is fine. Add a little product to your hair to help it fight that frizz.
Glasses
If folks wouldn’t recognize you without glasses, you want to wear glasses in your shoot – however, the unavoidable glare on glasses can detract from your eyes in photos. You can have your lenses removed from your frames for your shoot , ask your eye doctor to loan you a pair of similar frames, or you can also buy a suitable pair of duplicate frames on the cheap.
Teeth
If you want to brighten your smile, start your treatments about two weeks before your shoot. And make sure everyone brushes and flosses prior to the session.
​
Moisturizer
Dry skin can really detract from a great photo shoot. Start moisturizing nightly a week in advance of your shoot. When you get out of the shower, dry off until lightly damp, and slather on moisturizer. Focus on your arms, shoulders, neck, face, hands, anywhere you’ll be exposed to the camera. This includes your legs if you’re shooting in shorts or a skirt. Also, be sure on your face to use a facial moisturizer, not a thick body moisturizer, or you could break out. [Us men, of course, are most in need of this advice, especially around the face and hands.]
​
Sun burns and tan lines
If your shoot is booked for Saturday, don’t go to the beach on Friday. If you plan to tan before your shoot, do so at least a week beforehand and don’t get burned. Be mindful of clothing tan lines, sunglass tan lines, hat tan lines, etc.
​
Ironing
If you iron, iron the night before and then hang the clothes for your shoot. If you’re wearing something that wrinkles easily, don’t wear it in the car on the way to the shoot – just change at the location. There's only so much I can do in photoshop.
​
Shoes
Ladies, can’t go wrong in heels or wedges. Men, clean’em up! Dress shoes are best [or boots ], but as with most things, let your momma or your wife decide.
For the Ladies....
​
Make-up
A subtle application of make-up can really soften your skin and accent your facial features. But make sure you know what you’re doing, and make sure it matches your skin tone, or your face may look orange compared to the rest of your body. Make sure eyebrows are even and plucked. And blend blend blend!
If hair and make-up are “not your thing” hire a professional HMUA (Hair and Makeup Artist) artist! You will be happy you did!
​
Hair accessories
If you’re shooting outdoors, be ready to put your hair up and make it look nice in case of a windy day. Bring bobby pins, hair clips, headbands or any other favorite accessories. And most importantly, BRING A BRUSH! We'll need to keep your beautiful locks groomed throughout the shoot. Also you may want to use hair product to keep those flyaways tame.
​
Lips
You will probably wipe or lick your lips during your shoot, so bring fresh lip gloss or lipstick to do touch-up. Use lip balm for a few days in advance of your shoot to make your smoochers look their best.
​
Nails
A fresh coat of nail polish will make a world of difference in your photo shoot. Pick a neutral color that won’t distract in your shoot or clash with your outfits. Freshen the morning of the shoot, then be careful not to scuff it while prepping. Your photo shoot is a great excuse for a fresh manicure, but if you can’t go to the salon, make sure your nails look tidy and clean, including the cuticles.
​
Undergarments
Bra straps won’t do anything to help your outfit look its best. Be sure you bring a set of bras and strap-adjusting accessories to work with any outfit you want to shoot in to keep those straps well-hidden.
​
For the Dudes...
Facial hair
Men, Get a haircut a couple days before, try to be freshly shaved with a new razor, shaving cream and a moisturizing after-shave lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim up your board, sideburns, moustache or goatee, especially looking for wiry stray hairs.
​
Dude Side Note: Please remember, a man's (husband, dad, boyfriend, fiance..) mood can set the tone for the entire shoot. Please don't schedule the session after he's worked all day or if he has to work that night. It's so important that your dude is well rested, fed and is not in a hurry to be anywhere. Saying that....it's just one hour (or 30 minutes), I'll try to make it as painless as possible! Have fun and it'll shine through in the photos for years to come. I promise!
For the Little Ones...
Bring baby wipes to clean their little faces, outdoor sessions are outdoors with the dirt. Also helps a bunch when kids get a little snotty...sneezy, or well, dirty.
Most of my sessions are scheduled 1-2 hours before sunset for the best possible lighting. Make sure your kiddos (and you) are well-rested. Avoid scheduling your session around naptime or bedtime.
​Don't come hungry! If you are planning to have dinner or lunch AFTER the session, make sure to give them all (even the parents) a hearty snack prior.
​Consider bringing a favorite toy or even a small snack to keep them happy and full!
Please don't yell or threaten your child to behave or smile during the session, it will just result in scared or fake expressions. Encourage them with treats, little rewards (like stickers), and LOVE.
​
Things to consider bringing on your photoshoot...
Hairbrush/Hairspray
Makeup/lipstick
Lint Roller
Baby Wipes (for the little ones)
NonTeeth/finger staining snacks/drinks for kids
Sentimental or favorite Quilt or Blanket (if not, I can provide)
​
Last but NOT Least...Relax!
Make it your own
Your photos should be as unique as you are. I encourage you to add any element of "you" that you'd like! Whether it's props ( ie. your family quilt) or going back to a place that is special to you, your family or your significant other.
​
Posing (and not posing)
I will help pose you and your family in a way that flatters everyone. Correct posture is very important, if you can't remember anything, at least have your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. If you have any poses in mind or have insecurities, please let me know ahead of time and I will accommodate. Saying that, my favorite type of photographs are often the ones where everyone is engaged or interacting with each other. Understand that not every picture needs to have everyone looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. If you are engaged as a family and loving on each other, your eyes will be on your family members and your smile with be natural. These are the photographs that you will cherish most because they depict your family connection and your love.
​
Have fun with your family
Don’t be afraid to pick up your children and toss them in the air. Give your wife a sweet kiss on the cheek. Tell your husband how much you love him and appreciate him for being there for your family. Have fun. Laugh. Giggle. Joke. Embrace. Kiss. Snuggle. Play. Doing these things will allow me to capture the emotion and true beauty of your family. Show me who you really are, so that I have the opportunity to capture your love through my lens. I will be asking questions during your shoot to achieve genuine responses...I'm not being nosy, I promise!
​
​
I hope this prep sheet has helped ease your mind for our Photo Session.
Please let me know if you have an additional questions!