STYLE GUIDE

MYTH ONE: Avoid neutrals because they will wash you out! Whatever color you chose, know that this myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure some colors don’t work for some people but the truth is, neutrals are the most photogenic color for portraits.

MYTH TWO: Always wear black to look thin! Sure, black is slimming but it creates a more serious look in portraits. There is nothing wrong with black but it you’re only wearing black to look thinner we have your back! We believe every person is unique and beautiful just the way they are, and understand there are things we don’t necessary like about ourselves. If you share these things with us we can often help with insecurities with posing and lighting. Often times you don’t realize how great you can look with just a quick adjustment before we take the photo. If you still feel like a little more needs to be done and want to digitally shed a couple pounds, we can help you out. With that said, we will not change the look of you entirely.

MYTH THREE: We need to have exact matching outfits! False! Think of matching black turtlenecks with jeans. With that said, coordination is a great idea, chose colors that compliment each other. For the love of all things beautiful, please don’t try to have exactly matching outfits.

MYTH FOUR: You have to buy something new! False! If you know you awesome in an outfit that you already have and it fits the style you want for your session, that would be a great choice!

Outfit Myths

Top Tips

THINGS TO DO

POCKETS: Empty your pockets! Literally. Don’t look back and see your phone or keys through your pockets.

PARKING FEE: This may not apply to your shoot but you always want to have cash on hand for parking fees.

TIMING: Allow additional travel time when life throws an unexpected curve ball or heavy traffic your way.

LIP COLOR & HAIRSPRAY: You may want to reapply lip color or adjust your hair after an outfit change.

COMFY SHOES: Fabulous shoes can be difficult to walk in, bring comfy shoes while walking between locations.

ACCESSORIES: Balloons, blankets, hats, jewelry, scarves, vehicle, instrument, or any other props you would like.

SOLID COLORS: Subtle patterns or solid colors that coordinate.

THINGS TO AVOID

Clothes that fit poorly. (Too loose or too tight).

Colors that blend in too much with the background (we don’t want you to disappear into the background).

Exact Matching outfits (this went out in the 80s). Unless this is the look you are going for.

Strong/overly bold patterns (subtle patterns are great and can pull outfits together).

Style(s) you’re not comfortable with (feeling awkward will reflect in your photos).

Shirts with large characters/logos (can be distracting).

Uncomfortable shoes (you will be walking and moving around).

Style Choices

BOLD or NEUTRAL

  • Hoodies

  • Plain Shirts & Jeans

  • Sundress & Sneakers

CASUAL or DRESSY

  • Suits

  • Dress & Heels

  • Suspenders & Ties

  • Button Down Shirts

  • Sweaters

  • Trousers/Khakis

CLASSIC or TRENDY

  • Flowy dresses

  • Hats

  • Rompers

Deciding Your Style

  • You don’t have to apply all of these “ingredients” to get a perfectly BRIGHT & BOLD look. These ingredients include:

    Only one wears a pattern: If one of you wears a bold pattern, it’s important that the other doesn’t. The more bold the pattern is the more important this rule is.

    Bold Backgrounds: if you are going for a bold and bright look we will help balance it with solid colored/neutral backgrounds. It’s a double win if the background coordinates with the outfits.

    Only one bold color: we recommend one wear a bright and bold colored outfit and the other wear solid / neutral to balance out the colors.

    Large Patterns: If you want to wear a bright & bold pattern larger scale is a great choice.

  • If you’re hoping for a more romantic style that includes “light” and “airy” colors you can make outfit choices that will lead your images to be brighter, softer and more photogenic. Here are some ingredients that result in a romantic styled images.

    Neutral Colors: blush, light pinks, light blues, light teals, creams, light grays and whites result in a light and airy look. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!

    Long, Flowing Skirts/Dresses: dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric and the ability to flow and move in the wind photograph beautifully! You will be in awe at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.

    Khakis vs Jeans: If you want your images to be as bright as possible, consider having the gentlemen where lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.

  • Casual has never looked so good! This look allows for a lot of variety and style. With casual you can go for that bold and beautiful, or a light and airy style. Think of casual as an upgrade to your daily style.

    Casual outfits allow more patterns in your style. Flannel, animal prints, solids can work well with this style. When considering your family it is always a recommendation to have guys one color and girls another. This allows for a nice contrast between family members while still keeping the whole family looking put together.

    Jeans or khakis go well for the casual look as well. For shoes, we have a few suggestions as well. Sneaker work if they are clean colors. Black, white, brown with minimal patterns. Boots or dress shoes can also pair well with casual but avoid too much shine. Too much gloss to your shoes and you are bumping into a fancier category.

    Casual should still compliment you and your personal style. Wear it proudly and with confidence.

  • Who said the red carpet was for celebrities? Dressy style images stand out because they are not done very often. For this style you want the best of the best. Suits, dresses, ties, button ups and the shoes to match. Think of dressy as a night out on the town or a school dance.

    Now, before we continue, dressy styles are harder to pull off. Not everyone dresses in suits or these style of dresses. If this is not something you would normally wear or if it does not fit your personality, don’t force yourself into this theme.

    One piece of advice with dressy style is to consider a second style to compliment. Sessions pair really well when you have a dressy and casual styling. This gives your entire album an unique look as the day goes on. We suggest starting your session with your casual style and ending in the dressy style.

    Dressy styles are a fantastic choice to give your session a high end feel and one you will be proud of for years to come. With all styles, stick to a couple colors and use your color pops as an accent to compliment the rest of the outfit.

  • Classic recipe’s are great for a more traditional look and coordinating outfits. Sweaters, blouses, button down shirts are a great choice for classic and works for both male and female members.

    Classic works great also when you want to feel comfortable and still look really nice. Polos and sun dresses are other fantastic choices because they allow kids to move more comfortably and are a step up from their daily attire.

    When considering classic styles we ask you to still keep in mind coordination is key to tie your party together. Pick a general color theme for this style and try to have each member compliment these colors with various accent pieces.

  • Trendy styles are always a favorite because, when done right these the final images have a unique look. How do you explain trendy? Well one way is styles that are bringing a comeback from years ago. Bell bottoms, flares, wide brimmed hats, high tops or name brand clothing all make great choices when considering a trendy style

    Trendy styles utilize accessories to go along with the rest of the outfit. Hats, necklaces, scarves, boots, jackets pair well with the trendy look. Another great advantage to trendy styles is the ability to mix and match amongst family members and couples.

    Because trendy looks come and go, but even the most trendy of styles can last a lifetime. Coloring for trendy is also more flexible. If you chose Trendy as your style, have fun with it! Get bold, get confident and let’s create some beautiful images.

Fall photo sessions are fantastic! We love the temperatures and the colors! Many people worry about losing the beautiful colors and we want to reassure you that all we need is one tree with some cool leaves in order to make it look like fall. A little bit of color can go a long way!!