Preparing for your family session
Hey! I'm so thrilled to have you in front of my lens!
I know it can be nerve-wracking to be in front of the camera. I've been in your shoes! I'll be coaching and encouraging y’all the whole time so it’s as easy and comfortable as possible, and we can really set ourselves up for success with just a little preparation beforehand. I'll be prepping my bag with lenses, batteries, and memory cards - your job is to check out the info below! Read through these tips and take some time several days before your session to prep. You’ll be so glad you did.
As you read through this, it may seem like I’m giving you lots of rules and things not to do. I promise my intention is not to be restricting. I want you to feel like yourselves, for sure. After years of sessions with lots of families, I’ve been able to narrow down what really looks best in photos and what doesn’t. It’s my hope that you were drawn to my work because of a certain style - following these tips just helps ensure that you’ll get the same style & look from your photos that’s evident in the work of mine you’ve already seen!
All of the photos in this guide are examples of what DOES work well. Hopefully they give you some ideas and inspiration! Always, always text me if you’re unsure on outfits! We’ll find something that makes you look and feel great.
-Kaitlyn
THE PORTRAIT GUIDE
Selecting Outfits
Styles come and go, but certain types of clothes just look more timeless, photograph better and enhance the overall look of your photos. If you're having trouble deciding what to wear, text me! I'm happy to send suggestions and give honest feedback on outfit ideas. Because changing clothes takes time and interrupts the flow of the session once everyone’s in the groove, we'll stick to one set of outfits max.
CLOTHING Do's and don'ts
The era of matchy-matchy is no more. Your best bet is to dress everyone in solid neutrals. If you do a pattern on one or two people, make sure they’re simple/soft designs and keep everyone else in coordinating solids.
DO stick to light neutral colors as the base for your outfits. Cream, oatmeal, sage green, chambray, blush, grayish blue, taupe, khaki, light gray, light pink, olive green, tan - the ideal color palette is earthy tones in soft shades of khaki, cream, green, blue or blush. Avoid red, maroon and black. Soft and heathery colors are the name of the game here and truly work best for my style of shooting & editing.
Mamas, texture is key. I recommend a loose, flowy dress in a solid color or with a soft, very subtle pattern. Some of my favorite boutiques for gorgeous, well-priced dresses that flatter all sorts of bodies are Baltic Born and Petal & Pup. Not feeling a dress? Consider a chunky cardigan or kimono, a jumpsuit, or a skirt and sweater combo. Jeans in a light wash paired with a linen, gauzy or textured top never fails either.
Dads, opt for an untucked button-down, a soft sweater in a pale color, or a nicer light-colored solid tee or henley, with jeans or khaki chinos. Banana Republic and Untuckit always have great options for button-downs, especially ones meant to be worn untucked. Buck Mason has a good selection of nice henleys and you can’t beat J.Crew for chambray.
I keep updated lists of shoppable posts for you to look through if you need inspiration – look under the Collections section HERE or HERE on Amazon (all things that can be delivered quickly) – with ideas for the whole family, and sorted by size for the little ones. Most should be in stock in a variety of sizes. You certainly don’t have to purchase anything from these lists, it's just a starting point for you, but hopefully they can give you some good direction.
DON'T wear "busy" clothing. Stay away from stripes, and for plaids, the simpler and fewer colors, the better. Floral can be busy, so it's best if paired with solid, soft neutrals. If you go with a floral pattern, the simpler and softer, the better.
DON'T have visible logos. The tiny logos on the chest pocket of guys' button-downs are fine, but nothing with text or big emblems.
DON'T wear golf shirts. Nothing against golfers, but golf shirts just do not photograph well, and polyester has a sheen to it that looks out of place next to other materials.
DON'T wear graphic tees, shorts, flip flops, ball caps, or athletic shoes (shorts for kiddos are fine though!). Go with leather shoes or boots for dad, and wedges, booties or nice sandals for mom. For the kids, close-toed shoes or nice sandals are perfect.
THE DETAILS
Double check the little things: Because you’ll notice them later. Haircuts for the boys, nail touch-ups for mom, etc. Mamas, you’ll want to test your makeup in natural light (by a window) and I don’t recommend spray tans as they tend to photograph orangey no matter what. Natural is best! Feel free to bring snacks for the little ones, especially if it’s a typically fussy time of day.
Clothing tip: Plan to arrive 10 minutes early to your session and change little ones into their outfits when you get there to avoid wrinkles, spills, stains, etc. Have Dad wear a comfy shirt on the way and change right before, too!
Parents: Please, please please do not stress about getting your kids to look at the camera and smile. That's what I’m there for! Avoid scolding or getting onto them about smiling - you want to be on their team! If you just concentrate on being silly with them (and being patient - remember, they’re nervous too), that's when the magic happens. I always try to get several of everyone looking at the camera smiling, but lots of candids/movement/snuggles, too. If you have toddlers, it always helps to have a few of their favorite songs, characters and stories in mind. I have lots of tricks up my sleeve for little ones, so just try to keep a positive, optimistic attitude. I promise no matter how chaotic it feels, we’re getting great shots along the way.
DO look for clothing with texture, especially in colder months. Chambray, corduroy, suede, wool, chunky knits, velvet - these are all great and really help elevate your whole look. Softness is key.
DO iron or steam everything beforehand, and keep any outfits you bring with you on hangers to avoid wrinkles. It's hard to edit those out!
DO accessorize, if that’s your thing - jewelry and hats are great ways to add a pop and show your personality, but make sure to take hair ties and Apple watches off for photos.
The Takeaways: Soft colors and textures. Earthy tones. Keep it simple. Be patient and silly with your kiddos and let me worry about smiles. Embrace the chaos!