But what do I wear?
I know! You are always busy taking care of everyone else and aren’t feeling your best to be in front of the camera. But I think this is the perfect time to pamper yourself!
Go have your hair + makeup done (or better yet, have someone come to you!), schedule a massage or have your nails done as your hands will be in the photos. Looking super relaxed and at your best will make you feel more comfortable during the session. This is an exciting time in your life and I want to capture all of that…so take care of yourself first! And feel free to tell your significant other that I'm making you if they need a little convincing!
Your children are not going to care about things you are worried about and will just be thankful to have photos of you with them when they were little. So don't be so hard on yourself.
As far as clothing? Keep it simple. Throw in a little color if you’d like, but skip the busy patterns. (And please don’t feel the need to match everyone in white shirts and jeans – there’s simple…and then there’s boring!) Most importantly dress yourself first and then build all the outfits off of that. If mom is comfortable in what she is wearing then your family will pick up on it and enjoy their outfits too.
STUDIO
For moms, I suggest cotton knit camis and knit tops. If you like the skin on skin look with your newborn, consider a strapless top or thin strap tank as an alternative.I do have a few gowns to choose from if you'd like to go the route of a more styled look. Just let me know.
OUTDOORS
Outdoors you can add a little more layers for texture. Belts, scarves, necklaces and sweaters are just a few great ways to add pops of color without going overboard. Be cautious of what shoes you wear as we may have a location where you will be stepping in the grasses and rough natural terrain. A backup pair of shoes to wear while walking to the site can be worn and then change your shoes when in position.
For Men
Your hands, and possibly even your feet, will play a major role in this session, so it’s important that you tend to them too! Even if you aren’t planning on participating much in the session, you’ll still be handling your baby a bit, so it’s a good idea to touch up on your grooming.
Trim and tidy your nails and apply lotion to any dry skin. (It also never hurts to dab a little moisturizer on your face to help you look more refreshed. Those late nights can take a toll on your skin!)
A little clothing advice? Coordinate your shoes to your outfit. Unless you are going for a run leave the bright colored sneakers at home. ;) Neutral colored sneakers or even better black or brown shoes work great.
Hats? No! The brim of hats can put a dark shadow on your face. Leave you baseball cap for after the session. Fancy dress hats may be used after consulting with Lindsay and will be used after a few hat free photos first.
STUDIO
I suggest you NOT wear button down shirts, and make sure your t-shirts are free of logos or too much writing. Plain is best. *Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make sure all clothing is ironed or steamed. The retouching involved is extensive and will incur an extra fee. Long or short sleeved knits are best. (Make sure there isn’t too much bagginess in the sleeve.) Undershirts also work well.
OUTDOORS
Outdoors you can be a little more adventurous with patterns in your shirt, suspenders, vests, sweater jackets. Still stick with the no logo shirts as it takes away from the people in the photos.
Siblings
Tidy their nails and bring a brush/comb for their hair. I suggest bringing the clothes to change into at the studio so that they don't get wrinkled. A well fed sibling before the session will help keep the crankies away. Bringing snacks may help but save them for after they are finished with photos. A drink in their kid's cup will keep them hydrated in the warm studio. I suggest bringing an extra change of clothes for baby and kids to go home in just in case it gets soiled.
STUDIO
For siblings , it is best to dress them in lighter colors... pastels, creams, light grey, light blues, etc. Or even just bare skin. For a more styled look I do have some options at the studio I may use. Coordinate instead of matching their clothes. If you are having your photo taken at a Limited Session with a theme I recommend coordinating colors to the theme.
If wearing a dress remember they may be sitting. It's a good idea to put something on to cover up underwear. Little girls can wear diaper covers or bloomers and older girls can wear legging shorts to help. Follow the rule of no printed/logo shirts. Khaki pants or jeans or even solid colored pants for a little color pop look great on boys.
OUTDOORS
The key is to coordinate and not match them all the same. Coordinating colors, patterns, and textures can be done with layers. For example, suspenders, vests, jackets and accessories can be used to mix and match things up. Outdoors is a great time to add some color pops to your outfits. It looks great against the natural backdrop.