Adults

Choosing the right clothing can make all the difference between a nice picture and an exceptional portrait. When deciding what to wear for your portrait, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Avoid wide stripes, checks, and plaids. Choose solid colors over large or bold patterns. Neckties should be toned down in color and have minimum pattern. Darker tones are best for formal portraits.

The focal point of your picture should be your face. Therefore, it is important to wear clothing that does not draw the viewer's attention away from your face. For adults, especially in one person portraits, we suggest long sleeves and long pants/skirts instead of shorts. When arms and legs are exposed to the camera there will be more flesh in the photograph in those areas than there is on the face. This is a major distraction.

Ladies

If you are concerned about your weight, here are a few suggestions:
~Dark colors have a slimming effect
~Avoid tight-fitting jeans or tops
~Wide necklines, spaghetti straps, sleeveless tops, etc. will make you appear heavier.
~ Long sleeves/skirts are great

Men

The best time to get a haircut is about a week before the photo shoot. You will want to shave within a few hours of the session for best results. If you have a mustache or beard, it will look best with a fresh trim.

If you wear glasses...

Please clean your glasses before the session. Spots or fingerprints may show up in your photos.

If you have contacts, consider wearing them instead.

Glare on glasses can ruin a picture or cause a lot of extra editing for the photographer. You might want to consider removing the lenses from your frames.

If you wear glasses that darken in bright lighting, they will definitely turn dark under studio lights and even in outdoor photos. Please wear a different pair of glasses for your photo session or remove the lenses from the frames.

Personalizing Your Session

We want your photography session to be a reflection of you.   Feel free to tell us if there is a particular pose you like or dislike.  You can help us to create uniquely individualized portraits by making us aware of your interests, favorite sports, ball teams, job, hobbies, meaningful locations, or anything else you might like to have reflected in your session.  You are more than welcome to bring your own props to your session.  

Here are just a few ideas to get you started thinking on what you might want to include in your session

Musical Instruments

Hats

 

Special or heirloom outfits

 

Re-creating a picture from years earlier

A favorite toy, doll, or book

Balloons (especially for birthday sessions)

 

A wagon, tricycle, scooter, skateboard, etc.

Pets*

* Pets are allowed only in outdoor sessions.  Because getting pets to cooperate and pose can be extremely difficult, there will be an additional $15 fee per animal. Please notify us of your intentions to bring a pet ahead of time. You are required to bring a kennel or an additional person (not in the photographs) who will be able to take responsibility for the pet during the session.

Family or Group Portraits

Coordinating or matching clothing can go a long way in enhancing group portraits. A few easy suggestions that always look good are denim and white, denim and black, khaki and blue, or khaki and white. You can also choose a color theme. (For example, everyone could wear something {shirt, dress, tie, vest, etc.} red.) Another option is to wear various colors of the same shade (such as khaki pants/skirts with various colors of pastel tops, or blue pants/skirts with various primary/bright tops).

Here are some examples of clothing combinations

Everyone wears blue

Black and white is a classic combination

 

Fall colors

Denim and white is nice for casual portraits...

...as well as denim with brights.

For group portraits it is a good idea to lay out all the clothing on a bed, then step back and take a careful look at it. If one item stands out more than the others, you can be certain that the same thing will happen in a photograph. Replace the item with something more appropriate.

For large extended family portraits it is nice to have everyone coordinating, while each family has its own color. For example, in the picture below, everyone wore denim pants, while the smaller families within the extended family wore red, black, white, gray, and blue tops.

Newborn Portraits

(For older babies, see the Children page)

Newborn portraits capture a special time in the life of your family that is so quickly left behind as your baby grows.

Newborn portraits are best in the first week of your baby's life - usually 3-5 days is the ideal time.  At this age your baby will probably sleep through most of the pictures, resulting in precious memories of your little one's first days in comfortable, dreamy-looking portraits you will treasure for years to come.

 

Scheduling

Because newborn sessions take place only days after your little one's arrival, it is impossible to schedule the shoot very far in advance.  Please contact us at  least a month prior to your baby's due date if you are interested in newborn portraits.  We will discuss all the details at this point and have everything ready for when the little one arrives.  Once your baby is here, please contact us to schedule the shoot.  The sooner you contact us, the better chance you will have of getting a shoot scheduled while your baby is still days old.  We recommend planning the details of the shoot well in advance of baby's due date so you do not feel overwhelmed when it comes time for the portraits.  Please read the following information and contact us with any questions prior to baby's arrival.

Why so young?

  

At just days old, your little one is still "curly", and usually content to sleep peacefully even while being moved/positioned for portraits.

By the second week (this picture was taken at 10 days) your little one will be much more active, not as sleepy, and not as likely to stay in position for very long.  She's still super cute at this stage, but a lot of the pictures will end up with her hands over her face or her legs and arms appearing strangely out of proportion as she moves around.

Usually by 2 months your baby will be holding her head up and have more control of her limbs.  If you decide not to have your baby's session the first week, we recommend waiting until around 2 months.

What should my baby wear?

Personally, we prefer simple, comfortable outfits for newborn sessions.  Onesies, diaper shirts, and simple gowns are all appropriate.  Special outfits and family heirlooms are also regularly used.  Outfits with collars or lots of ruffles and frills can get in the way of Baby's face.  It is helpful to have all outfits for the session picked out, ironed, and even laid out before your baby arrives.  Hats and headbands are cute, but keep in mind that they may leave an imprint on your little one's head if they are too tight.  If there is a chance of the hat/headband being tight, you will want to save those pictures until last.  Likewise, if you want your baby to wear only a diaper you will need to remember that outfits with elastic around the wrist, ankles, or waist will leave an imprint in the baby's skin.  Please remove any clothing with elastic at least 30 minutes prior to the session if your baby will be wearing only a diaper.

Watch out for collared outfits!

Where will my session take place?

This is something we will discuss with you prior to your baby's arrival.  We prefer to do newborn sessions in your home, where both you and your little one are relaxed and comfortable, however, we are only able to do on-location sessions for clients who have a recommendation from someone we know personally.  You do not need to have a nice, fancy, or spotless house for your pictures.  All we need is some good window light, and permission to move things around a bit (we'll put it all back afterwards!).  We will bring our own background(s), but we may choose to shoot without them also, subject to your approval.  Wood floors, colored walls, furniture, etc, can be great backdrops and make the pictures even more memorable.  Sometimes we may use the baby's room, bed, and other furniture.

 

These pictures show our set-up in one corner of a baby's room.  We tucked a background over the shelf and changing table, then pulled in a few of our lights.

 

This picture was shot in the same location as the above pictures, but without the background.

Another on-location shoot - this time using big sister's pink walls and dresser

Who should the portraits include?

Baby, of course!  Special family keepsake photos can be made by including mom and dad, older siblings, and grandparents.  You may not think you will feel or look up to portraits just days after your baby is born, but keep in mind that he will only be this small once, and later on you may wish you had been in at least a few of the pictures.  :)  Even if you choose not to be in the photos, consider including the siblings in a few shots.  Again, the clothes for the session should be chosen and laid out prior to your baby's birth.  For parents and siblings, chose simple clothing that will not draw attention from Baby.  Solid colors are usually best; whites, blacks, and pastels are all good color choices.

How long will the session take?

We will come prepared to spend 1-3 hours in your home.  This time includes set up and tear down/clean up, as well as regular breaks when Baby needs to eat, be changed, or cuddle.  Baby will sleep best if he has been kept awake for 2 hours prior to the photo shoot.  We recommend feeding the baby after we have arrived while we are finding the best portrait locations in your home and getting set up.  Keeping the house warm and using white noise (static, a heater, etc.) will help the baby to sleep better.  We will normally spend more than half of the time we are at your house not taking pictures, and that is fine.  We're okay with spending as long as it takes to get the pictures you want.  On the other hand, if you/Baby are ready for us to be finished, just say so!

What if I am not comfortable with what you want to do with my baby?

Please say so!  We do not want to do anything with your baby that makes you nervous or uncomfortable.  We will not put your baby in a dangerous position even for a cute photo.  If the baby is laid on a surface from which he could roll or fall, one of us (or you, if you prefer) will always be right there beside him.  The baby is your baby, and if at any time during the session you would rather us not do something, please tell us.

 

What you may not know from looking at our pictures is that there is often a

hand in the original image that we remove before you see the picture.  :)

What else should I have ready?

Please have any other items you would like to include in the portraits laid out ahead of time.  These could include special blankets or toys, hats, headbands, a bracelet or anything that means something to your family.  We love monogrammed blankets, or anything with the baby's name on it.

Here Audri is wearing her Daddy's police hat

We want your input!

It is important to us to personalize your newborn session to fit your tastes and interests.  If there is something you particularly want in the portraits (a certain pose, outfit, prop, etc.) please let us know in advance and we will try to get that picture first.  

Children

Try to schedule your child's photo session at a time of day when he is generally happy.  Avoid photo sessions during nap or meal times.  Especially for outdoor sessions, bring a water bottle for your child.  If you think your he will need it, bring a simple, non-messy snack.

Be aware that fingernail polish can be a big problem in portraits. Try to avoid bright or distracting colors.

Children can wear just about anything, depending on the type of picture you want. For casual pictures, boys can wear jeans or overalls, and simple dresses are always great for girls. Bare feet are also nice. For dressier pictures, boys can wear slacks with button-up shirts. Vests and ties are also appropriate.  See our Family Sessions page for clothing ideas.

Suggestions and Tips for Your Photo Session

Clothing

Choosing the right clothing can make all the difference between a nice picture and an exceptional portrait. When deciding what to wear for your portrait, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Avoid wide stripes, checks, and plaids. Choose solid colors over large or bold patterns. Neckties should be toned down in color and have minimum pattern. Darker tones are best for formal portraits.

The focal point of your picture should be your face. Therefore, it is important to wear clothing that does not draw the viewer's attention away from your face. For adults, especially in one person portraits, we suggest long sleeves and long pants/skirts instead of shorts. When arms and legs are exposed to the camera there will be more flesh in the photograph in those areas than there is on the face. This is a major distraction.

Be aware that fingernail polish can be a big problem in portraits. Try to avoid bright or distracting colors.

Infants

Infants usually look best in pastel or white outfits.

Avoid outfits with ruffles or collars that might cover your baby's face. It is a good idea to try the outfit on your child beforehand to see if the collar/neckline comes up too far when he is lying down.

When planning your session, think about what time of day your baby is usually the happiest and most alert. Make sure the baby has been fed and changed prior to the session.

Bring a bottle, diapers, at least one change of clothes, and some of baby's favorite toys.

If your baby has a special blanket, toy, bassinet, or other prop, feel free to bring it to your photo shoot and we will try to work it into the photos.

A blanket or towel with the baby's name or initials embroidered on it is a great photo prop.

Children

Children can wear just about anything, depending on the type of picture you want. For casual pictures, boys can wear jeans or overalls, and simple dresses are always great for girls. Bare feet are also nice. For dressier pictures, boys can wear slacks with button-up shirts. Vests and ties are also appropriate.

Do not schedule a photo session during your child's nap time or meal time.


If you think your child will need it, bring a simple, non-messy snack -- no grape popsicles! :)


Family or Group Portraits

Coordinating or matching clothing can go a long way in enhancing group portraits. A few easy suggestions that always look good are denim and white, denim and black, khaki and blue, or khaki and white. You can also choose a color theme. (For example, everyone could wear something {shirt, dress, tie, vest, etc.} red.) Another option is to wear various colors of the same shade (such as khaki pants/skirts with various colors of pastel tops, or blue pants/skirts with various primary/bright tops).

For group portraits it is a good idea to lay out all the clothing on a bed, then step back and take a careful look at it. If one item stands out more than the others, you can be certain that the same thing will happen in a photograph. Replace the item with something more appropriate.

For large extended family portraits it is nice to have everyone coordinating, while each family has its own color. (For example, everyone wears denim pants/skirts, one family wears red tops, another yellow, another blue, etc.)

Men

The best time to get a haircut is about a week before the photo shoot. You will want to shave within a few hours of the session for best results. If you have a mustache or beard, it will look best with a fresh trim.

Ladies

If you are concerned about your weight, here are a few suggestions:

~Dark colors have a slimming effect
~Avoid tight-fitting jeans or tops
~Wide necklines, spaghetti straps, sleeveless tops, etc. will make you appear heavier.
~ Long sleeves/skirts are great

If You Wear Glasses...

~There is no need to have your picture taken without them. We want you to look like yourself in your photographs!

~Please clean your glasses before the session. Spots or fingerprints may show up in your photos.

~If you have contacts, consider wearing them instead.

~Glare on glasses can ruin a picture or cause a lot of extra editing for the photographer. You might want to consider removing the lenses from your frames.

~If you wear glasses that darken in bright lighting, they will definitely turn dark under studio lights and even in outdoor photos. Please wear a different pair of glasses for your photo session or remove the lenses from the frames.

Props

Bringing your own props help us to create a special and very personalized photograph. We encourage you to bring along anything you would like to have included in your photos.

Some suggestions:

~Musical Instruments

~Hats
~Sports gear: uniform, jacket, hat/helmet, balls, bats, etc.
~Toys: a favorite doll or stuffed animal, book, tricycles, wagons, skateboards

~Pets - Outdoor Photo Sessions ONLY. Because getting pets to cooperate and pose can be extremely difficult, there will be an additional $15 fee per animal. Please notify us of your intentions to bring a pet ahead of time. You are required to bring a kennel or an additional person (not in the photographs) who will be able to take responsibility for the pet during the session.