Whether you're dreaming of...
a shoot on the beach in the Midwest, want to feel like you're in the mountains, desire more of a city feel in downtown Davenport, or vibe more with an open field out in the country air, I've got you covered. I have dozens of tried and true locations, but I'm also always up for trying out somewhere new!
That being said, coordinating your outfit with your location can help make the vibe of your photos go from good to GREAT! Keep reading for some helpful tips for picking out outfits...because I know firsthand how hard it can be, and I want to help!
- Make sure your outfits make sense. You wouldn't wear a snowsuit to the beach, for example, so the same applies to photos. If your shoot will be at the beach, you'll want to avoid cozy sweaters, and if we're shooting up in the trails surrounded by pine trees, you may want to avoid flip flops.
- Make sure you dress so that you're comfortable. This point may seem redundant to number one, but it also means that if you're not a family/person/couple that wants to get dressed up and prefer jeans and a t-shirt, go for it! And likewise if you've been dreaming of re-wearing your wedding attire again. Your photos can turn out great whether you decide to dress up OR down, so don't feel like you're stuck in having to be a certain level of formal. Remember that the goal is for these to look like YOU and to capture YOUR memories.
- Don't match -- coordinate. The days of everyone wearing white t-shirts and jeans are mostly gone. It's better to coordinate colors and patterns rather than everyone wearing the same thing. It's more cohesive and will stand out in a good way.
- In general, one pattern per three people works well. Too many patterns can clash and take away attention from you. While you want your outfits to work well, the focus shouldn't be on them -- it should be how fantastic you look in your clothing. I also recommend not having two people wear the same pattern. On a similar note, avoid large logos (i.e., Under Armour). Less is more with logos.
- For colors, jewel tones and neutrals are tried and true favorites of mine. I tend to avoid bright colors - for example, if you're eyeing something red to wear, I suggest going more maroon or ruby than fire-engine red. As you've probably noticed, I tend to edit very vibrantly and I love to have all colors pop.
- Avoid wearing the same color as your background. If you'll be surrounded by grass and trees in the spring and summer, you don't want a green shirt to blend in with your background.
- Love what you wear. Don't wear anything that is too small, too big, or uncomfortable to move in for any reason. Comfort is so important, and you don't want to spend your session constantly adjusting your clothing.
- Remember that, at the end of the day, these are all just suggestions. These are YOUR photos, and what's important is that you love how you look.
- If you want help or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me! I'm always happy to help. I know firsthand that it can be SO hard picking out outfits -- it took me weeks to pick outfits for my own family photos, so I am thrilled to help make it easier for you. I can do anything from sending some color palette ideas to helping you shop!
- If you'd rather skip the shopping, reach out. I have some great clothing in my client closet - it's small, but mighty. I have dresses to fit from a women's Medium to 4X as well as newborn and toddler clothing. These are items that I KNOW will photograph well and are easy to coordinate with.