Personalizing Your Session

Here are some tips & tricks to help you and your family get ready for your portraits and get the most out of your session with your photographer. If you have any additional questions, we're happy to help! Don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We're looking forward to working with you!

Coordinating Colors

It is a good idea to coordinate your outfits for the session and choose colors that go well together. You do not, however, want to all wear matching outfits. Wear the style of clothing that you would all typically wear because it is an expression of your personality, but try to choose more neutral colors because bright colors can draw attention away from your face and make you stand out like a sore thumb. Coordinating the colors of your outfits is a subtle way to visually unify your family. Think navy blues, greys, blacks, browns/tans, and maroons. If you're unsure, look at some of our portrait galleries and see what others have done in the past and what you think looks good. And you can always ask our opinion.

Patterns/Logos

Generally, it's ok (and often a good idea) if someone wears a top that has a pattern or texture to it, provided that it coordinates well with the colors of the other outfits in the photos. What you want to avoid is everyone wearing patterns and textures because then they tend to visually compete with each other. 

Stay away from logos and text on your outfits because logos are meant to stand out and carry a lot of meaning and visual weight. It will distract from the images. You also want to avoid lettering in your outfits because it will be distracting for much the same reason. A situation where this might be ok is if the shirt in question is a prop. For example, maybe you want to include a onesie that has a cute phrase on it, or you and your family all want to wear jerseys from your favorite sports teams. 

Props

Many people choose to personalize their session by bringing props. What you include will most likely depend on the type of session you're having, but there is pretty much no limit to what you can choose to bring. This is where you can get creative and bring something that says something about who you are and what your personal style is. Do you like cutesy, or maybe something more rustic, or vintage? Below are some ideas for things you might include in each specific session to get you started. If you're unsure or are looking for ideas, you could always look on Pinterest for ideas or run any of your ideas by us. We love working with clients to make their session fun and creative!

 

Babies

  • Tutus

  • Hats

  • Headbands

  • Cute Costumes

  • Stuffed Animals

  • Favorite Toys

Maternity

  • Booties

  • Onesie

  • Ultrasound Photo

  • Signs w/ Cute Phrases

  • Maternity Dress

Family

  • Signs w/ Cute Phrases

  • Family Heirlooms

  • Holiday Themed Items

  • Hobby Items

  • Family Pets

Engagement Session

  • Signs w/ Cute Phrases/ Your Wedding Date

  • Hobby Items

  • Seasonal Items (ie. a blanket to sit on or wrap yourselves in if it's winter)

  • Pets

  • Motorcycle

  • Sports Memorabilia