What to wear .

So the date is set, the location is chosen, and the family has agreed to it. YES! You are ready to take family portraits. For some of you, this is a yearly ritual. For others, this is your first time.  No worries.  Either way, I am here for you.

We will get through this together.

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from a family after they have booked their LaurenJean session is, "What should we wear? " The answer is simple, and yet, so broad. The short answer is, "Whatever you are comfortable in ."  But that statement is vague.  I mean, we are all comfortable in our yoga pants and a big T shirt.  But I don't recommend showing up to your family portrait session wearing either one.

What I mean by comfortable is, dress in clothes that make you feel like you. If you hardly ever wear a dress or a skirt , don't wear one to your session. It will show in the pictures that you feel out of your element and slightly awkward.  However, if your little one insists on wearing his superman cape and rain boots, don't fight it. We will take some great pictures of him in his " uniform" and then we will talk him into a change of clothes.
The sky is the limit when it comes to wardrobe options. The style of family photography is changing. Portraits used to be a one-size-fits-all experience. Everyone wore the same color , crammed themselves into a studio somewhere, and smiled awkwardly at the camera.  And that style worked for a long time.  Even now, it might work for you, but if so, I'm probably not your girl. 

Let me explain...

One of the key elements to a successful portrait session is location.

Parks are nice.

But downtown is better!

Does your family like baseball? GREAT ! Lets shoot on a baseball field. One of the perks of being a natural light photographer is that the world is my studio. The location of your shoot will play a huge role in your family feeling comfortable. And because we will be shooting in some not-so-traditional locations, you want to make sure that you are dressed in clothes that you can move around in. I will ask you to stand up, sit down, walk toward the camera, away from the camera, etc...  So if you decide to rock out in high heels, make sure you bring along some comfy walking shoes as well.

Speaking of shoes, shoes and accessories are an awesome way to show some personality and add some color to your pictures. Pairing a fancy bracelet with a pair of jeans looks fantastic!! Or, choose a pair of hoop earrings that bring out the color of your eyes. If it is winter, scarves, hats, and layers of clothes look awesome and add dimension to your pictures.  If it is summer, think big sunglasses and flip flops.

COLOR is a HUGE thing with me . The more color you can add into a picture, the better.  Many families ask if everyone should wear the same color shirt. My answer is that you want to make sure you are all wearing colors that compliment each other, but not necessarily the same colors. You also want to make sure that the solid prints and patterns on clothing don't clash with each other, as well.  Example:  if brother is wearing a red shirt and red plaid shorts do not dress sister in a pink striped shirt and flower skirt. Not only do the colors clash. but the patterns will appear way to busy in the picture and will draw the attention away from the most important part of the picture, YOU !!!!

And, of course, there are a few wardrobe choices that look good on no one in pictures,

spaghetti straps

short skirts

short shorts

plain white cotton T shirts

So let's review..........

1. Wear something that reflects your personalty and your children's personalities.

2. Wear clothes you can move around in and possibly get a little dirt on.

3.  Accessories and layers are an AWESOME way to add some dimension and color to your pictures.

4. You can never have too much color. Just make sure it's not everyone in the exact same color and that all colors compliment each other.

5. Dress appropriately for the seasons. Don't dress in layers if your session is in August.

I hope this helps give you a idea of what to wear when we meet. My goal is to make sure that you have a fun session that produces timeless images that reflect your family's true personalty and genuine interaction with each other.

Please e mail me at laurenkenna@gmail.com to schedule your session :)