Not so long ago I posted a sneak peak from a family photo session in McLean and noted that Mom did an amazing job picking outfits for the entire family. So, I thought I’d write a post with pictures from the photo session and offer my take on what to wear to a family photo session along the way.
First off, I always recommend consulting with your photographer regarding outfit choices prior to the shoot. She may have her own style, likes, dislikes and recommendations. I, personally, will help my clients with outfit choices as much or as little as they want me to.
All people have their own unique sense of style and likes and dislikes when it comes to clothes. When it comes to “color” and pattern matching, I recommend following one of the two routes: (1) a “simple”, clean look where outfits for the family use a combination of 2-3 colors, possibly 4 (if using some fun accents or accessories). This option is fairly easy and fits pretty much any family’s wardrobe, (2) a “fun” or a “bold” look using bright colors and patterns and layers and textures and mixing them up in any way imaginable. For this option to work, I usually emphasize that colors and patterns need to be bright. Families can also opt to mix and match option #1 and option #2, for example, go the “clean” route for parents and the “fun” route for the kids. Of course, when in doubt – ask your photographer! I often have moms call me the night before their family session and say “Olga, here’s what we have… what is your take on this-this-and-this?”
Ok, back to the images from our outdoor family session in a park in McLean. Mom prepared two outfits for the family, the photo session was a couple of weeks before Easter, so she picked “Easter” colors. She also went the “clean” route and added a couple of very cute accents for her adorable daughter. I brought a couple of props and, amazingly, the props I had with me fit in really well with the outfits! (By the way, huge kudos to Mom – she knew just what to do without ever consulting me about the “what to wear” question). So, here are some examples:
Ok, I totally LOVED photographing the little girl. As a mom of two boys… let’s just say I couldn’t resist! All the moms of boys out there will understand! Notice how we went from “dark blue” outfits to “yellow” outfits! In the sequences below I asked the boy to grab some of the tulips I brought along with me (a prop I’d gotten from a craft store) and give them to Mommy – made for a sweet little “story”
If you are reading this – thank you for staying with me through the long post with so many images! Cheers!