Style Guide

Bringing it all together…

• Take the season into consideration and choose colors that compliment the scenery. Take the photograph to right for example; we were going to be in the wheat field for this summer session. If Mom or the girls had worn a solid green dress, they would have blended into their surroundings because we were in the woods with green trees all around. Instead, the patterned maxi dress on on Mom and complimenting dresses on the girls stand out against the green and compliment so well, especially with the earth tones in their colors.

• Layers & textured or detailed fabrics bring more interest and dimension. In the photo above, mom has on a beautifully patterned maxi dress (as does mom in the photo to the right). The pattern creates texture which brings dimension and that dimension makes both mamas that little extra pop in the frame.

• Dad in the photo above has a vest over his shirt and the layering gives dimension creating interest while coordinating colors with his son. Try to envision him without the vest. It would still look good, but there wouldn’t be as much dimension.

• Patterns help break up outfits & people. Having one or two people wear a pattern or print breaks up the solid colors & also adds dimension and layers (which as we know, is a fabulous thing for photos!).

• When choosing colors, keep the color wheel in mind. I know, I am making you go way back to sixth grade art class, but complimentary colors are so appealing to the eye. In the photo to the left, the family opted for mustard and a deep red color. They are complimentary colors on the color wheel and you can see how perfectly they go together! If you scroll down a bit to the maternity photo, the pregnant mama is wearing a jewel toned blue/green maxi. Her husband is wearing blue-green’s complementary color. She brought those two colors together and adding in a pop of a mustard yellow with a pattern dress.

• Branching out to split complementary colors is a great way to figure out what colors you might want to have other family members wear to compliment mom’s outfit. This is a great way to get started with extended family sessions, too.

• Another color wheel option is to choose the same color in a different tone, tint or shade. I did this with our family photos, which is pictured below [photo taken by Jenna Knott]. I wore a dark, rich colored pink/mauve dress and had the baby wear a much lighter, softer shade of pink.

Start with Mom.

• Yep, you read that right: Mom should choose her wardrobe first and then work everyone else’s outfits around her’s. Mom should feel good about what they are wearing and that doesn’t always happen when she is the last to get her outfit together and is working it around what everyone else has.

• Color palettes are a great starting point. Three to four complimenting colors side by side help you visualize how colors are going to work together (or not) and give you a springboard to start from.

• Neutrals are always a great place to start when you’re stuck. Gray, cream, brown, denim/chambray — they’re all great to build from. We had a family session with my parents and brothers’ families this winter in Florida. My sister-in-law and I decided on a neutral color palette and chose our family’s wardrobe keeping that palette in mind. You can see an example photo next to the “Where to Shop” title for a visual of how the color palette came together. [Photo was taken by Oak & Iron Photography]

• I LOVE the way flowy, long dresses and skirts photograph for women. It brings movement to photographs and also is a beautiful feminine touch. This is always my first suggestion to women who don’t know where to start — if you are a dress or skirt person, consider looking into maxi dresses or flowy skirts. If you aren’t, wearing a flowy blouse with a skinny pant is a way to bring movement into clothing, too.

• Earth tones, jewel tones and muted colors work very well with my editing style and location choices.

• Accessories polish off an outfit. Jewelry is an easy way to add a little “umph” or pop to your wardrobe. Hats, scarves, watches, an antique hair accessory, belts, bracelets, suspenders on boys etc… are all examples of accessories that can pull an outfit together and add a bit more detail to give dimension to the photograph.

• Shoes. I am biased, but shoes can really take an outfit to the next level. Take the photo below — the cute boots both girls are wearing pull their wardrobe together and looks polished. But, if you have a toddler or babe or your family is super chill & earthy, going barefoot is so darn adorable and brings a boho feel to your photos. Plus, it gives a much more laid back look to your session.

What to Avoid

• Neon colors. Please steer clear of neon colors. They are just so vibrant and because of that, they cast their color on your skin. A neon green shirt will make your face and neck have a green tint to it.

• Small lines. Think pinstripe lines. Those close together, thin lines don’t photograph well and almost appear in photos like they are dancing. It doesn’t look well on a computer screen and it prints funky.

• Clothing with logos and a lot of writing. It draws the eye straight to the writing/logo instead of going straight to the people and their connection.

• Wearing the same colors or clothes. Everyone wearing the same color or the same pattern shirt looks super flat and is dated. This might be my biggest suggestion to avoid. Group shots turn into floating heads in a sea of the same shirt.

• Anything that makes you or anyone in the family self conscious or uncomfortable. It’ll show in photos & it’s best to go with clothing everyone feels good in.