Picking Outfits for a Family Session

You’ve booked your session. Now comes the hard part – what the heck does everyone wear?

Comfort is key.

I always tell clients to wear whatever they feel most comfortable and confident in. If you are in a stiff or uncomfortable outfit, it will undoubtedly show through in the photos. I’m a big fan of flowy dresses on moms and overalls or jumpers on kiddos. I find dads are typically in henley shirts or chambray button-ups of some kind with denim or khaki pants, which is always a good neutral outfit choice.

Pinterest is your friend.

Well, usually. I have seen some horrendous things on Pinterest. You likely follow some kind of influencer or fashion-forward Instagram accounts. Check out their Pinterest for style boards to get ideas on what to wear. I’ve started a board for families to reference with some of my favorite looks. Feel free to follow along. :)

But, beware of trends.

Remember when we were all layering long tanktops with belts over gaucho pants with long beaded necklaces in 2005? If I could take an eraser to my memories, that is an era I would gladly forget. Be true to yourself and your own style. If you’re not a hat gal, don’t wear a hat just to look “cool.”

Big fan of neutrals with a pattern pop.

If you know me, you know my wardrobe and my home are mostly made up of neutrals. I have never done the whole color testing to see if I’m a fall or winter or whatever, but I know what I feel my best in. Try not to be too matchy-matchy with your outfits. If mom is wearing a blue dress, that doesn’t mean the toddler has to have a blue barrette in her hair. Get a good palette of neutrals and textures and then maybe throw in a pattern for visual interest. Reference the blog photo above for this look. Try to avoid any pattern that will create a moiré effect.

Keep location and season in mind.

Are we shooting in your home or are we going to be off-roading out in tall grasses somewhere? Make sure the vibe of your outfits matches the location we’ll be shooting in. In-home shoots always feel more casual to me (think jeans and white tee or linens, no shoes). But if we’re shooting outside during the fall season, maybe you’ll want to wear some cute (but comfortable) booties with a long dress or layer in a long cardigan or jacket for warmth.

If you want my input on outfits, I am more than happy to help!
The bottom line is: Be you. Because you’re the best. And you’re timeless. And you want to be able to look back on these photos in 20 years and still love them.

The Magic of a Slow Morning

I am so excited to offer Slow Morning sessions, starting Spring 2022. I will only be taking on four of these for the year, so availability is extremely limited.

There is a certain kind of magic in a weekend morning, don’t you think? The slow-to-rise, sleepy-eyed coziness of sipping your coffee and letting the day unfold. This type of session is perfect for the couple or family who is comfortable just being, unbothered by trivial beauty standards or waking up a bit unkempt.

Where did the idea come from?

My family is big on looking through old photo albums and reminiscing. My favorite photos are always of those mundane moments – grandma standing at the kitchen sink. Two-year-old me squeezed into a trash can with my cousin, laughing and laughing. Candid captures of me and my brother playing with our kittens on the farm. Those small, everyday moments hold a lot of meaning… and it’s not often someone is around to capture them.

You want to follow us around with no agenda?

Short answer: yes! What does your typical weekend morning look like? Breakfast in bed? Coffee kisses in the kitchen? Harvesting herbs from your garden? Breakfast at your favorite diner? A walk around the neighborhood? A sun-filled snooze in the hammock while the kids run around the backyard? Whatever it is, that’s what I want.

How long is the session?

Around 4 hours. And this can be split up between morning and evening, if you’d like!

Does it have to be a morning?

Nope! Any time that is filled with the things you love most. Limited to weekends.

How many photos will I get?

You will receive 150+ images, showcasing an intimate reflection of your real life. All delivered in a beautiful, custom gallery where you can easily download the digital images or order prints directly.

What is the investment?

$2,000 – a $400 savings from my typical hourly cost.

Only four sessions available for the year?

Yep! So book now to secure your spot. ;)

Have more questions or want to discuss available dates?

Elevate Your Brand with Custom Photography

Curious about working with a photographer for content for your brand? Whether you're in need of content for social media, emails, website, or even print – here are five ways that working with a photographer can elevate your brand.

Create content.

Content is king. These days, if you don’t have a web or social media presence, do you even exist? (A sad truth.) Take a look at your current efforts. Does your website reflect how you want your brand to feel? What about your Instagram feed? Are the colors on-brand for you?

Establish cohesivity.

Is that even a word? I’m not entirely sure. But I am sure that cohesiveness is important in building a brand. What emotions do you want to evoke in your target audience? Are you achieving that now? Do the photos on your website match your Facebook match your business card match your Google Business page match your Instagram feed and so on? Does it all fit together to emanate the “feel” you want? Is it attracting your ideal customer?

Show your product in use.

The photo set I’m showcasing in this post is from a shoot with Dusk Goods + Gifts in the Little Bohemia neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. The owner, Abby, had already established a golden, sunny, lifestyle brand and wanted photos to use for social and web. Her Instagram Stories typically have a bit of an ASMR touch to them – tickling items with pampas grass, pouring water into her beautiful vintage glassware. We wanted to extend that feeling to these photos.

The point is: show your product in use. Make it look so good that your followers believe there’s no other glass they’d rather drink water from. It can only be this glass and only on a day when the sun is pouring in through the windows and the light hits just right.

(Disclaimer: please drink more water than that.)

Create the vibe.

Give potential customers a taste of what they can expect from your brand. What will they experience walking into your store? Showcase exactly what you offer and the general “vibe” that adds to the appeal of being a patron of the dream you’ve worked so hard to build.

Make them want a little part of that dream.

Show yourself.

Show your face in your happy place. Humanize your brand. People are more apt to support a brand if they can connect with the human(s) behind it and their mission. Speak your truth and be proud of all you have accomplished (and have yet to accomplish!).

Interested in discussing a photoshoot for your brand? Shoot me a note. A simple discovery session goes a long way. Let’s talk about your ideal aesthetic and work together to bring that vision to life.