AT A GLANCE
My style of photography is very natural and I want your wardrobe to reflect this too. As a guide, neutral shades and colours always work well. Don’t be afraid of patterns and textures; linen, cotton, denim, lace and knits look beautiful in photos.
Things to avoid
- Matching blue jeans and white shirts. I’ve seen this look 1000 times and it always feels unnatural for the type of family photos I make
- Dressing any two people in the same tone or colour because they will blend into each other. This is especially obvious with black, navy blue and whites. There are many different shades of white; stark white, cream, off white, warm white, or if you left something in the wash (slightly blue or pink). The different shades can often look dirty when placed next to each
- T-shirts with large logos, images or text on the front. They’re extreemly distracting and will surely date
- Thin narrow stripes, velvet, mesh or tweed tend to create unusual shapes and lines that appear to vibrate or moiré in the photos
- Intentionally tanning prior to your session
- Sunglasses, watches, hair ties on wrists, and excess jewellery
- If at the beach, we will remove shoes
As a reference please refer to the galleries below for clothing inspiration.
IN MORE DETAIL
Simplicity is best! Wear smart casual clothing that fits properly. Fitted clothes always looks more polished and flattering than loose clothes.
Co-ordinates. Coordinate your outfits otherwise everyone ends up looking very matchy-matchy! Pick two to three colours that complement each other and unify you. Avoid having just one person wear a completely different colour, especially when that colour is very bright or in stark contrast to the rest of the family. For example if one person wears a fluro orange top they won’t be popular.
Women & Girls. Long dresses and skirts are my favourite. The movement in the material always looks feminine and soft. Short dresses, skirts, shorts, pants or jeans, tops, cardigans, knits, scarfs are also good choices. Choose something that feels comfortable and authentically reflects who you are. Something that makes you feel amazing. TIP – long gowns work at the beach as long as you have no shoes on.
Men & Boys. Shorts, pants or jeans and a collared shirt to frame the face well. Please avoid shirts with logos and thin narrow stripes! Long pants will most likely get wet so I may suggest rolling them up.
Colours. Neutral colours such as medium shades of denim, beige, dusty pinks, cream, greys, medium blues, medium greens and light browns, look stunning. These colours complement skin tones and look beautiful in any setting! Mixing outfits and a combination of tonal ranges looks natural and relaxed.
White. White outfits look great in photos, particularly when they feature textured details. If you have a group of people please avoid putting everyone in white, it doesn’t natural.
Black. Black loses its tone in bright light conditions and will appear washed out, it can also highlight grains of sand that appears like dandruff. Black is not recommended for newborn photos. Black patterned dresses and shirts can work and look better than plain black.
Textures + Patterns. Linen, cotton, denim, lace and knits always photograph beautifully. I love them! Patterns are more than welcome but please don’t overuse them!
Makeup + Tanning. Apply makeup and style your hair as you normally would. Avoid intentionally tanning prior to your session as your natural colour is always more flattering in photographs.
Jewellery + Watches. Include only the jewellery you wear on a daily basis. Watches, sunglasses and hair ties around your wrist can be visually distracting so I will ask you to remove them.
Nappy / Diaper covers. Those with small children, please cover the nappies / diapers, I cannot photoshop this later!
Footwear. Shoes are not required on the beach. Casual Footwear is welcome at other locations.
Glasses. If you wear glasses full time, please wear them for your session. If you can get by without them please leave them in your bag!
WHAT TO BRING
Mobile phone. This is important if you can not find the location and need to contact me. However, once we have begun it must be kept in your bag for the duration of your session.
A bottle of water. Having your photos taken can be thirsty work.
Snacks. Something to bribe little ones may be helpful! However, it’s critical that you do not offer this at the beginning of the session. Avoid bringing anything that discolours clothes/mouths, or takes too long to chew
Spare clothes. It is really important to bring a spare change of clothes for children. This ensures the show can still go on if there is a mishap! Also, once the sun starts to set it can get quite cool, something warm (even a beautiful knitted blanket) would be super helpful!
A towel. Beach session means you will most likely get wet! Sometimes this is intentional (if you asked me to get some water shots), other times it just happens.
Props. Add a personalised touch and incorporate special little things or activities you like to do into your experience. Anything from bikes, skateboards, surfboards, or little kites are all great examples.
A smile. Your happy relaxed smile makes the world a brighter place to be 🙂
PRETTY DETAILS
Some of my clients choose to invest in hair and makeup, flower crowns, and even props such as blankets and romantic setups these are available as add on’s / extra’s.
