Preparing for your photo session is essential to ensure that every moment captured is beautiful, natural, and timeless, allowing your photographer to create stunning memories that you and your family will cherish for years to come. Get ready for your family or engagement photo session with our expert tips on how to dress, color coordinate, and prepare. Discover advice on choosing the perfect outfits, avoiding busy patterns, and adding stylish accessories for beautiful, timeless portraits.
Engagement Sessions vs. Family Sessions
Dressing for an engagement session is generally more focused on showcasing the couple’s style and connection, whereas family sessions involve coordinating multiple individuals, often across different age groups. Here’s how they differ:
- Personal Style vs. Coordinated Harmony:
- Engagement Session: The goal is to highlight the couple’s unique style and personality. Couples can dress more romantically or even a bit more formally to reflect their relationship. Think elegant dresses, tailored suits, or coordinated casual outfits that express their tastes.
- Family Session: Outfits need to coordinate across the entire family, balancing individual styles to create a cohesive look. Here, it’s more about finding a color palette and theme that brings everyone together, ensuring no one outfit steals the spotlight.
- Focus on Pairing vs. Group:
- Engagement Session: The couple’s outfits should complement each other, often sticking to similar tones or textures. For example, if one person wears a floral dress, the other might wear a solid color that picks up a tone from the pattern.
- Family Session: The challenge is to coordinate across multiple people without appearing too uniform. The goal is to mix colors, patterns, and styles that work together, ensuring a balanced group aesthetic.
- Freedom of Fashion Choices vs. Practical Coordination:
- Engagement Session: Couples have more freedom to play with style—bold, chic, or themed looks are all fair game. Because only two people are involved, there’s room for more adventurous or elegant fashion choices, from flowing gowns to sharp suits.
- Family Session: Outfits need to be practical and comfortable, especially if young children are involved. It’s often best to avoid overly delicate or complex outfits and instead choose comfortable yet stylish pieces that can hold up through an entire session.
- Romantic Touches vs. Subtle Family Look:
- Engagement Session: Couples can go for a more romantic, polished look, incorporating accessories like statement jewelry, heels, or tailored jackets. The goal is to create images that feel intimate and showcase the love story.
- Family Session: Accessories should be subtle and complement the overall group rather than draw too much attention. For families, comfort and ease of movement are key, especially for playful, natural shots.
Overall, dressing for an engagement session allows couples to express their style and love story, while family sessions focus on creating a cohesive, coordinated look that brings everyone together.
FAMILY PHOTO SESSIONS
With these seasonal color guides, your family will look perfectly styled and coordinated, no matter the occasion!
- Fall Session Colors:
- Rich Earthy Tones: Embrace the warm, earthy colors of autumn. Think of deep oranges, rust, mustard yellow, olive green, burgundy, and browns. These colors beautifully complement the natural hues of fall foliage.
- Layering: Use layering to add depth to your outfits. For example, you can mix a burgundy cardigan with a plaid scarf, or pair a rust-colored dress with a neutral shawl.
- Neutrals for Balance: If you have rich tones, balance them out with neutrals like cream, beige, or gray. For example, if one person is wearing a bold mustard dress, another could wear a cream sweater.
- Spring Session Colors:
- Soft Pastels & Fresh Hues: Spring is all about fresh, light, and soft colors. Opt for pastel shades like light pink, baby blue, mint green, lavender, and soft yellows. These colors bring out the brightness of spring blooms.
- Light Fabrics: Choose lightweight fabrics that match the season’s airy feel. Flowing dresses, linen shirts, and soft knits work great for a breezy, effortless look.
- Mix of Prints & Solids: Subtle floral prints, gingham, or stripes can add a bit of variety, but make sure to pair them with solids to avoid a busy look.
- Christmas Session Colors:
- Classic Holiday Palette: For a festive feel, go with classic holiday colors like deep reds, forest greens, navy blue, and white. These colors exude warmth and coziness, perfect for the season.
- Winter Textures: Add texture with cozy knits, scarves, or even faux fur accents. A red sweater, a green scarf, or a plaid dress can instantly evoke the holiday spirit.
- Touches of Metallics: A touch of metallic—like gold or silver—can add a hint of elegance. Think of subtle accessories like a gold belt or a silver necklace that sparkle under holiday lights.
General Tips for All Seasons:
- Avoid Over-Matching: Coordinating is key, but don’t overdo it. Aim for a mix of colors that complement each other without looking too uniform.
- Test the Palette: Lay out the clothes together a few days before your session to see how the colors look next to each other. This will help you adjust if something feels off.
- Comfort Comes First: No matter the season, choose clothes that are comfortable. Happy, relaxed faces always make for the best photos.
MATERNITY PHOTO SESSIONS
Following these tips will help you feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful, ensuring your maternity photos capture this special moment in a way you’ll cherish forever.
- Emphasize Your Baby Bump:
- Choose outfits that highlight your belly, such as fitted dresses, gowns with empire waists, or flowing fabrics that cinch just below the bust. The goal is to make your bump the focal point of the photos.
- Avoid overly loose or baggy clothing that can hide your bump. Instead, opt for dresses with a slight stretch that gently hug your curves for a flattering look.
- Select Comfortable & Flattering Fabrics:
- Choose soft, stretchy, and breathable fabrics that allow you to move comfortably while still looking elegant. Maternity sessions should be relaxed and enjoyable, so comfort is key.
- Fabrics like jersey, chiffon, and silk can be both comfortable and photogenic, creating a smooth silhouette and flowing, dreamy effects in photos.
- Stick to Soft, Solid Colors & Simple Patterns:
- Solid colors or subtle patterns tend to work best, as they keep the focus on you and your bump. Neutral tones, pastels, and soft earth colors are popular choices for their timeless and elegant look.
- Avoid busy patterns, loud prints, or clothing with logos, as these can be distracting. Think of gentle tones that bring out your natural glow and complement the setting.
- Consider the Season & Location:
- Match your outfit to the season and setting. For outdoor shoots in spring or summer, light dresses in pastel or floral prints can add a soft, natural touch. For winter or fall sessions, consider warm, earthy tones with layers like cardigans or scarves.
- Long, flowing dresses can create a romantic, ethereal look for outdoor shoots, while a more structured dress or top and jeans can be chic and modern for indoor, studio settings.
- Add Meaningful Accessories:
- Accessories like a delicate necklace, a flower crown, or a pretty hat can add a personal touch to your outfit. Keep them subtle so they don’t overpower your look.
- If you want to include baby-related props (like tiny shoes, an ultrasound photo, or a baby blanket), choose items that are meaningful to you. They can add a sweet, sentimental element to your photos.
- Choose the Right Undergarments:
- Make sure your undergarments provide the right support and don’t create visible lines under your outfit. Nude, seamless bras and underwear are best for a smooth, polished look.
- Consider maternity shapewear if you want a bit more support or to smooth out any lines under tighter dresses.
- Hair & Makeup Tips:
- A little makeup can enhance your features and bring out your natural glow. Opt for a polished, yet natural look—think light foundation, a bit of blush, and soft eye makeup.
- Styling your hair in loose waves or a simple updo can add to the elegance without taking too much focus away from your bump.
- Timing Your Session:
- Schedule your maternity session around 28-34 weeks (7-8 months) when your bump is nicely visible but you’re still comfortable and can move easily. This timeframe helps ensure you look and feel your best.
No matter how you prepare and what outfit you choose, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the moment, because each photo is just a beautiful snapshot of this special time in your life.