The question I get asked most often before a photoshoot is "What should I wear?" The very thought of someone asking me for fashion advice makes me laugh. My style consist of a witty phrased t-shirts and jeans, but I have been behind the camera enough to know what looks good in a photo and what doesn't. I hope this style guide helps in deciding what you should wear for your photoshoot. 

Over the years styles of family photo shoots have changed, the traditional white shirt and blue jeans are old news now and vibrant colors are back! 

The first tip I would give is to coordinate outfits, use colors that work well together, notice I said to coordinate and not match, if everyone in the photoshoot is wearing the exact same thing they blend together. 

Don't be afraid of color and patterns, be sure to again coordinate so you don't end up looking like a big rainbow.  If you are going to use patterns I recommend small ones that won't distract the photo but adds some pop. If one person has a pattern make sure someone else doesn't have a competing pattern. 

As much as I love graphic t-shirts, it's best to avoid them during a photoshoot because it can be very distracting, this also includes large clothing brand logos. 

The most important thing for me is for everyone to be comfortable, when everyone is comfortable their personalities will shine through in the photos. Make sure you feel good in what you are wearing and check that your children like what they are wearing as well. I know sometimes children have articles of clothing that they never take off or love to wear all the time, bring them! We can always include them in the session, what better way to capture who your kids are and always have something to remember that moment. 

While on that topic I often ask families to bring something from their homes that represents them as a family. Different props can always be included in some way during the photoshoot. If your family loves to play baseball in the backyard, then bring a baseball bat and ball. If your family does karaoke night, bring the karaoke machine and let's have some fun with that! 

 One thing to also consider is the home in where you will be displaying these family photos, you will want your outfits to also fit in with the décor of your house. Keep your décor in mind to ensure your large prints fit in nicely in your home. 

Most importantly PLAN AHEAD! 
If you plan on getting your hair and make up done, get them scheduled and plan your schedule accordingly. Get hair cuts done a couple of days before, in case a bad hair cut happens, you will have at least a day to try to make it work. 

Ladies, I recommend makeup but make it natural, if you want anything bold, go for a bold lip color. However if you aren't usually a make up person, eyeliner and lipstick make a world of difference in photos and can help you to "pop" more. 

If we have discussed outfit changes prior please bring some different options for everyone, I have a changing tent so outfit changes can be done in private. 

Bring comfortable shoes I know that ladies LOVE their heels, and you should bring those too, however make sure you pack comfortable shoes because there tends to be a lot of walking that happens during a photoshoot. 

More than anything be ready to have an open mind and have fun during your photoshoot!