The Style Guide

We begin most of our sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. Remember, the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your portrait session date, especially if you’re taking off work or have evening plans afterward. To get the most out of your session, plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together. If you’re wearing two outfits, save your favorite one for the second half.

Quick Tip: OUR FALL & WEEKENDS FILL UP FAR IN ADVANCE. BOOK A WEEK DAY OR IN THE SPRING OR SUMMER TO GET THE BEST TIME SLOTS, WEATHER, SCENERY, AND FASTEST TURNAROUND TIMES.

Choose a date & time

The location of your portrait session is up to you! Like you see throughout this guide, most of our clients choose to showcase the natural beauty of our home state. For most of our sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always our first choice. We love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around the state, so even if you’ve never seen us photograph in a specific spot before, we’re always up for exploring a new spot together!

Choose the right location

Quick Tip: HAVE SPECIAL ACCESS TO A PRIVATE LOCATION? LET US KNOW AND WE'D LOVE TO TRY TO SHOOT THERE!

Dresses and skirts look stunning because they flatter every female body, especially on camera. We recommend avoiding shorts for your session and saying yes to a dress or two instead. Jeans and pants look great for a slightly more casual look. It all depends on what type of look you want your session to be. Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, plains or beach. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images. When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, we’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. A jumpsuit, romper, floor-length dress or skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera, too. If you’re an expecting mother, we always recommend floor-length gowns or maxi dresses. These dresses create the best silhouettes to flatter your figure and really highlight your bump.

Quick Tip: There's no such thing as too dressed up

Dress it up

In our experience, every woman regardless of her shape has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about, so recognizing what area that is in advance is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer or cardigan along, too. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so we recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is a set of slimmer-looking arms. These little tricks make all the difference!

Quick Tip: BRING A PAIR OF EASY-TO-KICK-OFF FLATS TO WEAR WHEN MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE IN BETWEEN PHOTOS. YOUR FEET WILL THANK YOU LATER!

Flatter your features

Professional hair and makeup are on the top of most of our clients’ checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own.  This is the time to treat yourself! Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream! Good makeup artists know how to get it all just right for the camera— and our clients always love the final result. If you need a hair and makeup artist we highly recommend Crystal from Golden Glow Beauty. She’s sweet as pie, talented as heck, unbelievably professional, and a wonderful person. You’ll LOVE her! We know she’ll take good care of you.

Go pro with hair & makeup

Although it might seem counter-intuitive, we recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session, even a few days prior, because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph the most beautifully and naturally. When standing next to your man or your family, spray tans become extremely apparent compared to their natural skin tones.

Skip the spray tan

Long, fitted pants and a nice pair of shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sneakers and sandals at home, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted chinos or nice jeans work best on camera. Solid shades of gray, brown, dark green or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits and khaki never goes out of style.

Quick Tip: WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND STAYING AWAY FROM GRAPHICS AND LOGOS AS THEY DATE your IMAGES AND BECOME DISTRACTING.

Find a good fit

Next time you walk by a store like Gap or J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust us when we say that it’s worth an hour of discomfort for photos that will last a lifetime. Adding another layer will bring an extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, sweaters, jackets and open button elevate any look. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!

Quick Tip: MIX A BLAZER OR SPORTS COAT WITH A DIFFERENT PANT COLOR. IT ADDS SOME EXTRA VISUAL INTEREST AND BREAKS UP THE COLOR TONES.

Layering looks

We would highly recommend wearing a nice pair of shoes! These can be leather dress shoes, boots, or a stylish pair of sneakers if you know what you're doing. Belts and watches are sharp compliments to any outfit. A lot of the time these accessories will show up when you put your arms around each other; remembering these details are an easy way to set your photos apart.

Quick Tip: ROLLED SLEEVES BRING SOME LIFE TO A STIFF BUTTON UP, AND CUFFED PANTS ADDS A CASUAL LAYER OF INTEREST TO A FORMAL PANT

It's in the details

Most men aren’t overly excited to take photos for an hour because they don’t have an expectation of what’s to come and why it’s so important to you. Take fifteen minutes to empower your guy. Tell him why you chose us and our style of photography. Show him your favorite sessions that we’ve done, explain why you love them and express to him how much it means to you. Trust us, once he knows it’s important, he’ll light up to the camera for you! The most common thing we hear from guys before photo sessions is this: they feel uncomfortable and awkward taking photos or don’t think they’ll be good at it. By the time we’re done, though, they can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had.

Quick Tip: TAKE A MINUTE TO SHOW HIM OUR WORK AND TELL HIM WHY THESE PHOTOS ARE IMPORTANT

Mental preparation for him

You don't have to spend a lot at stores like H&M, Old Navy, and Target, they usually have great options for men at an affordable price. If you're looking for a step up in quality, try J. Crew, Gap, and Banana Republic. For premium staples to add to your wardrobe, Taylor Stitch, and Bonobos offer great looks and premium materials that last for the long haul.

Quick Tip: IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO BUY A NEW OUTFIT FOR YOUR SHOOT. YOUR CLOTHES WILL feel FRESH AND YOU'LL HAVE THAT NEW CLOTHES confidence GOING INTO YOUR SESSION

Our favorite shops for him

As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match”. In fact, we recommend you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through.

Coordinate the crew

The goal is to visually break up the colors so you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. We encourage you to think about planning each outfit with dominant colors and accent colors in mind. A dominant color is a color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’s going to look great all together. Feel free to vary the shades of the colors, too!

How to mix colors

If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, one of your daughters could wear a dress and flats, while the other wears a skirt and boots. One of your sons could wear a button up shirt, while the other wears a sweater or jacket. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring visual interest to your photos and bring them from boring and predictable to sophisticated.

Mix up the pieces

Before your session, pack a bag with snacks, water and any small objects (like toys or lollipops) that might help us get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera. If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior. A lot of families pick something fun in advance as a treat after the session if they’re good listeners, like a cupcake or a trip to get ice cream after. It also helps if their bellies are full and they’ve had some good rest beforehand. Once you prepare them physically and mentally, then feel free to give them (and you!) grace! They’re little, and we know most days don’t always go as planned. We’ve seen it all and will make sure to get you great photos, regardless of their moods. On that note, be sure to check out our companion guide, 6 Tips for Amazing Family Photos, to learn more about how to prep your family for photo day.

Prep your little ones

We know we just gave you a lot to think about. We created this guide to help make your portrait session experience something you’ll look back fondly on for years and years to come. At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as the memories you make together. Your future memories are the most important thing to us, and we want your session to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it. Have fun together. Laugh a lot. And we’ll take care of the rest!

One last thing