WHY DOES STYLING MATTER???
What you wear for your photos is SO important. And holy cow, it is HARD to coordinate outfits! It took me years to realize how important styling is and now I’m here to guide you so you can have the best photos ever.
Believe it or not, it all comes down to one very simple thing… COLOR.
Cohesivity is KEY to creating beautiful photos, which is our goal, right?! An outfit can make or break a beautiful photo. We don’t want your clothes to make you look out of place or distract from the emotion in the images. You want to wear colors that blend well with the background, which will ultimately help you stand out.
I’ll show you what I mean!
This photo is an excellent example; you’re instantly drawn to the smiles on their faces and the emotion of the image because there’s nothing to draw your attention away from it. No neon colors, no logos, no distracting or clashing patterns, etc. Crazy, right?!
HOW DO WE PICK OUTFITS???
Great photos are created from three main components: my photographic skillz (obviously), location (which we will touch on shortly), and your outfit!
So let’s get to it!
NEUTRAL AND EARTHY tones are the best!
Obviously, you don’t need to feel limited to only these color tones. After all, these are YOUR photos and if anyone should love them, it’s you! This is simply just a guide :)
What about bolder colors...
This red dress adds a beautiful color without drawing attention away from the emotion to the image. That being said, think about how the image would be different if she was wearing, say... a hot pink dress? It'd be a little distracting, right? Just keep that in mind when choosing your outfits :)
Playing with patterns...
We love them, but it’s very easy to get carried away and once again we don’t want your clothes to distract away from you. This photo is one of my favorite examples. The simple pattern of the yellow birds on his shirt matches so well with the her yellow sweater - the perfect combination as to not draw your attention away from all the cute laughter and nose scrunches. If she were also wearing a patterned shirt, it would have just been a lot going on! We don't need all that busyness happening in one photo. YOU are the subject, NOT your clothes :)
Also, be practical. No one wears heels to the beach or on a hike up a mountain. Just be comfy and be YOU.
Keep it simple and don't overthink it! Feel free to bring options and I can help you narrow it down if you want further help!
See more color pallets on my pinterest board here! :)
WHERE SHOULD WE HAVE OUR SESSION???
Think about what makes the two of you happy. Maybe it’s the ocean or the mountains or a simple grassy field. Maybe it’s at In N Out or at home with takeout and some games. Whatever that happy place is, that’s where we’re going to take your photos. You want your photos to encompass YOU.
If you’re still struggling to decide on a location.. don’t worry, I can send ya a list of a bunch of beautiful spots based on your preferences!
GOLDEN HOUR. Maybe you know what it is, maybe you don’t. But if not, let me enlighten you (see what I did there??) Golden hour is my faaaaavorite time of day to shoot because you get that nice golden glow behind you and your photos will be straight fire. It’s also the first hour of sunlight, but not many people want to wake up hours before sunrise to get ready for a shoot. I’m always 1000000% down for a sunrise shoot though!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Wait so you’re not a professional model?? Get outta here.
Jussst kidding! I love love LOVE weddings but I REALLY love engagement shoots! I love giving all of my couples a super fun and unique experience rather than just a simple, sorta awkward photoshoot.
Most people are… well, awkward. Believe it or not, I’m the most awkward person in front of the camera ever. Exhibit A right here...
So I get what it’s like to be on the other side of the lens! But rather than plop you guys in awkward poses, my approach is a little different. I guide you guys, tell you where to walk, joke around with you, make you comfortable and get those genuine smiles and laughs out of ya.
