FAMILY SESSION TIPS


1. Arrive early and give yourself plenty of time for last minute issues that may arise, such as traffic.


2. Feel free to bring snacks or treats for kids if needed - just make sure it's not something messy that will get on their clothes.


3. Have fun and don't stress! Relaxed families = beautiful and fun photos :)


4. My biggest tip is plan your outfits! Read the rest of this guide on how to best cooridanate your outfits!


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?!

rebecca skidgel photography wedding photographer engagement shoot style help ideas happy laughing couples blue white

HOW DO WE PICK OUTFITS???

Great photos are created from three main components: my photographic skillz (obviously), location, and your outfit!

So let’s get to it!

NEUTRAL AND EARTHY tones are the best!

rebecca skidgel photography wedding photographer engagement shoot style help ideas color pallet earth earthy tones

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 :)

rebecca skidgel photography wedding photographer engagement shoot style help ideas happy kissing
rebecca skidgel photography wedding photographer engagement shoot style help ideas happy smiling

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 :)

rebecca skidgel photography family photographer redwoods napa california

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 :)

rebecca skidgel photography wedding photographer engagement shoot style help ideas happy laughing piggy back

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!


See more color pallets on my pinterest board here! :)