Your photo Session style guide
Let's talk about all the things! While I am pretty laid back in the flow of my photo sessions, my heart & soul takes the task of capturing your family seriously. Being a part of your family's legacy is a true honor I do not take for granted. I want you to get the most out of this investment. I want you to adore your images. I want the future generations to love these images and feel like they are right there in them too, tying your past generations to your future generations.
I've made this guide to share "all the things" that will help us achieve this together. Please don't let this guide overwhelm you, I hope you'll see a few small choices can create big impact in your final images.
Let's pick the LOCATION & TIME
LOCATION:
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The Central Coast really is full of the most beautiful landscape. We are not at a shortage of gorgeous spots. I work from Nipomo to San Luis Obispo, but am open to traveling for an added fee depending on location and availability. When choosing a location, try to envision where your family will be happiest and enjoy. Do you love the beach? Does your family love hiking or trails? Do you have a spot with special memories? Have you documented your favorite moments in your home?
I am always open to new locations, but if you want to check out some of my favorite spots to do sessions you can see examples here
Kid friendly spots:
Picking a place where your kids can explore is a way to invite memory making into your photos. Busy locations with lots of people, cars, or tempting playgrounds can sometimes be overwhelming for your littles, and result in stress for you.
Locations to consider for your smaller children are, big open air spaces where kids have space to roam, a session in their home, doing the activities they love to do or possibly the beach or an easier trail where we can all explore and snap photos along the way.
Ultimately, you know your child best and where they will feel comfortable.
TIME:​
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The ideal time for an outdoor session is during "golden hour" The hour before sunset or immediately after sunrise. This is when the light is soft and flattering and has that warm glow.
If we are doing a newborn session or doing an indoor session in your home, a bright midday light will work to make your windows provide natural light for your session.
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When life is more important than light:
Sometimes things overrule the perfect lighting schedule. Some common ones I run into are;
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Kids: If you know your child turns into a special breed of crazy as the sun sets, then let's schedule a time with your kids are the happiest. Happy kids make for a much more fun session.
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Weather/fog: May and June on the central coast can be fairly foggy at sunrise and sunset. Fog can be such a beautiful element in your images, and I am not opposed to taking your session in fog, but typically like to shoot a bit earlier than sunset to get enough light through the fog.
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Tide: If you're booking a specific beach location, high tide can affect the time of day we shoot. Check with me on your specific beach and we can check tides and times.
Where are my early birds?
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A lot of families look to book that sunset time slot, so they fill up quick. If you're early risers, the sunrise can provide the same soft light. I often prefer sunrise for beach sessions because the beach usually has less people, and the sand less footprints. If you have happy morning kids, shoot for the morning and end your session with donuts and coffee ;)
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What should we WEAR?
It's the question I get asked the most, so I've added some info to help you style yourself and your family for your upcoming session.
Before we get into all the tips and tricks of what to wear, I want to preface all of this information by saying my main goal is for you to LOVE your photos and for the final gallery to "feel" like you. For me, your clothing choices should be timeless and be something you feel comfortable and beautiful in. I want your kids and future grandkids and great grandkids to see these images and feel as if there were right here in the moment. This doesn't happen if you don't look like yourself, or if you're styIed with the trends of the year that don't necessarily fit your personality.
If you admire my photography style and the colors you see in my work, then following the style guide will be helpful with picking and planning colors that are not only cohesive, but also timeless and photograph well to make the focus of your photos the most important element....your family!
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Start with COLOR
Color is probably the easiest way you can enhance your images. There are definitely colors and tones that photograph better than others. I love to capture the color of the coast, so wearing muted neutrals and soft shades help keep the focus on your family and puts you in harmony with your surrounding and not on bright outfits or contrasting colors. Check this guide for examples on what colors to choose.
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While there are so many endless do's there are just a few don'ts to keep in mind to make your images more timeless:
Avoid: Wearing bright bold colors, neon, or too many colors. Skip wearing a lot of black as it does not show as much depth and becomes more shapeless in images. Choose one or two colors, instead of a multi color pattern. My goal is for your family to see how stunning you are not the dress.
The CLOTHING itself
For women: There is something so timeless about flowy dresses and skirts. They bring movement to images, and showcase a bit of beauty in motherhood. We tend to have breezy beaches, so a longer skirt or dress to allow movement without holding your dress down is ideal. So if you can...say yes to the dress for your photo session!
Showing skin can draw the eye. My personal preference is to choose one feature to flaunt when doing a family session.
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For men: fitted pants, and a business casual vibe can really flatter and give the men a sophisticated look. Avoid bold patterns, graphics or big logos. Layering can add dimension. Don't forget the little things for the men, like colored socks, belts and shoes that are more than the Saturday yard work sneakers.
Let's talk TEXTURE
I LOVE texture in clothing for your photos. Think lace, seersucker, denim, linen, tulle, velor. These textures invite you into what it feels like in the moment. These things are not bright in color, but can make solid colors more fun.
Switch up the textures with each family member in the session.
All TOGETHER now
Dressing the family can feel a bit daunting. Now that we've talked about color and texture. Start by dressing one person in your family (I usually suggest yourself) and then go from there, with coordinating everyone else. The idea is to coordinate your outfits, not to match them exactly. Start with 3 neutral colors that look like they could be cousins in the color family and add one or two muted accent colors from the same temperature family. See the color options above, let your neutrals start in the outer corners of the grid and your accent colors . If too many choices of colors or pressure to pick colors overwhelms you, stick to all neutrals, minimal is beautiful, and makes the images about you.
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Some final touches to think about: bright nail polish, or statement jewelry pieces are so fun for everyday life but can be distracting in your images.
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Little girls wearing dresses? Add some bloomers or as we call it in our home "chonie covers" so your girl can play and spin freely. Leave the giant bows for fun events, they tend to distract and can shadow faces in your images.
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Need a little more assistance? Style and Select is a system that helps you coordinate your family with outfit suggestions that you may already own, or can purchase for a reasonable price. You can access my account by using the code LHPHOTO23 and clicking the link: Here
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Feel free to share what you're envisioning, or if you need advice. I'm here to help!
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