Having a Spring/Summer family session? Here are some tips to help you get ready for it!

What to wear

* As a general ‘rule’, the most important thing is that you are all comfortable with what you’re wearing. Otherwise, you will not have a great time and it will show in the photos.

* Coordinate but don’t match. So please avoid having matching outfits. Instead, choose a color palette of 3-4 colors and mix them up with all the family members. It is important to have at least 3 colors, otherwise it will look too dull.

* To choose your color palette, have this in mind: warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Cold colors are green, blue, and purple. You should have a mix of warm and cold colors in your palette so that it doesn’t look all too flat. For example, if your main colors are blue and white, try to include some details in red to add some color. For example: red shoes for the boy, a red hair flower for the girl, and a red necklace for mom.

* Having what season of the year it is in mind will also help you. In Spring and Summer there is a lot of bright green around. So my suggestion is to avoid having green and blue as your main colors, but have them as accessories instead. Wearing mainly warm colors will look wonderful, so let’s spice things up with some reds and yellows! Still, when I say this remember I’m talking about the main colors, but you should always have details and accessories to balance it.

*In the Summer or warm Spring days, sometimes ‘less is more’. Yes, less clothes it is! How often are kids running around naked or in their undies? They feel super comfortable and free. So let’s show some skin!

*If it is a chilly Spring day, it is always a good idea to include knitted outfits, since their textures are visually rich.

* Avoid plain whites, as it ends up being washed out.

* Avoid office-looking clothes like shirts, since they look too formal for a natural family photo.

* Avoid big logos, numbers, and large patterns, as they tend to steal the spotlight and distract from focusing on the subject and background.

* Think about this: what will you do with the photos? Will you hang them in a bedroom, in the living area, in the hallway? If so, think about the style and colors in the room so that once you hang them, they create a harmony of colors and tones.

* You can have 2 outfit changes.

 

What to bring

* A cute blanket or quilt to sit or lie on. If you don’t want it to get dirty, you can always bring a picnic blanket and put it underneath.

* Up to 2 outfit changes. Even if you only want to wear one set of clothes, I recommend always having a back up just in case… accidents can happen!

* Wet wipes! You never know how your kids can get dirty.

* Snacks and drinks, as the kids will likely get hungry and thirsty at some point. Try to avoid crackers as they tend to leave crumbs all around their faces and clothes. Ending a Summer session with some yummy and colorful fruit is always a great idea!

* Toys, stuffed animals, dolls, books, bubbles… whatever your child likes to play with. I always love capturing some natural shots of them playing. Usually, wooden toys look much better than plastic or metallic ones.

*We will most likely be in the middle of nature, so have bugs in mind! Insect repellent, after-bite gel, and tics aid kit are some things to have in mind.

These are my suggestions based on my experience. Please let me know if you have any other idea you would like to include.

You are welcome to lay all the outfit options together on the floor and send me a phone photo, I will be happy to help you