Don't match, instead coordinate! Forego the idea of everyone wearing jeans and a white shirt in favor of finding a few complimentary colors and weaving them throughout all of your outfits. Try picking one or two stronger colors paired with a neutral. The combinations are endless but if you don't know where to start, earth tones and neutrals tend to work best, so try one of these color combos:

sage green/rust orange/tan
navy/burgundy/creme
creme/mustard/navy
burnt orange/brown/creme
gray/blush pink/creme
camel tan/marigold yellow/creme
tan/navy/forest green
tan/sage green/dusty pink

Mixing in prints can look great, but a good rule of thumb is to limit to one to two prints per family and try to keep the prints small in size.

Lastly, I always recommend laying everything out on the bed, that way you see how everything looks together and adjust as needed.

Maxi dresses are photo session gold for the ladies. You absolutely should be you, and dresses aren't the only options for sessions, but if you are looking for a stand out look for your session, the maxi dress is the way to go! If you want to learn more about why this look works so well and get a little more inspiration- check out this blog post and browse my free to borrow from client closet!

I say absolutely treat yourself and use this once a year opportunity to get your hair and/or makeup done if you are so inclined, but I always suggest keeping makeup pretty fresh and natural. But one area to splurge is on lashes- either with extensions or some one time falsies. They make your eyes stand out and your beauty shine through!

When it comes to shoes, comfort is king. 99% of my sessions have us hiking around a fair amount, climbing up and down hills, walking in tall grass, and so on. You don't want to be doing that in 4 inch heels. Luckily there are no shortage of stylish flats these days. Try ankle boots, cowboy boots, or ballet flats.

Guys! I love seeing you all spiffed up for a session, but honestly I don't think you need to dress up too much. So feel free to skip the suit and tie in favor of something a little more casual. Anything from a solid wrinkle free tee and a cool pair of cords to a nice collared button down with the sleeves rolled up and a great pair of grey or khaki chinos looks perfect.

Jeans are ok, just make sure they aren't your most worn, lived in, work on the car jeans. Pull out your Friday night jeans if you are going to go the jeans route. Another tip for guys is to remember to leave as much as you can (safely) get away with in the car, or remember to stash in your partners bag. Wallets, phones and keys end up looking very square and bulky in pockets!

If you do want to add a little flare to your outfit I love a good printed shirt, though keeping the print small is ideal!

Our kids are the star of the show, right? I find that it's best to dress them in outfits that help their personality shine rather than distract away from it. For that reason I say simple is best, try staying away from anything overly complicated or flashy, and as mentioned above no graphics, words or shoes with lights in them etc. For the boys simple & smart button down shirts or a crisp new solid tee work well with a nice pair of khakis (or other colored pants), cords or even a cute pair of coveralls.

For the girls, I love when girls wear their hair naturally and leave the big headbands and barrettes at home, however a simple barrette to keep hair out of eyes is not a bad move!

Dresses are great for girls for the same reasons they work so well for mom! With dresses, keep it simple. A flowy cotton dress your little one can move in is perfect, but a multi-tiered tulle, satin and velvet number you don't want her to get dirty might not be the best choice. Just make sure you have a matching pair of shorts or cover up underneath- we play hard during sessions!

for the family

for the ladies

for the guys

for the kids

let's get specific