Please take a moment to read through these answers to frequently asked questions:
HOW TO GET READY?
Try not to hype up the photoshoot too much to your children. Do explain to them exactly what's happening, but often enough kids can feel anxious or intimidated on arrival, so we try to make the start of the session as casual as possible :) Each photoshoot starts with getting to know each other a little so we can ease into more posed portraits. It's a good idea to have everybody's bellies full of good hearty food so we can avoid all hunger tantrums - big and small.
WHAT TO WEAR?
Simple and timeless clothing on parents and children works the best in the photographs. A thought spared on the styling ensures these images are something you will not tired of looking on you wall or mantelpiece in the years to come.
Soft, light and neutral colours; white, cream, any pastel color, light blue, light grey, light brown, light pink, sage. Plain or with a small pattern (for girls).
Studio is very warm so for example floaty summer dresses for moms and sisters and shorts/fitting jeans for daddies and brothers look lovely too all year around. Dungarees or rompers with or without a t-shirt on little ones are adorable. Bohemian off the shoulder blouses; cotton, lace and frills or white shirts with sleeve rolled up photograph beautifully. Bare feet and no tights if you want relaxed images. These are all suggestions, but ultimately wear something you feel like you in.
If you like moody family portraits black or dark grey tops/T-shirts are great.
There's only a few items I would avoid:
Bold, block or neon colours and logos, that look distracting. Any sporting wear. The colour red and high contrast stripes (black and white) don't really look too good either.
one family member looking like the "odd one out" . Meaning here that everybody else is wearing light soft colours and one family member is wearing a black top or the other way around. For the timelessness of images some common thread - even if not matchy matchy - is the best.
FEW LITTLE TIPS FOR PARENTS:
If you've booked a family photoshoot so both parents will be in the photos too, there's a few bits to think about:
Try to make sure you either have freshly applied nail polish or none at all. Your hands don't have to be manicured or pristine - they're not that much in focus - but chipped nail polish is very hard to fix afterwards.
I totally love a bit of fake tan myself and how it makes me feel, but would very much recommend a carefully applied light gradual tan to avoid streaks in your wrists and fingers (they're practically impossible to touch up on Photoshop) as they can really ruin a photo. Also, if your skin tone is very warm compared to your partner and children, it may also look a little odd in the final images.
WHAT TO BRING?
For 1 hour portrait session, you don't really need to bring anything unless you know it's coming up to your child snack time/they take a bottle/need some other drink. Especially with toddlers/small children a little treat might help to get that one last smile, but I would ask to maybe get white chocolate buttons as they are less noticeable and don't stain.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AND PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS!