what to wear and how to prepare

I know how stressful it can be sometimes trying to come up with the perfect wardrobe for your shoot, but it doesn't have to be!

Stop freaking out and let's talk. Here are some basic tips to help you get started.

1. Confidence. You feeling confident in what your wearing is SO incredibly important. Moms and dads, this is for you specifically. If you can't find that perfect sundress I know you can rock a good pair of jeans. Theres no shame in ditching the heels for a pair of chucks. If you don't want to take a second glance at yourself in every reflective service around, change! Wear something you feel hot in. If you're not in love with what you're wearing it will show.

2. Fluorescents are a no go. They tend to cast their harsh colors on faces, necks, and hair. Instead of yellow try mustard, red try a more of a maroon, and blue try navy or royal.

3. Stay away from wearing a lot of green when we're shooting in a grassy or wooded area. A lot of my shoots are based outside and you don't want to end up looking like a floating head. Green as an accent color can be great though! You want to stand out amongst all the beautiful scenery not blend in.

4. Layer up, Even in the summer! Layers can add dimension and depth. If it's warm out, wear a cute belt and a trendy necklace. If it's chilly out try some cardigans, belts, necklaces, scarves, or hats. Honestly, the options are endless.

5. Purchase clothes that fit! And fit well. I know it can be hard buying clothes for your kiddos that don't leave a lot of room for growth, they grow so fast! However, keep in mind in photos sometimes, too large of a shirt, and saggy jeans can look sloppy. Most likely you'll be purchasing outfits specifically for our shoot so choose something that fits perfectly, maybe even a bit snug this can sometimes give a tailored look. Go a size smaller in jackets or cardigans that compliments your shape. It should lay nicely around your hips and waist, creating that tailored look everyone loves.

6. Coordinate, don't match! Anything and everything goes now! Trust me, we all know your family is together we're photographing you together! Wearing the same colored everything can look a bit awkward. Coordination is key, it can really bring wardrobes together. Start with one piece of clothing that you love and build your outfits around that. Choose between two or three main colors, and maybe one accent pop of color. Expression is so important I want to see your personality!

7. Its Ohio, Dress for the weather. Flexibility is key, we can have 3 full season changes within a 12 hour period. Prepare to be flexible just in case you have to switch it up last minute. If your daughters wearing that adorable sundress that you bought, and the weather ends up being 35 degrees colder than we were anticipating layer up! Tights, boots, scarf. If your son is sweating in his itchy sweater, it's going to show!

8. Dress for the situation. This is just as important. A fancy black dress or a dress shirt and tie wouldn't be the best option for a wooded or grassy setting. More formal dressing fits better with an urban or city feel.

Theres the basics! At the end of the day confidence is what matters. These photos are for you and your loved ones. You could wear a potato sack and as long as we have an authentic time during our shoot I promise you'll receive a gallery of beautiful photos that tell your story.